Bimota Forum

[Nito]

Good morning Folks,

Does anyone here remember visiting Galleria in the late 90’s and seeing an SB2 loitering around there?

I’m trying to piece together my bikes past history and have been taken on an interesting journey following the trail of bread crumbs. I have found out from a friend of my bikes now deceased (second) owner, that my SB2 was purchased from Galleria as a bike with race history requiring some restoration. I’ve heard from someone else that it was an ex Dixon’s bike that Galleria had in. Others have said they saw one in Galleria’s store room. Much of this is just from snippets I’ve read in places. Seems to be around the time the V-Due was on sale.

If anyone happened to have any pics of it there or further info that would be an added bonus!!

Thank you
Nito

[DRUKIMPORTS]

Hi Nito. I was workshop manager for Dixon Racing in the late 70s until the 80s.
I built all of the Dixon Bimotas, SB2,SB3,SB2/80,KB1,KB2,YB1/2,HB2, including an SB3 and an SB2/80 that gained Six World Speed records at Elvinton and a SB2 race bike for TT rider Bill Smith.
I also did all the Yoshimura engine tuning in house.
Unfortunately with old age and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome my memory isn't as good anymore.
Please PM me if possible.
Regards Colin.

[Nito]

Wow, thank you Colin for reaching out, I have sent you a pm.

Kind regards
Nito

[MrBimota]

I visited Gallaria sometime in the 1990s. At the time I was Bimota SB2 crazy, and followed every sale closely. I remember seeing a racing SB2, that had just been imported from South Africa. I later found out it was the one that was raced at the IOM. The condition was rather decrepit, and was not what I was looking for at all. Little did I know of it's history.

A nice guy ran the shop, but I couldn't help wonder how you sold an expensive motorcycle with half your head shaved clean.

To the guy who ran Dixon motorcycles who commented. In the late 1970s I was a British Airways apprentice engineer from Sunbury. I used to ride over to your shop on my CD175 and look at all the bikes being built. I swore that I'd do something big with my life so I could one day own machines like that.

My first love lived in Dulwich South London. Again I'd stop at Mocheck and see the Moto Martin CBXs being built. Again swearing to own one one day.

Fast forward almost 50 years, and an unbelievable run of good luck and fortune later. I got my dream bikes, of a SB2 (one of the factory 50), and a spectacular KB1. To top it off an incredible Moto Martin CBX.

So young kids with their noses pressed to the window of shops. Sometimes do go on to do buy what people like you inspire us to achieve.

I've owned so many bikes that it's hard to remember. But I sold all the grade A collectables, and only kept the bikes that I had a true deep passion about in my teenage years.

I swore that the SB2 and Martin CBX would be with me, until my dying day. For those two had the most impact in helping me achieve what I wanted out of life.

[2bims]

a real nice story...showing that dreams are necessary to inspire you on to achieve your dreams...I have a similar story and have had 14 bimotas in total...and a max of 7 at one time..."just" down to 5 now with a few other bikes....dreaming is good for the soul

[MrBimota]

I've owned six Bimots in all. I tried to own one from each frame group, but ended up with a hodge podge of what ever came along. Some were good, some bad, and one down right ugly.

The only one I really needed was the SB2. That to me is the ultimate bike ever built. Even though I know a RC30 is probably the best. I just simply had to own one as a testament to myself. Mine is 100% original, and one of the factory built, first 50. It's not perfect, but perfectly good enough for me.

The KB1 is something I got into after seeing one in Jack Lillys shop window in the late 80s. Mine was purchased whilst working in Germany in the late 90s. Never regretted buying it. For it is a spectacular machine.

Then I bought a YB6 exup. At one time I was motorcycle and riding mad. I rode an 851, RC30 and YB6 everyday, and was totally absorbed by the hobby.

Then things went a little astray. I bought a DB1 sight unseen. I thought it was what I wanted. Little did I know, that it was far too small for my frame. Like dating a 5'2" girl, we just didn't fit.

Then I bought a SB4. I liked the 3/4 fairing idea. But I feel the 16 inch wheels made it more of a drag bike, than a street bike. The bike had issues, some of which I corrected. But because of unseen crash damage, I soon passed it on.

Then the bike that ended my Bimota experience. We all make mistakes, and get in over our head. But because it was cheap, I bit on a YB5 when I should have passed. It was in fact a pile of ****. I tried to sell it, but it became a boomerang bike that kept coming back. So for anonymity, I took it to an auction. I've seen it listed several times over the years. Always looking a little nicer. But I know what lies beneath the bodywork.

My chances of buying anything else ever are slim to nil. I'll use what I've got and like it. I'm working on the KB1, trying to get it to run for the first time in over 25 years. It will go on the market soon.