All things considered
Eventually it had to stop and when it did I found myself really thinking about what I had just experienced. Two brilliant motorcycles separated by 30 years worth of technology. And it felt to me as though that’s all that separates them. Having ridden both the bikes, I can see in both instances what Bimota have done. And it is exactly what they intended to. They have taken the best engine available to them and invested everything into designing and building a chassis for the perfect race oriented production bike. They did it way back when with the YB4 and they have done it now with the BB3. Of course they’re very different motorcycles, but they both made me feel the same way. Not only did they give me the confidence to push myself and the bikes to their limits but they accepted everything I could throw at them without any protest.
I can see now why Ben chooses to race the BB3 at the TT rather than a more readily available BMW. It’s because it’s a more focused race bike. Perhaps the BMW is a nicer road bike; it’s certainly got a more comfortable seat and the lower foot pegs will probably stop you getting cramp so soon. Ben didn’t want a road bike though, he wanted a race bike, and that is what the BB3 is.
Just like 30 years ago when Virginio Ferrari decided he wanted to win the World Championship, he chose the YB4 because it was the best bike for the job. Before this test I knew I liked the BB3, and I knew that it would be an awesome bike to race round the TT Mountain Course. What I didn’t expect though, was how deeply I would fall in love with classic Bimota YB4; I hadn’t realised a bike older than me could be so much fun and so very capable. After riding the ’4 it has become plain to see exactly why so many folk are so enthusiastic about the Classic TT and the classic motorcycle racing scene in general. The bikes don’t have today’s cutting edge technology but they do have the character to more than compensate.
I never thought I’d be charmed by a bike like this but the YB4 has got me weak at the knees and wondering how I can wrangle my way into the 2018 Classic TT line-up. I’ll let you know if I find out.