A 1996 Bimota DB3 Mantra re-envisioned by Tony Prust’s Analog Motorcycles as DB3.5. First published in SportBikes Inc Magazine, August 2014.
Tony Prust of Analog Motorcycles has been putting in serious work for quite some time now. His list of clients is more than impressive… it’s authentic. Prust is a genuine builder. The 1996 Analog Motorcycles Bimota DB3 Mantra, also known as the DB3.5 is a testament to his work ethic and pedigree.
The tank, the subframe, seat pan and hump are all custom, one-off components. That means you are not going to find these bits sitting on a shelf or on a website for easy ordering. That’s only the beginning of the uniqueness of DB3.5. Prust revitalized the engine and added up-to-date electronic components and an all-new electrical system to ensure proper running application of those components.
The DB3.5 is aesthetically dialed in when it comes to the details. The paint job and the seat upholstery work in tandem, complementing the stark lines of the bike’s symmetry. The gold trim, highlights and accents give life to the grey tank and the bold black framework. The configuration of the open underbody exhaust is highlighted by golden muffler tips, giving a somewhat metal tinging when the pipes open up.
It is aggressively designed to be and look aggressive. In that, it looks like nothing else on the road. Even if it reminds you of another bike that you may have seen, upon further inspection, you discover that it truly doesn’t. The Analog Motorcycles Bimota DB3.5 Mantra is short and tidy and built with purpose… To be ridden.
Images: Grant Schwingle
nice bike but that clutch lever looks the very definition of ‘overwrought’