New Bimota DB8: 1198 engine, two seats & cheaper price

Bimota has wrongfooted the world with its new DB8 by revealing it’s a dual-seat, more powerful 1198-engined yet cheaper version of the DB7. The DB8 had been strongly tipped to be a naked Bimota DB7 to rival the Ducati Streetfighter, but that bike appears to be still in the works.    

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Bimota says it wants the £20,300 (€23,000) DB8 to be its ‘entry level’ superbike, and expects to sell 250 of the biposto machine – making it in Bimota terms a volume seller. The £23,000 (€26,000) DB7 remains in production, but with the 1098 motor, which as a single-seater is all the firm says it needs. 

The DB8 manages to undercut the Bimota DB7 by using plastic rather than carbon bodywork, steel rather than titanium exhaust and an aluminium rather than structural carbon subframe joining its oval section CroMo hybrid chassis. Slightly lower spec Marocchi and Extreme Tech suspension front and rear respectively complete the cost cuts.

The DB8 has gained 8cm nose-to-tail (though wheelbase remains the same) and 8kg, taking its weight to 178kg, countered by the bigger 1198 motor’s extra 8bhp and 6ftlb over the DB7. The rear seat allows for a useful bit of underseat storage.

“Bimota customers are used to being surprised with new and innvoative motorcyles offering unique design, good power and light weight – and many of them also have a wife or girlfriend that would like to come along. We are sure this design will be a big success” says the firm’s Anna Carla Cuneo.

BIMOTA DB8 ENGINE SPECS
Ducati 1198 testastretta evoluzione, 4v twin cylinder 90°
Displacement: 1198,4 cc
Cooling System: liquid cooling
Compression Ratio: 12,7±0,5:1
Maximum Power: 170 CV (125 kW) @ 9750 giri/min
Maximum Torque: 13,4 kgm – 131,4 Nm @ 8000 giri/min
Exhaust System: 2 in 1 in 1, stainless steel

BIMOTA DB8 CHASSIS SPECS  
Frame: welded 39NiCrMo4 tubing and machined 6082 aluminium alloy plates
Wheelbase: 1435 mm
Front Suspension: Marzocchi USD forks DLC fully adjustable
Rear Suspension: Extreme Tech Monoshock fully adjustable
Fuel Tank: 16 litres (4 litres reserve)
Total Weight: 178kg
Steering Angle: 25°
Seat Height: 800 mm
Overall Length: 2100 mm
Overall Width: 700 mm
Overall Height: 1115 mm
Ground clearance: 135 mm
Front Brake: Double 320mm Brembo floating disc, 4-pistons radial Brembo callipers, radial pumps
Rear brake: 220mm floating disc, 2-piston Brembo calliper
Front Tire: 120/70 ZR 17 Dunlop Sportmax GP Racer
Rear Tire: 190/55 ZR 17 Dunlop Sportmax GP Racer