2020 Bimota H2 Tesi Carbon
Miles: 0
Untitled
Bid at Post: $19,600 Reserve Not Met
Buy It Now Price: $69,995
Auction ends: March 10th, 2025
It seems to be positively raining Bimotas around here this week. Today’s Bimota Tesi H2 Carbon is possibly the wildest of the bunch, but is it maybe too much? If you’re not familiar, this Tesi is the latest in Bimota’s long-running series of bikes built around an ever-evolving hub-center steering system that does away with conventional forks and replaces them with a second swingarm at the front of the bike. This setup dramatically reduces the effects of acceleration and deceleration on the bike’s suspension geometry: brake dive is virtually non-existent. The downside? Many riders don’t like the reduced front-end feel that generally comes with a switch from telescopic forks. Previous bikes were generally powered by Ducati v-twins, but this iteration of the Tesi sees the introduction of Bimota owner Kawasaki’s supercharged inline four and its sophisticated electronics package, here making a claimed 228hp with a massive midrange. There is no conventional frame, with the front and rear suspension components, as well as the angular, lightweight bodywork, bolting directly to the engine.
280hp tune of supercharged H2 powerplant. Titanium race exhaust. Full carbon-fiber version of the H2 Tesi. Hand-made in Rimini, Italy. #8 of 12 imported to North America.
The Bimota H2 Tesi Carbon is one of the most exotic motorcycles on the planet, not just in terms of its striking looks, performance, and exclusivity. It’s mechanically interesting as well, with an unconventional suspension layout and a wildly powerful, supercharged engine that adds additional auditory drama to the proceedings with whistles and chirps as the supercharger impeller blades break the sound barrier. But as amazing as this machine is, it’s all a bit… much. Bimotas were traditionally designed to be better sportbikes, faster, not by virtue of making more power, but by weighing less and handling better. Sure, the Tesi does weigh less than the Kawasaki that donated its engine, but its still nearly 500lbs. It’s a very cool and obviously very fast machine, but I also feel like it’s a bit of an overstyled, overweight, overly complex, hyper-expensive toy for rich people to park in a corner of their garage. But yes, of course I still want one.
-tad
I liked the original, interesting concept. But this thing? What is the point of resurrecting the design and hitting it with the origami ugly-stick? Not a ‘real-world’ bike.