Bimota Branches Out | Euro Notes

By Alan Cathcart | Photography by Bimota

After an inevitable downturn in the wake of the global recession—2011 sales were a mere 150 bikes—Bimota is aiming for a comeback in 2012 with a pair of new naked bikes. Pharmaceutical magnate Roberto Comini, who rescued the Rimini-based brand from bankruptcy in ’03, has promised further investments to offer customers more choices without sacrificing the company’s focus on quality and exclusivity.

The first new offering is the DB9 Brivido (Italian for “thrill,” shown here). This is a streetfighter version of the DB8 superbike, powered by the same 1198cc Testastretta Evoluzione V-twin from Ducati’s Diavel, delivering 162 bhp. More aggressive styling and less aggressive chassis geometry will make a better all-around motorcycle, Bimota hopes. Joining the Brivido is the DB10 Bimotard, a supermoto version of the DB6 Delirio that uses the air-cooled, 98-bhp Ducati Desmodue engine. Both models are equipped with Marzocchi forks, Extreme Tech shocks and O.Z. forged racing wheels, and both should be available by late spring.

Even more shocking, Bimota also displayed a prototype off-road racer—the first in the company’s 38-year history—developed by the Spanish JTG/Jotagas firm owned by Mika Arpa and former world trials champion Jordi Tarres. Comoni stressed, however, that this was just a “test-the-water” concept. Nakeds, supermotos and now dirt? Bimota really is interested in broadening its appeal!