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daotoys1
Joined: 29 Feb 2008
Posts: 202
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 Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 7:47 pm Post subject: SB8K Santa Monica seat cowling question? |
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The BIMOTA SB8K Santa Monica has a cowling just behind the seat, that swings open to expose an enclosed space that is partially occupied by the radiator over flow tank, the emissions fuel vapor canister, and various wires and tubes.
After removing the emissions canister, and the un needed tubes for same, there is a fair amount of free space available under the cowling.
My question is regarding this open/free space. Does anyone know if this area can safely be used to carry items? Im thinking that it would be a great space for a wallet, gloves, and other various items.
But how about storing some riding tools and/or small tool kit, and tire patch kit in this space?
Does anyone know if this area was designed for storage like this, and if there is any kind of a weight restriction for this space?
Using it for light weight items should be OK, since the emissions canister, brackets, and tubings has some weight ( not much however).
The issue is regarding the structural integrity and ability for this section of the bike to safely carry/store anything of weight.
Does anyone have any comments to share regarding this topic?
Im thinking that if this space is usable, then instead of using a fanny pack, small back pac, and/or tank bag, one could use this space and leave the gas tank and/or ones person free of any carry items.
Thanks for any replies regarding my inquire.
DAO |
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vort28
Joined: 22 Mar 2010
Posts: 2194
Location: Northwest , UK
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| Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 12:03 pm Post subject: |
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All that is in my SM seat hump is the radiator expansion tank, but I would guess that as the base of this area is the self supporting seat unit , then it should be able to take a reasonable amount of wieght.
I will also advise you to check the electrical connectors going to the rear numberplate hanger, as there is about 6 to 8 bullet connectors in the center of the carbon hanger and mine shorted out between each other and burn't a hole in the carbon. |
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daotoys1
Joined: 29 Feb 2008
Posts: 202
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| Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 10:00 pm Post subject: |
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| vort28 wrote: |
All that is in my SM seat hump is the radiator expansion tank, but I would guess that as the base of this area is the self supporting seat unit , then it should be able to take a reasonable amount of wieght.
I will also advise you to check the electrical connectors going to the rear numberplate hanger, as there is about 6 to 8 bullet connectors in the center of the carbon hanger and mine shorted out between each other and burn't a hole in the carbon. |
Thank you for the hint.
I removed the emissions canister and associated brackets and tubes. While I was doing this I did take a close look at all of the wiring and for now things look good, but Ill make it a point to check this on a regular basis.
Your bike didnt have the emissions stuff because it had already been removed and/or your bike was never for the California USA market.
Here in the USA, we get bikes with and without these emissions devices. Its my understanding that this is due to the California laws. In every other state that I know of, the emissions stuff is not required, but may be so sometime in the future.
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vort28
Joined: 22 Mar 2010
Posts: 2194
Location: Northwest , UK
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| Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 10:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Mine is a euro bike, so emission stuff was never there, but I do have a USA headlight on mine as its a flat beam and not a directional one as they have in europe. How do your lights work, ie on all the time, or does the light switches on the LH bar work ? |
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daotoys1
Joined: 29 Feb 2008
Posts: 202
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| Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 4:19 am Post subject: |
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| vort28 wrote: |
| Mine is a euro bike, so emission stuff was never there, but I do have a USA headlight on mine as its a flat beam and not a directional one as they have in europe. How do your lights work, ie on all the time, or does the light switches on the LH bar work ? |
Modern bikes sold in the USA are set up to have the head light on all of the time as a safety feature.
However this is easy to fix if you want control of the head light. The switch that controls the bike head light has a stop put into it that prevents the rider from turning the lights off. If you open the switch and remove the stop then the switch works they way it was made to work and the head light can then be turned off and on as desired.
Personally I like to have the head light off, especially when Im trying to get a bike started. Once the engine is running and Im ready to actually ride the bike then I switch the lights on. I do believe that having the bikes lights on when riding is a great safety feature, but I dont want the light on when Im trying to start the bike, or the bike is parked. Its to much of a battery drain and why wear out the lights when they are not needed.
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daotoys1
Joined: 29 Feb 2008
Posts: 202
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| Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 4:25 am Post subject: |
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| vort28 wrote: |
All that is in my SM seat hump is the radiator expansion tank, but I would guess that as the base of this area is the self supporting seat unit , then it should be able to take a reasonable amount of wieght.
I will also advise you to check the electrical connectors going to the rear numberplate hanger, as there is about 6 to 8 bullet connectors in the center of the carbon hanger and mine shorted out between each other and burn't a hole in the carbon. |
You make a very good point. The tail section of the bike and the seat support is all one self supporting functional carbon fiber unit. It should be able to handle a fair amount of weight. The cowling itself is also made of carbon fiber but its quite thin and light weight. So I think that the tail is used to carry and/or store anything, that it needs to be set up so that it rests secured to the structural carbon fiber unit, and that it does not move around where it could cause some damage and/or work its way out from under the cowling.
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vort28
Joined: 22 Mar 2010
Posts: 2194
Location: Northwest , UK
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| Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 9:10 am Post subject: |
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Yeah , seat cowl is rather thin, but so is the rest of the bodywork, certainly made to reduce weight as much as possible.
Mine does seem to eat spark plugs, been advised not to start it unless going for a ride as the choke will not switch off if only idling in a garage and then soot's the plugs up.
Other than that just need to get it run in properly and get a better exhaust on it and then after that it will be perfect. |
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daotoys1
Joined: 29 Feb 2008
Posts: 202
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| Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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| vort28 wrote: |
Yeah , seat cowl is rather thin, but so is the rest of the bodywork, certainly made to reduce weight as much as possible.
Mine does seem to eat spark plugs, been advised not to start it unless going for a ride as the choke will not switch off if only idling in a garage and then soot's the plugs up.
Other than that just need to get it run in properly and get a better exhaust on it and then after that it will be perfect. |
I agree again. With other BIMOTAs Ive had Ive done extensive upgrades to improve upon the bike, but the SB8K Santa Monica is so well thought out that there is not all that much to do to it. If you compare the Santa Monica to the SB8R/SB8RS for example; BIMOTA did a great job in getting the improvements and details right on the Santa Monica, where the SB8R/SB8RS was/is quite rough around the edges. Its as if BIMOTA looked at the SB8R/SB8RS and noted every little flaw, and every insufficiency and corrected it, and improved upon it when designing the Santa Monica.
I tend to customize all of the bikes I plan to ride. Im sure that Ill find plenty of things to do to make the Santa Monica my own, but IMHO, the Santa Monica is one of the best BIMOTA models ever made. Even BIMOTA has called it the highest specification model they ever made. The original MSRP/ retail price of $45,900 USD speaks of how much the bike actually cost BIMOTA to build. The bike certainly has the best OEM components that reflects BIMOTA's interest in making this bike as perfect as any out of the crate bike made.
There are not many reviews/ road tests on the Santa Monica, but the ones I have found all call this bike as superb. One road test actually called it the best twin cylinder sports/superbike ever made. In comparison, the reviews and road tests on the SB8R/SB8RS had mixed results with both compliments for things that worked with the bike, and complains of things that did not.
All in all, the Santa Monica is a bike I plan to grow old with. My Tesi 3D LE is also on this short list. There are not many bikes that have impressed me as much.
DAO |
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vort28
Joined: 22 Mar 2010
Posts: 2194
Location: Northwest , UK
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| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 12:59 pm Post subject: |
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Have to admit to lusting after a Santamonica for some time , they are just so good looking and well spec'd, and as you say only a few things you can do with perfection to make your own.
Glad to hear you intend on using it as such a shame most of these bikes have ended up in collections somewhere , and as you can see from the replies to this thread they are Bimota's best kept secret !! Just you and me !!
Never ridden a SB8R to be honest, but amazes me how an R can be turned into a K with just the flick of a designers pen , as to me they are different ends of the desire spectrum .
Anyway, I do like your style , Tesi 3D !!!! that has got to be next on my list also .
Did you get anywhere with the Vdue ? |
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