One of 114, stunning hand-crafted Bimota YB6 in the desirable EXUP version. This Federico Martini designed machine is considered by many to be the best handling and fastest Superbike of the 90's.

And just look at the craftmanship of the frame and state-of-the-art aluminium machined triple clamps as well as footrests in combination with its gorgeous racing red, white and gold accented body work.

This is a fantastic opportunity to purchase a high performance classic motorcycle engineered with painstaking attention to detail.

Built in December 1989, this superb example of Bimota's timeless classic, frame number YB6 01008, was first registered on the 1st of September 2000 in the German part of Switzerland. The seller purchased the bike in June 2005 with 3,519 kms on the odometer, and it now shows only 4,726 kms.

Properly stored in a heated garage and started on a regular basis, this YB6 has been spearingly used since a major service (€ 1,700) carried out by a respected Yamaha dealer in 2014. All manuals, tools and bills are included in the sale. The bike also comes with the optional thicker seat padding as well as a motorcycle stand.

This Bimota YB6 EXUP is in excellent order throughout and ready to be driven and enjoyed or included as an addition to any Bimota or Italian motorcycle collection. A rare collector's item and sought after classic, even more so in the exclusive EXUP version.

One of the most popular Bimotas ever built, the YB6 took a Yamaha FZR1000 Genesis 20-valve engine and surrounded it with a beautiful and capable frame. Weighing 186 kg with 140 horsepower, the standard YB6 could lay down a 11 second quarter mile time on the way to a top speed of 274 km per hour.

Bimota's YB series machines were among the finest sports bikes of the late 80s, combining powerful four-cylinder Yamaha motors with the twin-spar aluminium frame layout that would be adopted by major manufacturers in subsequent years. To that basic format the small Rimini firm added sharp styling, high-quality cycle parts and top-level racetrack development, plus the exclusivity that came with a bike that was hand-built in very small numbers.

The story of Bimota's Yamaha-engined four began in 1987, when factory rider Virginio Ferrari won the Formula One world championship, then the leading four-stroke race series. Ferrari's YB4 was powered by Yamaha's liquid-cooled 20-valve FZ750 engine. Bimota's subsequent YB4 E.I. roadbike was a replica of Ferrari's machine, and was quickly followed by a similar YB6 model using the larger engine from the FZR1000. Unlike the YB4, whose E.I. initials signified that it was fuel-injected, the YB6 used carburettors.

Notable was that Bimota canted the FZR1000 engine backwards 7 degrees to allow for a shorter wheelbase. Yamaha may have been inspired by this because they soon made the same change on their production bike.

The YB6 was a big success and was followed a year later by the EXUP version, later produced as the YB8, following Yamaha's release of the FZR1000 EXUP. This combined an uprated engine plus the new EXUP exhaust valve that increased mid-range power delivery. As usual, Bimota retained the Yamaha engine in standard form, but added a less restrictive silencer that added a claimed 4bhp to the power output, giving a maximum of 147 hp at 10.000 rpm.

Like the standard Bimota YB6, the EXUP version used a YB4 style frame with rectangular-section aluminium spars. Front forks and rear shock, complete with remote reservoir, were from Italian specialist Marzocchi. Four-piston Brembo front brake calipers gripped 320 mm fully floating discs.

The riding position was racy, with low clip-on handlebars, high footrests and a thinly padded single seat.

Along with its slightly increased power, the YB6 EXUP was more compact and aerodynamic than the standard FZR1000. as well as 23kg lighter. That meant that it was probably the fastest and hardest-accelerating production motorcycle in the world. Its smooth, high-revving power sent the Bimota storming to a top speed of 282 km/h. Equally impressive was the big 20-valve Yamaha motor's smooth, torquey feel throughout the rev range.

Given Bimota's race-developed background and its close links to the factory YB4, it was no surprise that the YB6 EXUP was very stable even when approaching its maximum velocity. And it also handled superbly at all speeds. Steering was light and neutral, grip from the fat Michelin radial tyres immense, ground clearance absolute. The brakes were excellent, with a combination of bite and feel to rival the very best.

The extra torque and refinement of Yamaha's new motor had added the finishing touch to make a magnificent sports bike. Inevitably the YB6 models were also hugely expensive. Despite that they were a success for Bimota, which built a total of 546 YB6 and 114 EXUP models - a large number by the standards of the tiny Rimini firm.

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