The Bimota DB1 is like a pair of Italian stiletto high-heel shoes. Completely impractical and absolutely gorgeous.
Consider the stunning billet aluminum fluid reservoirs that double as fork caps – making track-side fluid adjustments on the M1Rs a major task. Want to adjust the steering damper? Remove the bodywork, paisan. All of it.
If you need to adjust your chain tension or swap final drive gearing, the trick-looking concentric rear axle adjusters will modify the hide height – which you’ll have to adjust via two rod-ends that have to be removed to be reset. Got a mechanical or electrical issue to attend to? Remove all the bodywork again. Swapping the carbs to Malossis with ticklers meant that I had to drill a hole in the left side panel so I can stick my little finger through to tickle the rear carb.
In order to allow engine heat to move out through the rear of the bike, designers had to leave a tunnel of sorts open under the seat portion of the main body – and with the structure supported by four shouldered bolts, the street bodywork would bow and crack with anyone weighing more than about 160 pounds in the saddle. To preserve my prototype lightweight race version made by AirTECH I had to fabricate a vertical support post to take some of the weight and stress.
But I love it. I suspect that the handling will be excellent and weighing-in about the same as the TT1, the Montjuich motor with a 790 kit and serious cylinder head work should propel it around the track at a pretty good clip.
I’m finally on the back-end of the project; with cam timing, plumbing and hydraulics left to complete.. With two Ducati bevel twin restorations and Yellow Bike III filling the shop, I moved it into my office (with the TT1) and snapped the pics just prior to running the bodywork down to Robbie Nigl (Peachpit Painting) for color and shine. They’ll make a fine pair of book-ends; the TT1 and the DB1 – two featherweight racers with 86HP small-block engines.
These machines mark a return to racing after a 7 year hiatus. I plan three rounds of the P89 Series at NHMS – and who knows? ..Maybe Team Clutch Slip and the False Neutrals will make a return to the VRRA Endurance race..
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