1991 Bimota Tesi 1D 904 SR
Miles: 1
Listed in Europe via eBay UK
Seller is in Portugal
Asking Price of 150,000 Euro, opened to offers
Listing ends: April 6th
Brand New, never riden!
This site contains affiliate links for which we may be compensated, hopefully.
It goes without saying that whenever a Bimota hits the market, the team here at RSBFS is going to get it posted on the site. We are huge fans, a few of our contributors even are owners. It does not take a seasoned expert in the field of Rare Sports Bikes to know that all of these bikes are special. That does not mean that there are not still some preferences, or some bikes from the Rimini stand out more. The first thought for many when talking Bimota is that of the iconic Tesi. It is just such a huge departure from normal that one cannot help but take notice. In uniqueness and shock value there are few motorcycles that can compete.
Even if not in the market, one could spend a significant amount of time pouring over the details in the listing photographs. It is no easy task to remove all the bodywork on one of these, but very much worth it to expose the fantastic engineering.
As with any small batch Italian company, exact details on production numbers are hard to pin down. The first generation of Tesi was powered by the Ducati V Twin superbike engine lifted from the 851. Some say there are a total of 417 and others 413 Tesi 1D built. This relatively low number is also split across six distinct models. For the sake of this post, we will reference the 417 total. 127 were 851 powered, 51 were 400cc and only sold in the Japanese market, 20 had an uprated 904 engine, a further 144 were also powered by a 904cc engine and finally a special and final edition totaling 50 and 25 respectively. Suffice to say, all are exceedingly rare.
For anyone seeking a solid resource for all things Bimota, the out of print Bimota 25 Years of Excellence is about as good as it gets. The book goes into nerdy details on the history and subtle changes between years and models. The quickest way to denote a 904 from the latter SR models is the solid red front fender and hidden SR font on the tail section. These bikes share much of the same mechanicals of the latter SR variants, but a connoisseur will notice the location of the engine control unit, and brand of the shocks as giveaways. The fully encased bodywork is indicative of the era and interesting in its own right. . The riding experience is also said to be like none other due to the lack of dive under hard braking. For a collector the 904 SR is the pinnacle of the Tesi 1D. The most appealing specifications, traditional color scheme and lowest production numbers.
This site contains affiliate links for which we may be compensated, hopefully.
From The eBay Listing:
Please make us a serious offer you feel comfortable with
We will consider all serious offers, we actually want to sell all our bikes,
not “parade” around photos of pretty motorcycles online
Whether you are a dealer or a private collector you are welcome to make us an offer on one or on several bikes in a package deal
This is a classified advert so you can contact us directly via the phone number listed at the top of this page. We are located in Portugal near Lisbon where we retired to some years back
We are dissolving a small private 30+ year motorcycle collection due to age and health related reasons. Most bikes are the top models of the different manufacurers from the 1970-ies, 80-ies and 90-ies. Several bikes are rare pre-production versions or very rare prototypes or one-off builds, common to all is that they are in exceptional condition and run well
Please look at our other listings to see other models for sale
To this listing:
Offered here is the first of two rare and brandnew classic Bimotas we are selling, both of them over 30 and 40 years old respectively, but never having been used or ridden, only displayed in serious collections their entire lives
Check out all our other bikes offered for sale here in our other items
This Bimota Tesi 1D 904 SR is one of 20 special 904cc Ducati engined Tesi’s build by Bimota with an engine spec’ build by Ducati just for this version in 1991. The Bimota Logo is stamped into the engine case ahead of the actual serial number, designating this engine to be specific for this Bimota
The Tesi offered for sale here is brandnew, with only 1km showing on the odometer. Its entire history is known since being delivered new to the well known Collezione Giappone in Fukuoka, Japan. It was displayed in that collection until its sale to the Ferrari Importer/Dealer in Prague, in the Chech Republic, where it was part of a large collection of only new condition classic bikes.
The original delivery documentation to Japan as well as the japanese specification sheet in japanese language is part of the history folder of this motorcycle, as are the import documents and all other pertinent paperwork documenting its history from new until today. Also included is the warranty booklet, the original owners manual, a key fob and the toolkit.
The images posted are of the actual bike for sale, taken by a professional photographer for a classic vehicle magazine article in the 07/2022 issue of the german mgazine Markt, so they are as current as can be.
We are only aware of one identical bike that sold in this as-new condition in January of 2021 in the USA at the auction site Bring a Trailer. Feel free to look it up online at BaT in the USA and what price it sold for back then
We welcome and will consider every reasonable offer that respects the rarety and exceptional condition of this limited edition motorcycle.
With only appr. 413 Bimota Tesi 1D bikes build in total for worldwide distribution in the late 1980-ies and early 1990-ies over a period of 5 years all Bimota Tesi’s are sure to appreciate in the decades to come.
Even more so will this brandnew example, maybe one of only a few anywhere today. This Tesi is currently on loan to a well respected dealer in Germany and sits in his display collection with the bodywork removed and hung up on wires to show the brilliant design of the Tesi frame. Inquire with us if you like to take a trip to personally view this bike before making an informed bid
Aternatively over 50 high quality current photos available in an online album format (no downloading needed) on request.
This motorcycle can be shipped on its own wheels (roll-on/roll-off) Europe wide or we can have it crated professionally at resonable cost to be shipped overseas. Please call,us if you have any other questions
Some might get a bit of sticker shock when they see a six figure asking price for anything. For context, these were never a bargain in terms of pricing. All new Bimota carry MSRPs that mean most are buying with their hearts, and not in a more rational fashion. The listing references a 2021 BringATrailer listing where basically a twin to this bike was sold for $76,000. Some keen readers might remember that the sale was almost immediately backed up with another zero mileage Tesi 1D coming to market and achieving a similar result. The listing does not make mention of the 2023 BringAtrailer listing of a 1300km bike failing to sell with a high bid of $23,000. That bike was also in Europe. Other bikes have popped up here and there for a wide range of asking prices. One would struggle to find another motorcycle that would attract more attention and spark so many amazing conversations.
This post may sound over enthusiastic, but it is only because of the passion that I share for the Tesi 1D and all Bimota. As a current owner of a 904 SR that is entering into the final stages of a sympathetic restoration and major service I am always eager to share these machines and encourage others to put them on their bucket list. Hopefully some readers will post questions or comments below. I look forward to the conversation.
-William
First rate bike, and an eye-watering price. Someone is clearly trying to cash in on the current hyper-money-laundering market.
This was sold one that was sold in Japan three or four years ago for 75K.
It might have been made for the Japanese domestic market, but I’ve never ever heard that being the same thing as it being a JDM. If you look JDM up, it has to be a Japanese product made exclusively for Japan for it to be JDM. Any of the Ducati 400s and other Bimota 400s made exclusively for the Japanese domestic market would also not be referred to as JDMs.
But isn’t a bike like this worthy of an eye watering price? If not this, then what?
This exact bike, or another one?
Guess I meant Japanese Domestic Market, in that the 400cc Ducatis were produced and sold only in Japan to meet a specific set of rules/licensing/taxes.
Obviously they were not made in Japan.
One of my favorite bikes ever and has everything to do with tech no one else has. Despire my fanboy love,gotta say:
That dash is aout as elegant as that calculator watch Michael knight was rocking on Knightrider. Oh how analog and inelegantly it clashes with the design of the rest…
With one other exception. Those turn signals seem the inspiration of a 13 year old YSR50 owner. Yeah, let’s remove the lenses from the turn signal stalks and just glue those on the fairing. Just has a lockhart accessory catalog look to it. Ugh.
With that said, has the ask dropped 95% after my insights?! I hope so, because i want one of these with every intention or riding it at the gokart track. You know, the one where they take your $75 and let you ride all day… on whatever day you feel like showing up. Adam’s Kart track anyone?