bimbeano
10825
When i bought my F2 back in 1993 ....
Feb 28, 2020,11:22 AM
... only 3 bikes were faster on a racetrack.
Bimota Furano
Ducati 888 SP5
Honda CBR 900RR Fireblade.
I remember my 600 standing next to a Fireblade, both original exhaust. It was impossible to hear any difference in engine or exhaust note. Actually these engines are undistructable.
Every time i tried another bike i found my 600 to be the best and easiest to handle ... Yamaha YZF, Ducati 888 and Supersport, Fireblade, GSXR ... etc ... .
But then early 1994 the 916 and Monster came out. I tried the M900 and that was a revelation, the handling and playfullness was totaly bonkers. One week later still early 1994 i tried the 916 .... not just any 916 but a 916 SP sports production with a more powerfull engine and Ohlins front and rear .... it felt like Ducati had skipped a few generations and the tone was set. For me the 916/996 will remain the best and most epic bike ever .... but the 90ies Hondas are a breed apart as well .
Sidenote:
In 1997 i sold the CBR and bought a Bimota YB9 with the Yamaha 600 FZR engine. It had less power but the Bimota was 15 kilo lighter but felt like 50 kilos lighter 😬😁.
It was a lot sharper on turn in than any bike on the market, including any standard or heavily modified 916 but at high speeds it was really a handfull. It tried to kill me on several occasions, actually it’s a miracle i’m still alive considering the stunts i experienced with that bike 😂.
At one point i had a tankslapper doing 140 kph, big trees on the side of the road, i was literally hanging on the bike legs in the air and holding onto the handles . Tyres were screaming and the bike slapped and flexed from left to right with the front and back wheel never in a straight line. All i was thinking, no shouting, was ‘ DONT LET GO DONT LET GO’. I hold on got control again and stopped over.
Later that evening when i went into the shower my legs, feet, hands and wrists were blue from the hits i got from the bike smashing onto my body .... .
A couple of months later i decided to put it in my living room which seemed safer than riding it 😁.
Bim