1982 Bimota SB4S

Bimota offered potential customers two options with the SB4S: they could either buy a turn-key, brand-new, factory built motorbike off the shop floor, or take their own superbike to a Bimota dealer and have them build one from it. 

This stunning example is one of the latter, built in 1982 by Moto Accion, the Bimota dealer in Madrid during the eighties. The owner wheeled in a Suzuki GSX1100as a donor and walked out with a piece of art. Built from day one as an SB4S, this is just one of only 106 bikes worldwide (34 factory bikes and 72 kits) to be built to that specification. 

It has been owned and ridden by the vendor for the past decade, so he knows the ‘bike well and tells us that the new owner will need to do nothing to it other than to fit a new front tyre.

Painted white, with twin red stripes and sporting a pair of gold forks, this ‘bike’s full race fairing is a fine example of the 80’s trend towards boxy, function-over-form motorcycles. 

Tank tape has protected the paint finish on the petrol tank area, but is in original, unrestored condition (bar a small area of the keel that has been resprayed), so it does bear the odd scuff and scrape, which makes it much  more interesting in our view than any trailer queen whose tyres have never touched tarmac. 

 As a hard-core road bike the Bimota is fitted with neither mirrors nor indicators. That could be changed if the new owner wanted to fit them but it looks so wonderful without that we can’t help but think it should be left as it is...

Oh, and the seat is only a thin scrap of foam. Looks ace though, doesn’t it?

The 1100cc, 111bhp, four-valve-per-cylinder Suzuki TSCC engine benefits from a recent oil change and pulls as well as it did back in the day, helped by an all-up weight of just 184kg.

The upgraded bits that make this an ‘S’– the oil cooler and single exhaust, as well as the full race fairing – are present and correct and it comes with a spare set of handlebars.

The only work outstanding is to replace the aging front tyre with a new one. That’s it.

The Bimota comes with the original purchase invoice, confirming its status as one of only 106 genuine SB4Ss to ever exist

With just one owner from new, this Bimota SB4S is wearing its years well as an honest, unrestored example of a classic and highly desirable motorcycle. With a light patina, this example is much more interesting than any delivery-miles bike that’s never been ridden.

There is so little visible wear that it could easily be returned to showroom condition with little effort or - and in our opinion should - be ridden as hard and long as the designer originally intended in the sure and certain knowledge that you are sitting astride a rock-solid investment. 

The guide price is £12-13,000, at which price point we think it represents a real bargain. And, don’t forget, the reserve is set even lower than that.

We can also help arrange transport to bring it back from Spain with one of our partners should the winning bidder require it.

To arrange to speak to the current owner, please use the 'Contact Seller' button at the top of the listing, or feel free to ask any questions in the comments or view our frequently asked questions below.