Of all of the bikes that Bimota ever made, the DB3 Mantra is maybe essentially the most peculiar. As you’d anticipate from the Italian agency, the DB3 featured a Ducati engine in an aluminum trellis body and was recognized for its nimble dealing with. However its alien-like aesthetic was just a little too far on the market for many pundits.
As uncommon because the Bimota DB3 Mantra is, personalized examples of it are even rarer. We’ve solely ever featured one {custom} DB3 on these pages—and now, that exact same bike is again for one more spherical. It’s simply gone below the knife for the second time at Analog—and now appears even higher.
The DB3’s first makeover occurred eleven years in the past, when Analog’s Tony Prust modified it for his good buddy and drummer of the rock band Chevelle, Sam Loeffler. The bike made waves on the inaugural Handbuilt and Mama Tried reveals, and starred in an episode of Café Racer TV. Extra importantly, Sam rode it… so much.
Extra lately, Sam introduced the bike again to Tony for a few gentle adjustments. He needed a entrance suspension improve, and he needed so as to add a entrance fender (one thing that was excluded the primary time round).
“I used to be reluctant,” says Tony. “In my view, it was a well-liked construct in its time and I used to be pleased with it, for essentially the most half, because it was. Certain, there have been some issues that if I needed to do once more I might have made completely different selections—nevertheless it was a ‘completed’ Analog construct.”
“Sam revisited the dialog a variety of occasions and I lastly caved. However I stated that if we have been doing that, what if we did extra issues, now that I’ve honed my abilities because the authentic construct. Sam was stoked on that concept and delivered the bike to our TN location.”
Swapping out the Bimota’s conventional forks for upside-downs proved to be one of many simpler jobs on the mission. Tony sourced a set of Ducati Monster 900 items, after which had his buddy Invoice Bailey machine a brand new steering stem to marry the Monster’s yokes to the the Bimota’s body. The entire association was stripped, powder-coated black, and reassembled.
“After that was performed, I had a psychological block and the mission stalled for a bit,” Tony tells us. “I left it on a bench whereas I labored on different tasks for months, after which it lastly began to take form.”
Specializing in the bodywork, Tony began fabricating new components to enhance the one piece he meant to maintain—the gas tank. “After I constructed it I didn’t know the way to form metallic,” he explains. “However I used to be a carpenter by commerce for a few years, so I made a wooden buck of the tank and employed Mike Ardito to make it.”
“He additionally made the tail part—however since I didn’t have a wooden buck for it, it form of ended up extra his concept than mine. I used to be nonetheless studying my craft again then.”
Tony’s skillset has grown a heck of so much over the past eleven years. So he fabricated a brand new tail part from scratch this time, ending it off with a deeply scooped saddle. The association is an ideal match for the gas tank’s myriad contours and edges, and sits properly within the previously-redesigned subframe.
Subsequent, Tony constructed an identical entrance fender, full with a pair of built-in Denali LEDs that act as working lights and switch indicators. Greater up, a custom-made headlight nacelle performs host to a Denali LED headlight, whereas the rear sports activities a Denail taillight and Analog flip indicators.
The bike already had tasty Alpine wheels and ISR brakes fitted, so these have been left alone. The engine had additionally been rebuilt within the earlier spherical, and was nonetheless working robust with Keihin flat-slide carbs, velocity stacks, and an EVR slipper clutch. So Tony merely swapped out the exhaust for a bespoke two-into-one system, releasing up just a little extra torque within the course of.
The Bimota was rewired round a Motogadget mo.unit field, with a Motogadget speedo doing obligation within the cockpit. Tony additionally swapped the present clip-on bars for a set of Renthal riser bars, put in a custom-built Hyperpro rear shock, and fitted contemporary Spiegler brake strains.
Though the DB3’s {custom} gas tank appears the identical as earlier than, it’s really sporting a brand new coat of paint. Tony had KC at Krossover Customs replicate the unique livery, carrying it by to the brand new fender, fairing, and tail. Common Analog co-conspirator, Dane Utech, dealt with the seat foam and fabric.
Analog’s second crack on the Bimota DB3 Mantra not solely appears extra cohesive than the primary, nevertheless it’s reportedly extra snug too (sure, Sam nonetheless rides it). It’s a uncommon case of the sequel outshining the unique.
Analog Bikes | Fb | Instagram | Photos by Enrique Parilla
