Italian motorcycle manufacturer Bimota unveiled a new model at Esposizione Internazionale del Motociclo (EICMA), which opened in Milan, yesterday. The 1000cc DB6 Delirio is based on the DB5 Ducati-engined superbike, with a similar trellis frame and trellis swinging arm. Although the bike is similar to its faired sibling, and indeed was designed by the same Sergio Robbian, there are many differences, the most notable being a dry weight of just 170 kilograms. With 90 horsepower at 8500 rpm, the DB6 is likely to offer solace for those who cannot wait for the Ducati Hypermotard, having some very similar characteristics.
The bike has Titanium-Nitride-coated 50mm Marzocchi forks and double 320mm disks with 4-piston radial calipers.
Bimota’s press release reads, “From its early beginnings, the Delirio project has been conceived as the creation of a piece of art, and as a challenge to all conventions. Everything created by Bimota to this date has been built to the extreme, emphasizing perfection beyond rationality. Delirio is a motorcycle that gives new value to the company’s rich heritage and traditions. The goal has been to realise a Bimota for the future, presenting engineers, designers and everybody involved with an equally exciting and challenging task. Once again in Bimota's history, the result has been shaped by passion, imagination, and extraordinary craftsmanship. “The Delirio has become a reality - from Sergio Robbiano's pencil to Alberto Strada's computer to Enrico Borghesan's golden hands - and the minds, souls, and hands of all at Bimota. Technical data of the Delirio confirms what is obvious at first sight: Delirio delivers outstanding performance. Engine and framework blend together in perfect harmony. Performance and handling are complimented by an aggressive but nonetheless comfortable riding position. The first biposto of the new generation.”
The front wheel lifts instantly commanded by a big dollop of throttle in both first and second gear in the Ducati 1000DS powered Delirio. Attached to that front wheel are some very nice bits such as a big 320mm wavy disc, 4-pot radial Brembo callipers and a top of the line Marzocchi Corsa fork. Stopping the 170kg (claimed dry weight) naked fighter was never going to be a problem and even easier so with the help of the Marzocchi 50mm USD fork with TiN treated surface on the stanchion tubes. The radial Brembo brakes bites on a stylish 320mm wavy disc and both the feel and power is nothing less than excellent. The Delirio has been stripped of anything unnecessary and a huge effort has been put in to this bike purely to make it as fun as possible to ride.
Fun on a Bimota also means safe and everything from the top Brembo, Marzocchi components to the Extremetech rear shock makes sure the bike never puts a foot wrong. The Dunlop D208 RRs are sticky enough in most situations, however the front offers more grip when leant over and the rear was sliding more often than I would have liked from small throttle openings out of the hair-pins. I had some great fun sliding that rear wheel around by all means, but sometimes I did wonder whether it was too easy and that it could be a matter of side grip on the 180 Dunlop rear tyre. Steering into the tight bends could also have been improved with one of the top front tyres from Bridgestone or Pirelli. I had some funny situations on a couple of the many occasions where I entered the bends too hot and I had to brake so hard that the chassis tried to wring itself into knots over the front tyre mid-turn and still an easy save each time. The beautifully designed trellis frame and swing arm is linked together by machined aluminium plates, also beautifully done at the Rimini factory. Some flex has been designed in by the designer, Sergio Robbiano, to make you feel every little thing that is happening. Quality all around is the conclusion from those experiences.
The roads around the Rimini factory and Misano race track was, to say it mildly, narrow and offered more blind and tightening corners than there are roundabouts in Milton Keynes! I was caught out so many times that I dropped corner speed in benefit of the stop and go style the DB6 is so brilliant at. This is only excerpts from the full article. Walk around DB6
Bimota DB5 Mille compared to DB6
I also rode the DB5 just after riding the DB6 and the main differences are the same as on any sportsbike made streetfighter. There is a fairing that you can easily tuck behind due to the long seat and in general a more racy riding position. Not too racy though and not too much weight on the wrists. Remarkably the DB5 Mille features the same max power output at the same revs, but less torque at 1000 rpm higher than Delirio-In effect making DB6 a more powerful motorcycle than the DB5 Mille. DB5 will reach higher top speeds due to the fairing; however it will never be as fun to ride as the DB6. The dry weight is a claimed 156 kilos rather than 170 on Delirio and the suspension is full Ohlins front and back as opposed to the Marzocchi/Extremetech set up on DB6. DB5 Mille is about 3.000 Euro more expensive than the Delirio and that’s about it.
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