Bimota Forum

[Evilchicken0]

There's an article on the BB3 in Performance Bikes mag in this issue. I didn't think it's as controversial as they say. They get the usual cost thing in, and go on to say that it isn't as neutral handling as the S1000RR. Their quick shifter didn't work very well which shouldn't really happen on a test bike and the mirrors are in the wrong place.

For me it was interesting that the BB3 came together so quickly, we saw the BB2 mock up at Milan in Nov 2012, the BB3 was there for 2013. They were racing it and then had the launch at BEW weekend ... so around 18months. Granted they didn't design the engine or electronics but it's still that's some going.
I know money is a consideration to most of us but it does strike me that if you're in the market for a BB3 you probably don't worry about it on the same scale as a S1000 owner, or even a ER600 or CG125 owner.
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[vort28]

Just read the article and think you are being very nice EC.
They take no prisoners saying within about the first 10 lines not to buy the BB3 and save 18k and buy the BMW its a far better bike !!!! Not ideal, as you would think with the market pressures and the failed WSB , Bimota would go all out to get their bikes set just right for the press.
Personally I think Bimota have a bad image in the press , they are classed as expensive trinkets to be rich boys toys. OK with a 32k price tag this might be so, BUT even the rich boys ain't going to buy them if people are going to laugh at them for wasting money, they will buy a HP4.
Now WE know that Bimota were winning the Evo class , and beating the BMW bikes, but Jo public does not.
Bimota need to get the press on their side, afterall they are VERY powerful in adjusting public opinion and unfortunately the press are not always independent. Lets face it in the same issue of PB they have why the BMW is the best bike EVER and Rutter testing a BMW against an MV, oh and Buildbase BMW rider interview , not to mention pages on their BMW S1000R and RR fleet bikes !!!!!! So about half of the mag is BMW !!!! And they slag the BB3 off ????? Who has the better PR machine there then ?????

[JRH]

BB3 is in this week's MCN as well......
Given to the journalists on the wrong tyres, by the sound of it!!!!

[vort28]

Agree with that JRH, race breed Dunlops love to FLOP onto their sides, which is ok on a track but a bit un-nerving anywhere else.

Bikes should have been better prepared.

[Evilchicken0]

Better prepared is what Bimota do best though, just about all the tests have always said the same.

PB and MCN are both Bauer Publishing so maybe the articles are similar. The HP4 article is penned by the same jurno as the BB3.

I like PB which is why I'm being nice, I like Bimota too, they make you feel like family ...

But ok, about the bike - how often do you hear that you can't ride anything anywhere close to it's potential on the road ? That was actually one of the biggest things that impacted me about it, I couldn't get anywhere near what it was capable of and so I couldn't justify owning it. Now though I'm told it's not better than the original, which I still couldn't get anywhere near ..... doesn't that make their performance kinda equal ???
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Don't read everything you believe

[vort28]

Hey, don't get me wrong , I work in the car industry and BMW are the masters of PR. Its amazing what a promise of a FREE (long term tester ) vehicle can do to a journo's write up and I have PB on subscription also.
But that does not mean Bimota should not be prepared and have there bikes set up just right to the conditions the test is done in. Track setting for the road are no good.

When I was in Wales last w/e there were a group of 50/60 something men, all in the lastest gear , and all on Pantyless. Now maybe they could ride like McPint, but I guess they probably could'nt. They had spent their 25k on Panty S's because they thought it made them look good.
Interesting, not one of them passed me after I caught them on the A494, and they had twice the power of my DB4.

I have my fair share of Bimota's but Bimota is a brand built on style and ability . To me the BB3 is struggling on both. Sorry Bimota !!

[Evilchicken0]

I spent last Sunday trying to convince myself to relax and not have kittens every time I saw a bend. Chasing a friend on his R1, a Mille and a 929 Blade. I managed to freak myself out but then again somewhere in the back of my head was that recent accident on the 400.

I guess at the bottom of it all is why we buy bikes - mine is that little jump I feel when I open the garage door. That would certainly be why I'd want a Panny over the BMW, flawed or not the F3 800 would get my money. yeah, I'd be a trinket whore too and want the "better" suspension.

Good job Bimota didn't try to put a CR500 into a Mito frame
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[Evilchicken0]

Interesting that the S1000R PB have on test got lent a HP exhaust system rearsets and levers - that would come up to £3400
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Don't read everything you believe