Amidst the beauty parade of BMWs, Hondas and Triumphs, it’s good to see a more obscure marque getting a custom makeover. And before you recoil in horror at the thought of a Bimota going under the knife, rest assured that the donor bike was probably the ugliest machine to come out of Bimota’s Rimini factory—the mid-90s DB3 Mantra.
‘DB3.5’ is the work of Tony Prust of Analog Motorcycles, with help from co-conspirator Mike Ardito. And mighty fine it is too. The oddball bodywork is gone, and the mechanicals have been upgraded with high-spec components to make it even more exhilarating to ride.
The Ducati M900 motor has been rebuilt by Ducati Milwaukee, and fitted with a later-model oil cooler to keep temperatures down. It’s now fed by Keihin FCR carbs with velocity stacks to boost power, with gases exiting via a very discreet custom exhaust—complete with a classy ceramic coating from Hytek Coatings.
Swedish brake specialists ISR were called in to help haul this projectile to a stop, with custom-made 320mm rotors up front and adjustable radial master cylinders. The wheels are 17” Alpinas front and back, with custom spacers, and shod with Pirelli Diablo Rosso II tires. The finishing touches include custom HEL brake lines, newly-fabricated Analog belt guards, and an EVR slipper clutch and slave cylinder.
To ensure the Show matches the Go, Tony and Mark created all-new bodywork, with a new rear subframe to keep things tidy. The new aluminum tank is the highlight, and everything is finished in a subtle shade of gray applied by Crown Autobody.
It’s the bike that Bimota themselves should have built 17 years ago: a high-performance naked with a stripped-back style and timeless appeal.
The Bimota will also feature in the upcoming issue #6 of Italian Motor Magazine.
