In 1990 this was the fastest production bike in the world with a top speed of over 175mph. It was one of only 60 built and it was Bimota’s fastest ever offering. Dry weight is a scant 370lbs while boasting 150hp from the Yamaha FZR1000 motor with Bimota added fuel injection. Styling was probably avant-garde in it’s day, but it’s a bit awkward to my eyes from some angles. Nonetheless, this time capsule is as perfect as you’re likely to find and it is advertised as zero miles. While £13,000 (about $22k USD) is a chunk of change, I tend to think the numbers add up really.
dc
1990 Bimota Tuatara for sale on eBay.co.uk
from the seller:
Collector’s opportunity! Very rare (1 of 56 made) brand new 1990 Bimota Tuatara. This motorcycle has been neither started nor ridden since leaving the factory 23 years ago. In mint condition, and possibly unique (I’ve been collecting Bimotas for ten years, and have never seen another unused Tuatara).
Powered by Yamaha’s FZR1000 engine; factory installed Weber-Marelli fuel injection. These bikes produced approx 152 bhp which was phenomenal for the day, and were arguably the quickest production motorcycle of their time, possibly only rivalled by the ZZR1100, a much heavier machine.
Adjustable Marzocchi USD forks, digital dash, Brembo brakes, Oscam alloy rims.
Viewing possible in Cheshire strictly by appointment only.
man, if I could figure out a way to get this into the US, I would be interested in it. Its a bummer that the UK has so many more ultra rare bikes that the states
Martin/Dallaslavowner
🙁
I’m not sure it’s that they have more, I think it’s that they have more for sale publicly.
And I would also think that it couldn’t cost that much to ship it here. It’s eligible for classic registration next year too, though I suspect this one is destined to be a museum piece for the rest of it’s days.
dc
getting it here is not a problem… I know of another still in the crate…
Ive read that in order to import a bike into the us, it has to have certificates showing it complies with us dot and epa requirements. If not, then it gets seized and destroyed.
Transport isnt usually the issue (although in this case it would have to be extra careful) but getting it titled might be difficult it sounds like
I don’t understand why you guys are even discussing if this can be imported- I sure wouldn’t want it, and I’ve owned and still love Bimotas. I just have no love for this model. I’ve said it before about the Furano that was posted here a month ago: Weber Marelli fuel injected Bimotas from the early 90’s don’t fuel properly and aren’t sorted as delivered. Unless you’re able to engineer fuel injection systems by trade, and have time to design one from scratch, how are you going to get this to run correctly? Again, carbureted YB8s and YB10s of this generation that share this chassis and engine are wonderful sportbikes, with rock solid chassis. Look for one of those instead, and you’ll be able to fully enjoy the Bimota experience.
ok then sixthgear, lets assume for the sake of argument I wanted to add a bimota to my little collection but it can only be 1 and assume I want something that can be ridden occasionally but still be of interest as a piece of engineering and have value down the road (ie no SB6). Of all the Bimota’s both before and after bankruptcy, which ONE bike would you suggest I try to add to my collection?
Martin/dallaslavowner
Note: I know its not going to be a V-Due, although those do appeal to me for some odd reason
The frame looks very ZX7-H model esq. Tails look like a slabside GSX-R. Neat bike,
Martin/dallaslavowner
If you are looking for a rare Bimota, I know where a 1989 YB4R spec. Kit bike is located… crated of course 🙂 much better bike. If your interested let me know.
marting/dallaslavowner,
Having had a few “classic” Bimota’s, it depends a bit on what you want. The four cylinder Jap engined bikes have more raw power and are a h*ll of a lot of fun (I have a KB3 at the moment). That said, I think the Ducati engined bikes are better balanced and a better all around motorcycle (if a Bimota can be considered an “all around” motorcycle) than the four cylinder models. I have a DB2 at the moment, but the DB4 I sold last year was about the best overall combination of frame/engine/ergonomics. My DB2 had the factory high performance kit and the only the only complaint I had was it had no chokes for the carbs. Cold starts were a pain and I live in Phoenix!
Hope that is helpful.
Chuck S.
DB1.
I’m the owner of this Tuatara- many thanks to Rare Sportbikes for featuring it. A number of friends who love this website let me know it was featured. I bought this bike from an ex Bimota factory manager, and really just bought it for display as it was such an iconic bike of the time. The Tuatara held the title of “Worlds Fastest Production Motorcycle” for a few years and I think was eventually dethroned by the ZZR-1100/ZX11.
It is possible to import the bike into the US; registration might be an issue but as always there are ways and means. If you plan on riding it, my experience of the early Weber-Marelli injection is that it is possible to get it tweaked to work well, but if it was me I’d fit a Megasquirt EFI system using existing sensors, pump and injector, and you’d have better EFI than almost any contemporary motorcycle; easy job, but if you want to live in the stone age and mess around with carbs that’s an option as well.
Thanks again to the site- really interesting and lots of surprises (I own a zero-mile VR1000 HD as well).
k3….I’ll take the YB4. How do I contact you?
Flux email me Kyle_kozakent@yahoo.com and we’ll talk 🙂
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