New Details on Bimota’s Tesi H2

[advrider]

Zac gave us the first look at Bimota’s upcoming Tesi H2 last November. Now, regulatory documents filed in Europe for the Tesi H2 reveal more details about the Italian boutique manufacturer’s latest version of their radical Tesi hyperbike. Bimota is known for producing motorcycles using powerplants from different mainstream manufacturers, giving their models alphanumeric designations that start with the first letter of the donor engine manufacturer’s name. For example, the DB1 used a Ducati powerplant, the SB8K had a Suzuki engine, and the KB2 was powered by Kawasaki.

Before stuffing the chosen engine into the chassis of their own design, Bimota would often tweak the tuning of the donor motor to extract a little more power, but this does not appear to be the case with the Tesi H2. The European filing lists the Tesi H2’s power output at 228 bhp at 11,500 rpm, which is essentially the same as the production Kawasaki H2. Whether the lack of tuning by Bimota is due to increasingly stringent emissions standards, a request from Kawasaki (which owns a 49% stake of Bimota), or simply because 228 horsepower is quite enough for any sane rider, is unknown at this time.

Bimota Tesi H2 – Is too much just enough? Credit: Bimota

The Bimota Tesi H2 will help justify its rumored $65,000 price tag by way of its weight of 472 pounds (214kg), 53 pounds (24kg) lighter than its Kawasaki cousin. The other big trick up its sleeve is the swingarm front suspension system, the defining feature of all of Bimota’s past Tesi models, and the inspiration for the Tesi name, which translates to “thesis” from Italian. Utilizing a hub-center steering system connected to the handlebars via links and Heim joints, the arrangement does not suffer from stiction and can isolate suspension, steering, and braking forces.

The rest of the Tesi H2’s specifications mimic the Kawasaki’s, with a 56.9 inch (1,445mm) wheelbase and electronically-limited 186 mph (299 kph) top speed. Other Kawasaki-engined Bimotas are reportedly in the pipeline, as would be expected with the Japanese manufacturer’s investment in the brand, like the KB4, which returns to Bimota’s traditional model naming.

Sources: cycleworld.com, Bimota

Vezi sursa