Bimota Forum

[Quackers]

Hi,

Am new to the forum & new to Bimota - & I've just splashed out on an SB6.

I've had it about a month now. I've just changed chain & sprockets (got the bits from Bimota-Parts.de) - although I left the front sprocket since despite a big spanner & an extension bar I couldn't shift the locknut (the fact that the 10mm bolt came out easily isn't much consolation), so I retired hurt to think about it (& the front sprocket looked OK for the time being, which is just as well). I'll be searching the forum for some advice on that one....

Have also sorted some minor things (leaking exhaust joint by the rear shock, balanced the carbs, fixed some smally electrical probs) & took it out for its first serious ride today.

What a great bike.

A couple of things. I've set the suspension to the factory settings as a starting point - but before I start fiddling I'd be interested to hear what set-up others have homed in on.

The seat doesn't stay comfortable for long (about 30 secs!). Has anyone any pics of changes to make it a bit more comfortable?

Otherwise....I don't know why it took me so long to buy one 'cos I've clearly been missing out!

Regards

Mike

PS: I'm just north of Bristol if anyone fancies a ride out.

[oily]

Welcome to the forum Mike
As for the seat...... I've been around Europe and to the TT twice on an SB6 and never noticed a problem with the seat
You must be riding too slow or have a boney arse

[Quackers]

Oily,

Am glad that the seat can be comfortable. Yes, I've a bony arse & yes, I need to get used to the bike.

I recall Bike magazine some time ago (& being a real saddo I've kept all back issues since 1976), in their monthly summary of bikes old & new, thought that the SB6 was "as fast as buggery & about as comfortable". I can't vouch for the latter but having ridden an SB6 I can now understand the sentiment!

Maybe you're natually padded....although I agree that riding them quickly does take your mind off it.

However, it can not really detract from what is a brilliant machine. I own a couple of other bikes, one of which is a newish sportsbike & the Bim is much more entertaining. No wonder the SB6 got such good write-up's when new.

Now....where's that spare gel pad?

regards

Mike

[oily]

The front sproket nut, I always use an air wrench and shock it off
C'mon then wheres all the pictures
Is it an early or late model?

[MARTIN]

Yep. I agree also, if your a 5 ft 10, 13 stone guy in his 50`s the seat
and seating position can be a right pain in the arse and hot too

Much prefer short, twisty scratching runs as opposed to long motorway
ones, as a least your moving your arse around, glad I stay in the
North Of Scotland where motorways are a bit scarce.

Then again having owned a Ducati, a GSXR, Laverda jota, I can understand the relationship between comfort and total fun
_________________
Marty
State of the art and leading edge of cocking things up

(00) SB6 (95) HD FXDWG STRETCH (01)GSXR1000K1

[oily]

[sapila racing]

[Quackers]

Hi,

Comments about seat comfort have provoked some varied responses. For what it's worth (very little), I'm 5' 9", 12 (& a bit) stone & closer to my fifties than I care to think about.....so, it's bludy uncomfortable but I can do something about the seat (thanks sapila racing - the rear tyre on the Aussie link was quite spectacular) & the footrest, bar & seat relative positions are absolutely fine.

I'll post some pictures when I get back home at the weekend. The chassis number is in the high 1240ies - & it's in the very rare gunmetal & red combo.

For what it's worth MARTIN, I've also had a 916 & the Bim is much more comfy. I also had a brief dalliance with a 180 Jota many moons ago - I didn't keep it long 'cos I couldn't get on with bullying a bike into going round corners. I used to have a punch-up with it to get it to go round the twisties remotely quickly - & I lost one bout spectacularly.

I've booked the Bim into Mark Hammond Racing for a suspension set-up on Sat. Have used him before & the results have been a bit special. I'll be interested to see any improvement after he's tweaked it. I'll report the settings - assuming I don't bury the thing into the first lampost afterwards.

regards

Mike

[Evilchicken0]

There's a way to sit on the bike, I know that sounds a bit silly but if angle your arse a bit so the bones don't stick into the saddle it's easier and the saddle is slightly softer towards the back.
Heat through the saddle - line the underside with adhesive backed heat shield, the picture is half way through I went on to do a bit more.



FRONT SUSPENSION

ADJUSTMENT RANGE SETTING
Preload Not Adjustable -
Compression 30 6
Rebound (l/h 3 (r/h 34) 2


REAR SUSPENSION [Ohlins 80N/mm]

ADJUSTMENT RANGE SETTING
Preload 60mm 28mm
Compression 19 5
Rebound 40+ 11



SAG (mm) FRONT REAR
Static 28 6
Rider 44 32
_________________
Don't read everything you believe

[stockcar]

any good base settings for an SB6 R ??

[CBar]

[philfingers]

[Evilchicken0]

he asked

[Quackers]

Thanks for the suspension advice. I'm going to try them out this evening. Still going to MHR on Sat though.

Philfingers - I agree. A meet up somewhere would be good. Can't do this coming weekend...but what are the best Sat's or Sun's (away from MotoGP's of course) for you (& Oily) over the next 6 weeks or so? I'll think about a location between Brist & Kidd that's got some good roads (Evesham??) although I'm open to suggestions - as I normally go into South Wales or Dorset/Devon for a blast.

[Pompey]

hey bud, sorry for late reply but very busy at the moment. With the 6 it is vital you spend as much time as you can on the ride height and static sag as needed before you start chasing errors by adjusting damping and hiding faults. The front forks are under sprung as a norm and you will soon run out of compression and the front will bottom out and feel like its washing out. Equally, if you dont have enough weight through the front bars it will feel vague and wooly giving you no confidence. On the rear shock there is a ride height adjuster rather like chain tensioner which you undo the outer nut and screw in or out until happy then tighten up again. Be careful as it will unscrew all the way out! You should also consider dropping the forks through the yoke , BUT, not to much to soon... the lack spring strength will show up in running out of compression damping. With mine I dropped 8 mmm and adjusted the raised the back as high as poss. You then need to consider the side stand which will be to short, see our side stand posts for that one! Good luck.
_________________
Pomps
Bimota's Db2, Db5 ,Ducati's 851' 92, 888' 93, Honda blade' 93, Triumph speed triple' 07, kawasaki zxr 750 k1