YB5 up for auction for those with a big bank account

[andyoutandabout]

Some one buy this.
It's bloody gorgeous.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-bimota-yb5/?utm_source=transactionalemail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=bat_bid_placed_seller&fbclid=IwAR0dK8v0tqFY_RB1rtf8z6H6eHG31-bSod7UM9mzTBxFX6fxOx8xWtuTjqQ

[fj1289]

You are evil!

I wish I could ....

[Waiex191]

That's awesome. I don't have the bank account or room. I'd just ruin it anyway by riding it.

[fj1289]

That's awesome. I don't have the bank account or room. I'd just ruin it anyway by riding it.

I think I'd piss off everyone by cutting the fairing down to show off the engine!  (And frame too!)

Hell, all the mods that would go into the engine alone would be more than the purchase cost!  But it sure would make a new BMW/Ducati/anything else cry when done with it!

Really, for less than the cost of a new bike someone could have an extremely capable and unique bike ...

[Pat Conlon]

Meh....I don't think they are particularly good looking....looks rather clunky and boxy to my eye.
The YB5 was considered state of the art in 1988. Only 208 were made. I do like the tube frame and 463 lbs dry weight.
This bike was over $11k when new in 87/88, I'll bet this bike sells for over $20k

Thanks for the link Andy!

[Urx]

Mmmmtasty
The idea of a fully tricked out motor in that chassis is appealing
But not £15000 appealing

[Millietant]

At the current price ($7,000) it is very appealing !

I'd want to ride it too, but I don't think that would be "spoiling" it. During my, or my sons lifetime, this is never going to be a REALLY valuable bike, so I wouldn't worry about devaluing it at all. $20k is less the price of a Subaru econobox in the USA, so I doubt it's going to invite huge bids from museum tour enthusiasts....... although I know a guy in Indiana who's building collection of 70's-90's Superbikes (he's got over 100 at the moment, including the humiliation special WSB 750's), who would likely want to snap that up !!!

[Pat Conlon]

Mmmmtasty
The idea of a fully tricked out motor in that chassis is appealing
But not £15000 appealing

Here is a cool 2016 article on modifying the YB5 for track duties.....interesting to note that the first thing they do is to replace the 18" rims with 17" ZX12 rims....sound familiar?
https://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/bimota/1987-bimota-yb5-racer-tested-on-track.html

Engine mods aside, it's interesting that the suspension mods they did to the YB5 are similar to the mods we do to the oem FJ. Better forks, better brakes, rear shock and braced swing arm, better rims are the features we do to the oem FJ.
Although, the 60lb lighter weight on the YB5 is hard to replicate on our FJ's using our heavy steel frame.

[Urx]

Yep it does rather indicate that the fj was designed and built along the right lines and we are just updating the relevant suspension technology....... as you would for pretty much any bike from the 80s.
The frame geometry of the yb5 might be interesting for comparison....
We can vary wheel base and steering angle a little (before running out of ground clearance)...
Makes me wonder how light an fj could be after a serious 'diet' while still looking like an fj....

[RPM - Robert]

The exhaust we used to sell dropped almost 30 lbs if I am remembering correctly. Could shed another 10 lbs in battery, air box, charcoal cannisters. Etc before you even really get into trying to shed weight you could drop 50 lbs easily.

[Millietant]

We can vary wheel base and steering angle a little (before running out of ground clearance)...
Makes me wonder how light an fj could be after a serious 'diet' while still looking like an fj....

Doug - Have a look at the FJ Racer built by Phil Hacker on the UK FJOC site - there's lots of weight that can be lost while still keeping it looking like a FJ. Phil's FJ was competitive racing against such stuff as R1's and GSXR 1000's in the Pre Injection class.

[Millietant]

Additionally, it depends on how much you want to spend - carbon fibre wheels painted to match the original colour could save a whole chunk of weight too while still keeping it looking stock 

[giantkiller]

It's been a while since I built the fj1350r. But everything I did to make it better. Also took a lot of weight off. I weighed all of the stock parts against the parts I put on. At work, very accurate scales. It took it down to right around 500lbs. If I remember right. And it dynoed out at 117 ftlbs torque and 167hp.

[giantkiller]

Hoping to get back to this project this winter. Will be quite a bit lighter than the fj1350r.  Well except for the added weight of the turbo. Paper work for the turbo kit said good for 200hp. On pump gas. Have a friend who tunes a turbo rx1(sled) 480hp. Running 32psi boost. Said with egr and such. Should be able to get 230hp with out much trouble.

[fj1289]

Looks like with a little bit of pipe work, you could have a very tidy under tail exhaust ...


I also still think you should put a throttle body on there and go EFI!