 |
Bimota Forum
Forum for Bimota Owners and Riders
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Desmo_Demon
Joined: 19 Sep 2011
Posts: 240
Location: Easley, SC, USA
|
 Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 7:00 am Post subject: New DB2 Owner |
 |
|
I registered for this forum before I bought my 1994 DB2 tricolor and completely forgot to come back until now. This is my first post...
I've been itching for a Bimota for years, but it wasn't until seeing this bike that I finally kicked myself in the butt to buy one. I was wrapping up my schoolwork for a master's degree, and had been telling my wife for a graduation gift I was either going to buy a Bimota or get my pilot's license. I guess it'll be a little longer before I learn to fly.
This is a 1994 DB2 with a tricolor repaint. The history and condition of this bike is sketchy at best. I bought it sight-unseen, but did have a couple of guys from a Ducati forum go look it over for me. In some ways the bike is better, and in some ways worse, than I was expecting.
From what I can tell, the bike has been wrecked on the right side and repainted at least twice. I have no idea if it was originally a tricolor or not, and it's previous paintjob was a non-original scheme. It has FCR 41 carbs, the carbon "race" exhaust, upgraded clutch and front brake master cylinders with remote reservoirs, carbon fiber bars, aftermarket levers, and a few other goodies. I believe it may have the 944 big-bore kit in it, also.
It's been fun since I got it. After the dealership that was selling it on consignment told me it ran great, the bike would not start when they took it off the transport truck. Some investigating had me make the discovery that one of the Nology coils was bad. While waiting on a replacement set of coils, I did the belts and valve adjustment, and oil and filter change. It did start wuite easliy and run well once it had two working coils!
Further investigating has shown that the bike was stripped to the bare frame and repainted a non-original red, the sprockets were out of alignment by 10-11 mm due to the incorrect front sprocket and wrong orientation of the retainer, and a sprocket stud was GLUED into the carrier because the carrier hole was stripped. The bike has a little shimmy to the front end, so I'm guessing the steering bearings are shot, and I also discovered that the steering damper is shot. After finding all of these things wrong, I decided to check the engine mounting bolt torques and found out that they were 1/2 (or less) the specified torque for that size bolt (I referenced some Ducati manuals for torque specs). On a good note, it has Nichol's engine bolts on it. The aftermarket '02-'03 R1 LED tail light nearly fell off, too. LOL
Anyway, I have only logged a little over 700 miles on it since the two weeks in early September that it was on the road, and I just got it back together with the new chain and sprockets - that are properly aligned.
So.....here are a few pictures of it. You can tell on the right side that it had been dropped since the fairing is cut out to view the clutch cover...
_________________
Look for my books...
"If I Wrap It Tight Enough"
"The Journals: If I Wrap It Tight Enough"
"Map Junkie: My Motorcycle Journeys" |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Evilchicken0
Joined: 12 May 2010
Posts: 2996
Location: London
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 10:59 am Post subject: |
|
|
Yup - sounds like you've the joy of Bimota ownership !!!
Welcome to the forum.
It could be the fairing was cut to show the dry clutch and a posh cover ???
The clutch fluid res looks a bit dark, just something to add to the list 
It looks good though
_________________
Don't read everything you believe |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Desmo_Demon
Joined: 19 Sep 2011
Posts: 240
Location: Easley, SC, USA
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:45 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Evilchicken0 wrote: |
| The clutch fluid res looks a bit dark, just something to add to the list |
Ah yes. You are correct about the clutch fluid. Actually, before I rode the bike, I flushed the brake and clutch fluid...after I replaced the hoses between the master cylinders and the reservoirs. The previous owner had installed tubing that was not compatible with brake fluid and the hoses were getting tacky and gummy. I replaced the hoses with some Ducati ones I had laying around.....I inspected all the wheel and sprocket carrier bearings, also. They all seemed fine.
_________________
Look for my books...
"If I Wrap It Tight Enough"
"The Journals: If I Wrap It Tight Enough"
"Map Junkie: My Motorcycle Journeys" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
brian
Joined: 22 Aug 2011
Posts: 3790
Location: Australia
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 12:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Looks great mate. Between you and your wife you have some pretty special bikes in your garage. Welcome to the forum.
Cheers,
Brian
_________________
'99 DB4 #104, '96 SB6 #1165, '94 DB2 J #652, '99 DB4 #088, '08 VTX1800, '93 ZXR750R M1, '95 ZXR750, '95 ZXR750 Race Bike, '94 CBR400rr NC29 Race Bike, '94 CB250, '49 BSA C10 250, '61 BSA A10 650, '89 ZXR750, '91 Ducati 851 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Pompey
Joined: 31 Jul 2008
Posts: 2311
Location: Marlborough
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 6:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Welcome to the forum. The Db2 actually looks in good shape. You're corrections to it just make it feel like yours now rather then jumping on someone else's bike... keep us in the loop and enjoy it. Love the paso's. Just missed out on a clean 907i the other week, next time.
_________________
Pomps
Bimota's Db2, Db5 ,Ducati's 851' 92, 888' 93, Honda blade' 93, Triumph speed triple' 07, kawasaki zxr 750 k1 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
stockcar
Joined: 07 Apr 2011
Posts: 836
Location: in the shadow of the "angel"
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 8:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| very nice, welcome........... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bimotanige
Joined: 12 Jul 2010
Posts: 582
Location: yorkshire
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 10:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
Hi welcome to the forum
Looks like it is DB2 rebuild year. Ive just acquired the FF 944 one that has done the rounds a couple of times on here -looks good with excellent spec but as we know its whats hiding under the covers that counts. I'll put a few piccis on but here a few issues -wrong sprocket offset, 2 sprocket retaining studs put in upside down, welded repair to cush drive stud wtf (Ive a good idea who did this and they are on the forum!) Smallbore brakeline used instead of oiline, stripped threads in front and rear mountings for discs, poor attempt at respraying it where the original powder coating has faded, low grade aluminium bolts in the fork clamps to name a few. Will be good when its sorted! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bimotanige
Joined: 12 Jul 2010
Posts: 582
Location: yorkshire
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:11 am Post subject: |
|
|
Here we are
Tasty engineering! 
result of above (2 like this)
treads all stripped and stretched oval, lucky I checked
new strengthening fillets welded in, 14mm diameter thread studs fitted from Rudolf in Germany, holes rebored and rethreaded.
SORTED!!![/img] |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Desmo_Demon
Joined: 19 Sep 2011
Posts: 240
Location: Easley, SC, USA
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 4:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| bimotanige wrote: |
| here a few issues -wrong sprocket offset, 2 sprocket retaining studs put in upside down, welded repair to cush drive stud wtf (Ive a good idea who did this and they are on the forum!) Smallbore brakeline used instead of oiline, stripped threads in front and rear mountings for discs, poor attempt at respraying it where the original powder coating has faded, low grade aluminium bolts in the fork clamps to name a few. Will be good when its sorted! |
That stud weld job looks pretty good. snerk.  Sometimes people simply don't have the resources to fix things the correct way and have to improvise. I've been guilty of that a few times.  I saw on another thread where the cush drive rubbers, bushings, and the larger diameter studs are still available. All of my studs look good, but it is tempting to buy a set of the larger ones to keep in the toolbox.
I'm still shocked that one of my rear sprocket studs was glued in due to stripped threads. I could see someone making it really difficult by using some type of epoxy, but GLUE? May as well used dog snot for how effective it was. I had a Helicoil installed in the hub. It was a quick, easy, and cheap fix.
As for the sprocket offset, mine still has the funky, OEM Bimota sprocket retainer and had to get a buddy to machine a Ducati front sprocket to fit the bike. I've been trying to locate a spare sprocket retainer, and haven't had any luck yet. If the retainer fails due to worn teeth, there is a concern of the tranny output splines getting chewed up and allowing excess movement of the front sprocket (and premature wear on future retainers). I had this issue with my Ducati ST2. I got creative with a repair/retainer arrangement, but if I ever have to split the cases, I'll be replacing the output shaft.
For my bike's improper sprocket offset, the previous owner had used a regular, flat-side Ducati sprocket and not only did he turn the OEM retainer around, but he added washers between the retainer and the sprocket! This made the offset about 10-11 mm closer to the engine case. The offset was so bad that the chain ate through the exhaust heat wrap and the chain was completely to the inside of the chain slider/protector on the swingarm.
_________________
Look for my books...
"If I Wrap It Tight Enough"
"The Journals: If I Wrap It Tight Enough"
"Map Junkie: My Motorcycle Journeys" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Desmo_Demon
Joined: 19 Sep 2011
Posts: 240
Location: Easley, SC, USA
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 10:17 pm Post subject: Re: New DB2 Owner |
|
|
| Desmo_Demon wrote: |
| The aftermarket '02-'03 R1 LED tail light |
If anyone is interested in how this tailight looks on the DB2, here it is....
It has integrated turn signals in it, too, but I couldn't seem to get a picture if it blinking. 
The tailight is actually a little too long and overlaps the mufflers. It has to be spaced outward to clear the cans, and the previous owner did a terrible job at installign it. The mounting threads are M5x1.0 for the housing, and I wanted to install some vibration dampers. I can't find them in an M5 in the USA, so I retapped the holes to an M6x1.0 thread and installed it with these...
The vibration dampers move the taillight out about 1.5 cm more than I wanted, but it doesn't look too much worse. BTW, I think the taillight is upside-down compared to how it mounts on the R1 so it matches the DB2 tail fairing a little better. I've grown to like this modification on my bike, and it sure makes it stand out compared to other DB2 bikes.
_________________
Look for my books...
"If I Wrap It Tight Enough"
"The Journals: If I Wrap It Tight Enough"
"Map Junkie: My Motorcycle Journeys" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Desmo_Demon
Joined: 19 Sep 2011
Posts: 240
Location: Easley, SC, USA
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 7:51 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Just my effin' luck....I got the bike all back together and decided to take it for a spin around the block, as I was hoping to ride the bike this weekend, and what should happen? One the carbs is spewing gas out the overflow. 
I can't figure out which one is doing it, and tapping the carb bodies didn't get the culprit to seat back. Good news is that the bike started on the fourth attempt after sitting for three months.
_________________
Look for my books...
"If I Wrap It Tight Enough"
"The Journals: If I Wrap It Tight Enough"
"Map Junkie: My Motorcycle Journeys" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
2bims
Joined: 03 Apr 2010
Posts: 7308
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 2:57 pm Post subject: Re: New DB2 Owner |
|
|
| Desmo_Demon wrote: |
| Desmo_Demon wrote: |
| The aftermarket '02-'03 R1 LED tail light |
. I've grown to like this modification on my bike, and it sure makes it stand out compared to other DB2 bikes. |
Welcome to the Forum "fellow" DB2 Owner, always good to have another one or two of those on here. Quite like your rear light changeover, and may consider it to "preserve" the integrity of my Original unit, as I kind of do that with certain parts, screen, headlight other bits etc.
Your Tri-color looks nice and could well have been an original, in so far as Original tri-color goes as the original American importer painted a whole batch of DB2's and then had them sprayed in the tri-color scheme. What is not clear though is whether they were imported as finished painted bikes and then resprayed, but I would imagine this would be the case, the DB2's sold well and I can't see that Bimota would have allowed a half finshed batch to be sold for export, to be reprayed by others.
I note a couple of things about your bike that I've not seen before, most noticeably the "folding" footpegs, as I have only ever seen the standard fixed pegs on not only DB2's but also other Bimotas.
Quite like your mirrors, evidently none standard. Did you get these yourself or were they on the bike. I like that they stand further out and higher, perhaps meaning that they are actually useful, unlike the standard mirrors thats for sure
Its good to see that your bike has non-standard front discs, as it gives hope that the "no-longer" available Brembo standard versions can be replaced by a n other. Do you have a name on the disc carriers as to who makes them?
Your clip on brackets are also non-standard with the carbon bars.
Its good to see that you are setting things right on it, they deserve to be kept running. If you find the head bearings are shot, give me a shout as there is a Company in Germany that still stock ex-Bimota head bearings for the DB2, no such luck with the steering damper though, although a "shortie" Ohlins can be fitted to the fork clamp bracket but a new bracket has to be made to fix it to the headstock. What does the bike rev to when riding before it falls off ? If around 7K before it goes over a cliff demanding changing then perhaps its still a 900cc if it goes to 9K revs before feeling like it needs to be changed up then most likely a 944 kit with gas flowed/polished head etc. Only a rear wheel dyno could tell you rather than a head strip. Full on 944 kits FCR41's etc should be around 90bhp at the back wheel compared to around 75bhp when standard again at the back wheel (ignore the 86bhp that most "specs" state as this is taken at the crank and not at the backwheel, uually around 10bhp less)
So again welcome, happy riding, and any issues, well at least you have found the Forum for questions to be asked and answered
Oh just remembered, GeeKay here on this Forum used to have a spare damper for the DB2, and may still have it, give him a shout. Oh and take those hideous wraps off the rear pipes around the swingarm, its not some rotting Harley or such, you'll find the pipes are stainless steel beneath the crud |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Desmo_Demon
Joined: 19 Sep 2011
Posts: 240
Location: Easley, SC, USA
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 6:17 pm Post subject: Re: New DB2 Owner |
|
|
| 2bims wrote: |
I note a couple of things about your bike that I've not seen before, most noticeably the "folding" footpegs, as I have only ever seen the standard fixed pegs on not only DB2's but also other Bimotas.
Quite like your mirrors, evidently none standard. Did you get these yourself or were they on the bike. I like that they stand further out and higher, perhaps meaning that they are actually useful, unlike the standard mirrors thats for sure
Its good to see that your bike has non-standard front discs, as it gives hope that the "no-longer" available Brembo standard versions can be replaced by a n other. Do you have a name on the disc carriers as to who makes them?
Your clip on brackets are also non-standard with the carbon bars. |
The folding pegs are not unique to this model, at least in the USA, because the president of the Ducati club, US Desmo, has a 1993 DB2 with the same folding pegs on his bike. The mirrors are some cheap aftermarket, universal fit units that came on the bike, and they are usable. I've been looking to replace them with some stock mirrors or some other style mirror that is a better quality. One of these is a bit loose and moves and drops with the vibration of the bike at certain RPMs. The discs are PFM brand. I think the model number is BD320C. A while back I looked them up on their website and they do not seem to be available anymore, but they may be able to build a set. They are fixed and not floating rotors, so some people don't seem to like them. They were on my bike when I bought it.
| 2bims wrote: |
| What does the bike rev to when riding before it falls off ? If around 7K before it goes over a cliff demanding changing then perhaps its still a 900cc if it goes to 9K revs before feeling like it needs to be changed up then most likely a 944 kit with gas flowed/polished head etc. |
Come to think of the power delivery, the DB2 does seem to act a lot more like my ST2 than my wife's Monster 900. THe DB2 pulls strong all the way through the range. The DB2 revs faster than the ST2 even with lower than stock gearing, so I also wonder if it may have a lightweight flywheel in the engine. I can see where the sengine side cover has been removed at one time.
I had found an ad that the previous owner had placed on the Internet for this bike that was a year and a half before I bought the bike through a dealer, and he stated that it had the 944 kit in it. I question what he states in the ad, though, as he said that the bike had never been wrecked, only dropped from the suicide sidestand, but that would not explain the scratches on the right bar controls, the fiberglass work on the fairing, and the cutout of the fairing at the clutch. When he advertised the bike, it was a non-original red/white color scheme that was really ugly.
_________________
Look for my books...
"If I Wrap It Tight Enough"
"The Journals: If I Wrap It Tight Enough"
"Map Junkie: My Motorcycle Journeys" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Desmo_Demon
Joined: 19 Sep 2011
Posts: 240
Location: Easley, SC, USA
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 11:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Desmo_Demon wrote: |
| One the carbs is spewing gas out the overflow. |
Float bowls, seats, needles, and the carbs in general are spotless and look like new. I did discover that one float was set at 9 mm and the other was 5 mm. I should have everything back together this evening or tomorrow to check if it is spewing gas all over the place, still.
I will state that removing the FCR's from the bike the first time is an absolute pain the butt! It took me a while to figure out how to get them out of the frame.
_________________
Look for my books...
"If I Wrap It Tight Enough"
"The Journals: If I Wrap It Tight Enough"
"Map Junkie: My Motorcycle Journeys" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
2bims
Joined: 03 Apr 2010
Posts: 7308
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 12:20 am Post subject: Re: New DB2 Owner |
|
|
[quote="Desmo_Demon"]
| 2bims wrote: |
Come to think of the power delivery, the DB2 does seem to act a lot more like my ST2 than my wife's Monster 900. THe DB2 pulls strong all the way through the range. The DB2 revs faster than the ST2 even with lower than stock gearing, so I also wonder if it may have a lightweight flywheel in the engine. I can see where the sengine side cover has been removed at one time.
|
Strange that you should mention that it pulls like the St2, its quite well known as a power add on to use the ST2 cams in a standard 900 2 valve Ducati engine, the ST2 engine supposed to reach max power at 9000 rev whereas a standard 900SS engined bike/Monster has max power at 7500 revs so looks like probably a 944 upgrade has been done.
Noticed your droopy slack rear brake line. Underneath the swing arm on that side, close to the pivot point you should find a tapped hole. This is to mount a "p" clip to clamp the hose down, use a self tapping bolt sized to suit, after swinging that banjo bolt round a little to get the right line. Available on line, search p clips, cheap as chips. I would also change your clutch line as, and maybe its just the photo, but the colour of that clutch reservoir fluid is the darkest I have ever seen, and is usually a sign that the clutch line inner casing is degrading and contaminating the fluid. You can get black brake fluid from brake lines casing a similar look but evidently not in a clutch line system
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-x-14mm-Stainless-Steel-Rubber-Lined-P-Clip-Fastener-/140663840653?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item20c037df8d
The above are quite nifty with the rubber lining, just check what size you need, available from any auto suppliers |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group
The Bimota Forum has no official connection to Bimota S.p.A.. We just ride or are interested in their motorcycles and support the brand. All trademarks are acknowledged |
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
