1998 Bimota Mantra

1998 Bimota Mantra sits among the Rimini firm's more unusual experiments, a naked standard built around Ducati's air-cooled V-twin rather than the sportbike chassis Bimota built its name on. This is a bike designed by Sacha Lakic with styling that split opinion from day one, all sculpted bodywork and exposed trellis frame, but underneath the odd looks is a torquey, mid-displacement twin that rewards a relaxed riding style over outright speed chasing. It's a machine for backroad carving rather than track days, with power delivery that favors midrange grunt over top-end drama, and handling that reflects Bimota's usual obsession with chassis rigidity even in a naked application. The 1998 model carried over without significant mechanical changes from the prior year — buyers comparing it to a 1997 example should focus on mileage, service history, and condition rather than spec differences. Owners tend to be experienced riders who already know Ducati mechanicals and want something rarer, often stepping away from mainstream Italian twins in search of a boutique alternative. Collector interest sits at a moderate level, driven more by Bimota's small production numbers and eccentric design history than by outright performance credentials.