What's up with Bimota USA?

[FalcoLion]

Does anyone know what is up with Bimota USA? Their site is down. The only side that comes up is the Italian one and German one. The italian site doesn't even list USA as a region where bikes are available for sale?

Just curious if this company is going out of business again

[Bill in OKC]

There is some info here about halfway down:
http://www.bimotaspirit.com/news.html

"As you all probably know, we do not have an official Bimota importer in the USA at the moment"

Maybe we'll get another importer when the economy picks back up.

[FalcoLion]

Thanks Bill. I guess that answer my question. My assumption is that parts are somewhat available but kinnd of hard to get

[Axecent]

The previous Bimota USA importer was of little help, and frankly, I had little trust in them. I have three of these beauties in my garage. 2-DB4's and a YB8.

[Micah / AF1 Racing]

Hmmm, Axe, you have been looking for something to do with your time once the current project ends right? Could be fun, as long as floating it for a while does not kill fun factor.

[Axecent]

I'd need a strong partner.......ahem.

[jrflanne]

I know it is insane with the AC duc motor and whatnot, but these things are Put Together and the welds are definitely erectifiable. But alas, $30k+. Dammit.

193573

[SF2DieHard]

That thing is NOT good looking. But I would spank The Living Hell out of it!!

DM

[Bill in OKC]

There are a couple of Bimotas that I'd like to have in the garage. This one and the DB7 but yeah 30K is more than I can swing. Pics do not even do them justice after seeing them in person.

[jrflanne]

That thing is NOT good looking. But I would spank The Living Hell out of it!!

DM

Ever seen one in person?

[SF2DieHard]

There are a couple of Bimotas that I'd like to have in the garage. This one and the DB7 but yeah 30K is more than I can swing. Pics do not even do them justice after seeing them in person.

Hmmm. I loathe the idea of spending more than $10,000 for a car but I would gladly spend $30,000 on a motorcycle without blinking an eye.



Ever seen one in person?
No. But I do like go out of my way to indulge the enjoyment of Bimota's in person. :banana:

[FalcoLion]

DB6R can be had for a lot less then 30K. Recently there was one very special edition Blue color with supposedly only 6 units shipped to the USA available for $19000. Its not cheap but considering that there were only 11 (I think. Made to honor Italian team win of Wolrd Soccer Championship) made its was a pretty sweet deal. Couple of guys on the forum bought brand spanking new Bimotas for around $13000-14000. Yes those bikes were brand new but a couple of years old. So, what! Its still a Bimota.

DB7 is a gorgeous bike and Tesi 3D is some weird but awesome looking machine

[Micah / AF1 Racing]

Axe sometimes I wonder how strong you think I am? On a serious note about importing Bimota to the USA it is my opinion they would need to sell at least 300-500 units even in year one to make it worthwhile for say a 3-5 person distribution operation located say in the central part of Texas oon cheap land beetween Austin and Houston? Axe, my number seem close? Then the real question is can Bimota build enough bikes and supply parts reliably enough. Maybe time to for a fact finding mission across the Atlantic and the continent huh? We should travel by private jet, just found the old marketing manager from Piaggio is working for Gulfstream and asked him to see about a long "demo" flight...

If distributed through Port of Houston, warehoused almost tax free in Texas and smart economics on the import side it may be possible to actually make Bimota a success here in the USA again. I think building a proper dealer network to be the hardest part, while most use Ducati sourced motors I am not thrilled with the quality of technical Ducati employees I have met nationwide, some are excellent, most are average at best but all hold a certificate that makes them think they walk on water.

Why do you make me ponder these things...

[JAndrewG]

I like the way this conversation is heading... interesting stuff indeed.

[IBA270]

Dealer network and tech's are clearly the most challenging part. I know nothing about the retail motorcycle business, save for having several very close friends in the business...but I DO know quite a bit about setting franchised dealer networks and the associated technical expertise. I wish it were a science, but it's not...

Micah; there are several reasons I started servicing my own Ducati's years ago...and certainly one reason was the quality...or lack of consistent quality of Ducati techs. I've met more average to below than above.

[altotuono]

The DB6 Delirio DS1000 shown in the photo looks exactly like mine, except I've got carbon fiber ZARD slip-ons, which were included in the sale price. Bought it brand new about three years ago while my neighbor purchased the dealership owners DB5 with 500 miles. We both paid $13,000.00 OTD so $30,000.00 to $40,000.00 MSRP's weren't even part of the discussion. Both bikes have been bulletproof with no problems. Neither is a rocket but they sure put smiles on our faces up here in the mountains of New Mexico. The attention to detail is staggering.

[jrflanne]

Hell of a bike for $13k. The workmanship is sick on those things.

[Bill in OKC]

Micah; there are several reasons I started servicing my own Ducati's years ago...and certainly one reason was the quality...or lack of consistent quality of Ducati techs. I've met more average to below than above.

I always considered Dallas somewhat of a center of excellence for Ducatis. Jeff Nash (I am not sure if he actually works on bikes these days) along with Stuart Rust were/are like wizards with those motors. The only times I can remember standing in front of a new Bimota that was for sale were in Salt Lake City.

[altotuono]

Salt Lake City is where my buddy and I bought our Bimotas. I think Salt Lake Ducati has since dropped the Bimota line-up.

[Geedub/GeoR]

Last Ducati dealer I dealt with ( Miami) told me that I had voided my warranty on the whole bike because I had adjusted the suspension myself (instead of paying him to do it). You can just imagine what my reply was. Also the dealer tried to double dip, he first charged me for what should have been warranty work, then they also billed Ducati.

It wasn't any better on Ducati's side either. I spoke with a rep at the track and called the distributor UMPTEEN times before I got a reply - no they wouldn't cover the repair or replace the part. The ride height adjuster had frozen solid - they all did- because they mounted an aluminium nut on a threaded steel shaft (or the other way around?) without greasing it first and dissimilar metals ... Ducati refused to even look at it and claimed "owner/operator abuse.
But I'm repeating myself I had already posted all this when it first happened.

I'd be curious to know if Ducati's customer service has improved under their new ownership?

[olie]

I can be wrong but with the VW/Audi purchase of Ducati, Bimota wil be shopping around for engine suppliers. AD-12 anyone????

[Axecent]

I always considered Dallas somewhat of a center of excellence for Ducatis. Jeff Nash (I am not sure if he actually works on bikes these days) along with Stuart Rust were/are like wizards with those motors.

Jeff occasionally relies on outside expertise for some of the tough stuff. He still does the work on a coupla my bikes. My 2008 1098R had quite a few issues and Jeff was pretty disappointed with the issues he discovered while working on that engine. He has acknowledged improvement in their quality in the last 2 years.

[Axecent]

Axe sometimes I wonder how strong you think I am? On a serious note about importing Bimota to the USA it is my opinion they would need to sell at least 300-500 units even in year one to make it worthwhile for say a 3-5 person distribution operation located say in the central part of Texas oon cheap land beetween Austin and Houston? Axe, my number seem close? Then the real question is can Bimota build enough bikes and supply parts reliably enough. Maybe time to for a fact finding mission across the Atlantic and the continent huh? We should travel by private jet, just found the old marketing manager from Piaggio is working for Gulfstream and asked him to see about a long "demo" flight...

If distributed through Port of Houston, warehoused almost tax free in Texas and smart economics on the import side it may be possible to actually make Bimota a success here in the USA again. I think building a proper dealer network to be the hardest part, while most use Ducati sourced motors I am not thrilled with the quality of technical Ducati employees I have met nationwide, some are excellent, most are average at best but all hold a certificate that makes them think they walk on water.

Why do you make me ponder these things...

A trip to Italy. Hmmm......so what's your September looking like?

[SF2DieHard]

Are you contemplating becoming the Bimota distributor/liason Axecent??? :rolleyes:

DM