importing bikes

I have been looking at importing a bimota sb8k santa monica for the last few days, the us seller provided me with the chassis number so that the shipper can get it imported but sods law the chassis number can't be found on any databases. loads of emails and days wasted between me and the seller and shipper to try and find information that the bike was produced in italy, i mean for f**k sake it's a bimota but anyway officialdom needs this crap and the seller finally turns round and says oh we've got the ce letter of conformity would this help, No s**t sherlock for f**k sake. Hopefully this deal is happening as it's one of my dream bikes

I wasn't a really big fan of the sb8r as the cans came out at a flat angle and a few other bits but the santa monica is another thing entirely, carbon tanks were not allowed in the us but this one has had it fitted and is zero mile but that won't last for long if the deal goes through, cannot be doing with bikes or cars that are trailer queens as they just become ornaments.

Can’t remember which model of bimota possibly the one with the gsxr1100 motor but to change the front sprocket the motor had to be dropped !!!

That was the sb6 and 6r with the gsxr1100 lump, i have looked at a few of those lately but i really prefer the sb6, again the exhusts looked a lot better as the sb6 were hidden in the tail unit where the 6r hung out below and looked a bit of an after thought, they only made 75 of the sb8k santa monica.

it's not exactly going to be an everyday bike so i can forgive it a few foibles and with most things they are fixable, it's a dream bike for me and something i thought i would never be able to own.

Good choice, would love an SB2 but some what out of my price range.

Brilliant choice hemi, what a tool. It’s the sb6 that needs the motor dropping to change the sprocket . I’ve had three over the years and with the help of Steve Wynne ( Sports Motorcyles Ducati) I visited the factory about 40 years ago and got my photo taken sitting on the original Tesi concept bike before they were put into production, what an amazing piece of engineering . Hope the deal goes through, good luck

Don't think if ever seen a bimota in the flesh just always liked what have seen them do.hope to read your review on it when you ring its neck 

Hangry wrote: Garin wrote: Good choice, would love an SB2 but some what out of my price range. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHdswjhkwsY&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR26jTiaR7ePUSN-LNtn-qD4K8Rvijg3YzMHztRZwJ1xSe2CHoGR2YekS0o Great vid of an SB8, a 996 and an RSV ! hey that is a great vid wonder if any of them still alive

Yep that's the puppy

426hemi wrote: Yep that's the puppy

that exact one? 

That looks fantastic! I have gone a horrible shade of envy green

Well it's paid for, that's the biggest money transaction i have ever made, especially for something i have never seen, unnerving sitting in the bank and them saying are you sure you want this sending

6 to 8 weeks, it’s going to seem like forever.

I think we’re going to be into summer before any of this gets better.