Difference between revisions of "Bimota"
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* [http://www.bimota-freun.de German website with international forum] | * [http://www.bimota-freun.de German website with international forum] | ||
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{{Motorcycle Information and Photos by Marque}} | {{Motorcycle Information and Photos by Marque}} | ||
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Revision as of 10:00, 15 November 2008
BiMoTa is a small, semi-bespoke Italian motorcycle manufacturer.
Founded in 1973 in Rimini, Italy by Bianchi, Morri and Tamburini: the first two letters of each forming the name BI-MO-TA, a portmanteau which also resembles the 'moto' part of 'motorcycle'.
At the time of foundation, the state of frame design and overall packaging was poor, and so BiMoTa concentrated on taking great existing engines and building excellent motorcycles around them. They first customised the top-models of Suzuki, Honda and Kawasaki. In the 1980s they also customised Yamaha and Ducati.
Today they make very expensive and exclusives bikes, as they develop cutting-edge chassis and add very high-end suspension and other components to push handling and performance levels. In present, they build four models: DB5 Mille, SBK8 Gobert, SBK8 Santa Monica and Tesi 2D, which uses hub center steering. Bimota model names reflect the origin of the engines they begin with; Yamaha- and Ducati- engined creations began with Y and D respectively. Thus the DB5 and SB8K are the 5th Ducati-engined and 8th Suzuki-engined models.
In 1997 the injected 500 cc two stroke V Due appeared.
In 2005 in Milan Motorbike Exposition, Bimota launched a new naked motorbike derived from the DB5Mille: the new DB6 Delirio.
In 2007, the company commercialized a greatly improved version of the Tesi 2D, the Tesi 3D, using the same concept of a double-swingarm design.
Virginio Ferrari won the 1987 TTF1 title aboard a YB4 EI, partnering with Davide Tardozzi.
Their bikes have been raced over the years, winning several early Superbike World Championship races (Davide Tardozzi taking five in 1988), and also the 1980 350cc constructor's title. After many years without success, the Australian rider Anthony Gobert caused a major shock in 2000 by winning a wet race on one.
Bimota's co-founder and long-time chief designer Tamburini has been an influential player in the development of other Italian brands, most significantly his work on the popular Ducati 916 and MV Agusta F4; other designers such as current Bimota chief Sergio Robbiano have also been involved with larger-volume manufacturers.
External links
- Official website
- french endurance team which use few Bimota classic
- German website with international forum
