Bimota Presses On With Gp Streetbike

BIMOTA PRESSES ON WITH GP STREETBIKE

Bimota continues to make progress with its revolutionary grand-prix-style Tesi 500, which will use Bimota-developed fuel injection to feed a two-stroke engine that burns straight gasoline and relies on traditional four-stroke-style bottom-end lubrication.

Though the bike is expected as a wild-card entry in this year’s Italian GP and is being developed towards that end, Bimota’s ultimate intent for it is that it be marketed as a streetbike. As such, its high-intensity engine now is developing 130 rear-wheel horsepower on Bimota’s dyno. The development mule tips the scales at 254 pounds-this without the exotic lightweight materials being counted on to reduce the weight of a race-trim Tesi 500 to about 235 pounds.

Providing development stays on track, the completed street version of the Tesi 500 probably will make its public debut at this November’s Milan Motor Show.

-Alan Cathcart