Bimota DB10 Bimotard 2013 — Specifications

Rimini, a small Italian manufacturer with a racing pedigree, has never really strayed from its preferred territory. When Bimota moves away from pure sportbikes, it’s an event. The 2013 DB10 Bimotard represents one of these rare excursions, and it deserves attention, even for those who have never seen a supermotard in their life.

The name first. Bimotard, an obvious contraction of the brand name and the targeted segment, sets the tone: this isn't a machine to be taken seriously out of obligation, it's a machine you desire even before seeing it run. Problem: when you see it, the enchantment fades slightly. The concept faithfully replicates the logic of the Ducati Hypermotard, which is not surprising since the heart of the beast is the 90-degree L-twin derived from the Bologna range, here brought to 1078 cm3. The filiation is so evident in the lines that one hopes for a little more stylistic boldness from a manufacturer that has always known how to surprise. This criticism aside, we move on, because the rest of the package is convincing.

This twin develops 98 horsepower at 7500 rpm and 103 Nm of torque at 5500 rpm. On a dry weight of 168 kg, the power-to-weight ratio is frankly honest, and the top speed of 220 km/h confirms that the DB10 doesn't play in the timid’s league. The steel tubular trellis frame, with its solid aluminum side plates, is beautifully crafted. The swingarm, however, borders on visual indecency: it captures the eye, sculpted with a precision that gives the impression of being in front of a piece of jewelry rather than a production component. The OZ Racing rims lighten the whole, carbon fiber dresses the fork stem, the side fairings and the front mudguard, while the license plate holder integrates into the same philosophy of meticulous detail.

The chassis suffers from no compromise. The 50 mm diameter inverted fork, with its 165 mm of travel, works in concert with an Extreme Tech adjustable mono-shock. Four-piston radial Brembo calipers bite down on 320 mm wave discs, and the in-house titanium exhaust modifies the engine mapping to unleash the twin’s character. At 20,790 euros, we are in the sphere of machines for experienced enthusiasts, those who know exactly what they are buying and why. This isn't the machine for a beginner looking to find their feet, nor for the touring rider who devours kilometers loaded up. It's a proposition for the urban sensations and winding roads enthusiast, sensitive to exceptional components as much as to raw power.

The real feat of Bimota with this DB10 is to make desirable a segment that the premium supermotard enthusiast may be discovering for the first time. One can quibble about the stylistic proximity to the Ducati model, but the assembly of the parts, the selection of suppliers and the mechanical coherence of the whole command respect. Bimota signs here a machine that doesn't seek to please everyone, and it is precisely for that reason that it pleases.