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Bimota Tesi H2 Prototype

Kawasaki has taken a 49.9 percent stake in Bimota, with the controlling 50.1% being retained by its current owners (formerly Bimota S.A. but officially renamed B and Motion S.A.), and is resurrecting it with a monster motorcycle. The Tesi H2 adds Bimota's famous center-hub steering and chassis to the wild Kawasaki H2 supercharged motor.

The deal has been in progress for nearly three years, and the bike has just been unveiled at the 2019 EICMA show in Milan. Kawasaki Heavy Industries' Motorcycle Planning Division Manager Hiroshi Ito spoke at the launch:

"A small investment bank approached us inquiring if we were interested in an Italian motorcycle manufacturer. The company name was veiled, but when I checked the documents I instantly noticed. Oh it’s BIMOTA!!!. Yes, that BIMOTA. For motorcycle enthusiast at my age, BIMOTA was legendary motorcycles that we used to dream of with its incredible chassis, jewel-like parts and an unaffordable price tag."

Thus, Kawasaki decided to invest, leaving Bimota based in Italy but providing it with engines and support.

"BIMOTA is a jewel of Italy," continued Ito. "So It must be based in Rimini, Italy. It must be designed by Italian designers. And it must be built by Italian craftsmen otherwise it will lose it value. So, our mission is clear, we will support Sig. Marconi and his team will make new legendary history of BIMOTA with Kawasaki’s legendary engines! We’d like declare now BIMOTA is here as most premium motorcycle in the world."

To mark their new partnership, engineer Pierluigi Marconi designed a new Bimota Tesi model equipped with the Kawasaki H2 supercharged inline-Four engine. The Tesi H2 uses bodywork and a chassis designed by Bimota, including the front swingarm and hub-steering system. On close inspection, it looks like the only parts retained from the H2 are the engine, mirrors, handlebars, steering damper, switchgear, exhaust and instrumentation. Marconi says the Tesi H2 offers electronic suspension, traction control ABS and other electronic systems, likely inherited from the H2. .

Bimota’s front end design separates steering and suspension. Two Öhlins shocks are mounted to the back of the frame, with one connected to a linkage system that runs along the left side to the front swingarm. The front brake caliper is hidden under the fender.