If you’re thinking today’s Pierobon X85R is just some sort of Panigale in race bodywork with an aftermarket exhaust, you’re partly correct, but also missing an important detail. Hint: it’s red and is something you wouldn’t normally see on Ducati’s semi-monocoque superbike. A frame. Less obvious is the extended swingarm to improve the v-twin Pani’s somewhat unruly handling. All of it crafted to the highest standards from the best materials available, and the completed machine should be impossibly light: an X60R powered by Ducati’s two-valve engine weighs in at around 300lbs wet, depending on specification.
So why would you add a frame to a largely frameless bike? You’d have to ask Pierobon, although I’d suspect the frame has more flex to add a bit of feel to the somewhat feedback-challenged Panigale. But I’d trust them if I were you: located in Bologna near Ducati’s headquarters, they’ve been making frames, subframes, swingarms, and fuel tanks to their WSBK and MotoGP teams for over 50 years. As a sideline, they make a variety of trackday and racebike kits meant to accept Ducati’s two and four-valve engines. Be prepared for some sticker-shock though.
These are basically kits that include the frame, airbox, air duct, rear subframe, rearsets, and brackets for the electronics. To that base kit, you can add whichever suspension you want, using the original Panigale tank and swingarm. If you want, you can add beautifully-crafted, lightweight replacements from Pierobon, along with carbon bodywork that appears to be based on the Panigale. You’ll also need an exhaust, and other sundry bits. Boulder Motorsports, the folks selling this bike, have built a few of these in the past, and I’ve seen them at track days out here on the west coast. They’re minimalist and beautiful in the way that only pure racing machines can be. The seller includes the insane level of equipment that went into this one below.
From the original eBay listing: 2018 Pierobon X85R Superbike for Sale
2018 Pierobon X85R Superbike, Serial #1
This Pierobon X85R is a very unique and special trellis frame Panigale 1199R powered race/track bike and is frame number one built by Pierobon in Bologna Italy. The bike is light weight and was built by Boulder Motor Sports (US Pierobon importer) with the highest level components from Brembo, Ohlins, OZ, Magneti Marelli, etc.
Who is Pierobon you ask? Pierobon is located in Bologna Italy adjacent to Ducati’s headquarters and is a chassis and fabrication specialist company that supplies many racing teams in World Superbike and MotoGP with frames, subframes swingarms and fuel tanks as well as paddock equipment. Pierobon has built three versions of complete chassis kits known as the X60R (2-valve air cooled Ducati engine, X80R (4-Valve liquid cooled Ducati engine) and the X85R (4-valve Panigale liquid cooled engine). The X85R utilizes a lightweight trellis frame combined with a Pierobon built +30mm single sided swingarm and triple clamps that offers amazing feedback to the rider with precise engineering.
The following components where used to build this unique bike:
- Pierobon X85R Chassis kit #1 (main frame, subframes, rear sets, handle bars, etc)
- +30mm Pierobon WSBK single sided swingarm
- Ducati 1199R SBK Engine (900km apx)
- Ohlins RVP25 Forks
- Ohlins RSP40 WSBK Shock
- Ducati Corse WSBK Rear link and adjuster
- Brembo Monobloc 2-pad GP front race calipers with Brembo Z04 pads
- Brembo 16×18 Billet front brake pump
- Brembo 16×19 Billet clutch pump
- Brembo 84mm Bilett rear caliper
- IMA adjustable thumb brake with optional rear foot brake control
- 336mm front racing brake rotors
- Magneti Marelli SRT SBK ECU and electronics (Bike includes cable and software)
- Custom race wiring loom, switch gear and components built by Bike Sport Developments UK
- Electronics support traction, wheelie and launch control as well as closed loop engine braking
- AIM SmrtyCam HD camera system with embeded data on screen for video playback
- Termignoni WSBK/BSB Edition Force full racing exhaust
- OZ “R” racing wheels
- Febur full SBK radiator and oil cooler
- Carbon bodywork
- Race seat with seat extender
- EK 3d chain with quick change sprockets
- Titanium hardware throughout the entire bike
Bike will be sold with limited spare parts.
This bike was built by Boulder Motor Sports in 2018 and was ridden by Moto Rapido British Superbike rider Tommy Bridewell in the AHRMA Pro Challenge race during the Barber Vintage festival in 2018. The following year it was ridden at the same event by WSBK champion Scott Russell. The bike has been meticulously maintained and was built utilizing the highest level of components.
This is a great opportunity to purchase a collectible engineering masterpiece by one of the worlds best chassis designers, engineers and fabricators.
Sound like your dream bike? Only one problem, the $110,000 asking price. Which, believe it or not, is probably well south of the actual build cost. Is it worth it? Considering the quality components, rarity, and performance, probably it technically is, although the performance is far beyond what most of us could hope to fully exploit and it doesn’t really have any value to collectors. Basically it’s a very, very expensive toy. But I know if price was no object, I’d want one.
-tad
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