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Until the Ducati 1098R and 1198 came along, this was the world’s most powerful twin-cylinder production road engine, but it’s still a beauty. The V-twin Ducati 1098 Testsastretta motor powering the DB7 actually displaces 1099cc and produces a claimed 160bhp and 90ftlb of torque. It’s a standard Ducati engine, lock stock and two-smoking barrels but is fitted with Bimota’s own fuel-injection system and 52mm stainless steel downpipes and a titanium end can. Weighing 1kg more than the 1098S and 1kg less than the 1098, the Bimota DB7’s performance is on par with the Ducati it’s based on, which means it’s very, very fast. There’s usable grunt as soon as the rev needle leaves its stop and masses of wheelie-provoking acceleration at the flick of a wrist. The fuelling is as good as the Ducati’s so is a massive improvement on past Bimota models.

This is a motorcycle manufactured to the highest standard, so it goes without saying that quality is exemplary. The finish is to die for and the attention to detail stunning. None of the cycle parts are going to let you down and neither should the tried and tested Ducati 1098 engine. Ducatis are reliable things nowadays and their electrics some of the best in the business, so you shouldn’t have any reliability worries with the Bimota DB7. The only problem is there’s still no UK importer for Bimota, which leaves a question mark over spares and servicing.

The Bimota DB7 is a phenomenal handling machine and is that bit more agile and faster steering than the Ducati 1098. But it’s a fickle beast to set-up and is unlikely to be perfect for you straight out of the box, as the suspension needs careful setting-up to suit the rider’s weight and riding style. Once the fully adjustable ExtremeTech 2v4 rear shock and Marzocchi Corse RAC 43mm forks are dialled in you’re good to go. Early Bimota DB7 models came with Continental tyres, which lacked front feel and rear grip but now they come fitted with Pirelli Super Corsa, which are superb. Brembo Monobloc calipers would stop a speeding train on a sixpence but it’s hard to use their full power as it’s almost impossible to hang on under severe braking. The tank is too narrow to lock into with your knees so you have to take the full force of stopping with your arms, which can cause the rider fatigue.

It’s hard to justify over 21-grand for any motorcycle, even one as beautiful and fast as the Bimota DB7, especially with the lack of Bimota dealers to provide back-up. You’re not being ripped off though, as you only have to look at the way it’s put together and the quality of products used to see that it’s worth every penny. In sheer performance terms, it’s no better than an eight grand Suzuki GSX-R750, but if you’ve got the cash, want exclusivity, a soul-stirring engine note and sheer craftsmanship, the Bimota DB7 will be the bike for you.

Every square inch of the Bimota DB7 is feast of mouth-watering, hand-made specialness. There’s the oval section steel/billet aluminium chassis (with adjustable ride height), self-supporting carbon fibre seat unit, carbon fibre fairing, mudguard, heel guards and hugger. The exquisitely milled aluminium rearsets, fork bottoms, swingarm ends, yokes, brake and clutch levers and10-spoke forged aluminium wheels all serve to make the Bimota DB7 like no other motorcycle you’ll ever see in a pub car park, unless it’s another Bimota, of course.

Although Bimota still haven’t sorted out a UK importer (but a number of dealerships are beginning to surface), that shouldn’t put you off owning a modern-day Bimota DB6R. The sinple Ducati engine is tried, tested and reliable, so there’s no worries there and the cycle parts are top-shelf, so should pass the test of time. Build quality is beyond question, the paint finish exemplary and the standard of components sky high.

This special ‘R’ version is a massive 7kg lighter than the already ‘Slim-Fast’ base Bimota DB6 model and tips the scales at a piffling 170kg, wet with no fuel. As a result it dances through tight turns and pulls effortless wheelies, stoppies and skids on demand. The weight saving mainly comes from the new lightweight Marvic wheels. This improves ride quality as well as making the DB6R super-agile.

This really is the perfect engine for this bike. The Bimota DB6R is powered by Ducati’s 95bhp air-cooled, twin-spark, four-valve motor, the same as you’ll find in the Ducati Hypermotard. It’s hard enough to keep the Bimota’s front wheel on the ground as it is, because you sit bolt upright and the bike so light, so you really don’t need any more power than what’s on tap. The fuelling is perfect and there’s a beefy spread of grunt from tickover to 7000rpm. A booming soundtrack from Bimota’s twin underseat exhausts at full throttle and the rattle from the dry clutch, never fails to make you smile.

This really is a rich man’s toy. It’s hard to justify this kind of price tag for what is really an impractical summer’s day motorcycle. But it’s beautiful, fast, fun, handles brilliantly and everything works as it should. Without doubt, the Bimota DB6R would be in my dream garage.

n typical Bimota style the hand-made DB6R comes with lashings of carbon fibre and billet aluminium as standard. It also gets fully-adjustable 50mm Marzocchi forks an Extreme Tech rear shock and steering damper, Brembo Monobloc four-piston radial calipers and lightweight Marvic wheels.