Bimota Forum

welshlamb · Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2023 6:29 pm Post subject:

of course it took ages to be delivered. The can diameter is not a standard size so the 'tubes' had to be hand bent and welded. Then of course the end caps (which are 'spun' an a former) had to be custom made and the guy doing that was moving premises.... you get the picture !! After many txts and messages the cans were finally ready to collect.

very nice and clearly lighter than original but not quite as much as you might expect, as the central perforated tube is still steel. The OE twin exhaust and 1-2 section (incl bracket) weighed 3.7kg. The new set up was 2.5kg. However its all part of a plan to shave 20kg off the weight of a standard(full faired) DB2. Also its weight away from the C of G and high up.

However a quick mate up to the bike showed a problem. Due to the different bend shape of OE and Ti exhaust 1-2 section, that bit was fouling on the main frame

You can see the difference here with the TI and OE exhaust overlaid on each other

So 1-2 section sent back and a new one made.

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Not as many bikes as I would like and already too many to keep up with!

welshlamb · Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2023 6:49 pm Post subject:

I wanted the exhaust can mounting to be via conventional exhaust clamps and have a factory finish. Of course with the non standard standard can diameter theen standard clamps dont fit either! Quickly solved by sticking a strip of heat resistant silicone rubber inside each clamp.

I then needed something to attach the clamps to and quickly came up with several sketches and tried various cardboard templates, each time trial fitting the seat/tank unit to check fit.

When I thought I had got it right I cut out a metal template (not pretty but all critical dims correct and tried it in place for a final check

[url=https://postimg.cc/bsmV2SVD]

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satisfied with that I made a final dwg and sent this off to a company that would make it with waterjet cutter EVEN AS A ONE OFF ! at a very reasonable price also doing the bending and hole cutting. (themachine bending meant I could dispense with the 'slots' on my cardboard designs which were only there to ease home bending. Finished product wight is almost the same and now a lot stronger.

I picked up the final pieces in person as I didn't want at this stage anything getting lost in couriers/post! Here it is alongside my metal template.

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Not as many bikes as I would like and already too many to keep up with!

welshlamb · Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2023 6:58 pm Post subject:

All that remained was to mount on the bike and check no cock ups made ! (Had to go for the Ti fasteners, vanity got the better off me!)

Looking good I think.

Apologies if the preceding posts are a bit long winded but I think its a good example of all the twists and turns involved in making custom parts to fit.
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Not as many bikes as I would like and already too many to keep up with!

TVRRICH · Joined: 05 Feb 2016 Posts: 211 Location: Coventry UK

Looking great Ralph, i bet it will sound better than great Laughing

hindsight · Joined: 13 Feb 2010 Posts: 126 Location: Central Scotland

Well done - loving it!

brian · Joined: 22 Aug 2011 Posts: 3769 Location: Australia

Looking fantastic Ralph! The cardboard templates are a good idea… easy to make and modify as you go.

I must say… your 50kg weight loss target is significant. The Ti exhaust, Ti bolts and ally brackets will certainly help with it. I guess there will be a good weight saving in the half fairing as well.

A few years ago I slashed 50kgs off a ZXR750, but it was quite easy as I was building a race bike. A road bike is a lot more difficult to shave that kind of weight as you still need to keep all the heavy electrics etc. materials like carbon fibre and titanium get expensive, especially for custom or one off parts.
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'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

rib333 · Joined: 14 Aug 2022 Posts: 1 Location: New York USA

Any chance the maker of the exhaust would be willing to make another one, identical to your final version?

welshlamb · Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2023 6:01 pm Post subject:

welshlamb · Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2023 6:14 pm Post subject:

brian · Joined: 22 Aug 2011 Posts: 3769 Location: Australia

brian · Joined: 22 Aug 2011 Posts: 3769 Location: Australia

brian · Joined: 22 Aug 2011 Posts: 3769 Location: Australia

welshlamb · Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2023 6:21 pm Post subject:

Yay, don’t need trip to the doctors just yet re typo!

Would also help if i could loose 5kg. After I stopped work i dropped 10 kg in 2 years... no working away, hotel meals or entertaining customers. Pretty much stayed the same since + or - a kilo or two. I like my food (and drink too much). Only problem with loosing wight is a load of clothes don’t noir anymore!
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Not as many bikes as I would like and already too many to keep up with!

brian · Joined: 22 Aug 2011 Posts: 3769 Location: Australia

Yeah I'm hearing you. The older one get, the harder it is to stay fit!
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'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