1997 Bimota SB7

1997 Bimota SB7 sits near the top of the Rimini factory's small-batch sportbike output, built around a Suzuki-sourced twin rather than the multi-cylinder engines Bimota used elsewhere in its range. This is a bike built to make a Ducati SP feel slightly ordinary in comparison: a trellis-framed, hand-assembled machine where the chassis and suspension were tuned specifically around the engine rather than adapted to fit an existing platform. On the road it rewards a rider who wants to feel every input translate directly into the chassis, not one looking for touring comfort or forgiving ergonomics. The 1997 model carried over without significant mechanical changes from the prior year — buyers comparing it to a 1996 example should focus on mileage, service history, and condition rather than spec differences. Given how few of these were built and how much specialist knowledge their upkeep demands, most people buying a 1997 Bimota SB7 today are collectors or experienced twin-cylinder sportbike owners who understand what they're taking on, not first-time exotic buyers. Values reflect genuine scarcity as much as performance.