Laser Focus: 1982 Bimota Laser TT KB2

For Sale: 1982 Bimota Laser TT KB2

There are those that claim the NR750 oval piston Honda is the holy grail of collectable sportbikes. Still others point to Ducati superbikes (D16RR and 750SS, new and old), rare gray-market import bikes (insert two stroke of dreams here) or one-off manufacturers who have since come and gone from the scene (Britton, perhaps?). Whatever the stuff of your dreams, these early Bimotas must surely be near the top of the list.

The concept behind Bimota is simple: provide the customer with the finest, flex-free frame that engineering can design, bolt up the best components that money can buy, wrap it in hand-laid fiberglass that only an Italian designer could create, and stuff it full of reliable, Japanese power. And if this sounds like a recipe for a parts bike / kit bike experience, that is exactly how Bimota started life. Customers were shipped frame kits, suspension components and bodywork, the customer then supplied a donor bike from which to pilfer engine/trans/running gear, and then the customer put it all together.

This kit bike concept allowed Bimota to enter the motorcycle market without the pressures of becoming a full-fledged manufacturer. It also means that all early Bimotas such as this KB2 are hand-built and as indivudual as the customers who built them. This adds to the mystique, the rarity, and ultimately the desireability of these bikes. It certainly helped that any Bimota would flat out smoke contemporary Japanese hardware of the day – despite using the same powerplant. The level of handling was on another plane entirely.

From the seller:
Up for auction is a 1982 Bimota KB2 Laser TT. This is a very clean unrestored original motorcycle that I am selling for my Dad who is selling his collection.

The Vin# is 00134. The odometer shows 1,473 Kilometers (915 Miles).

The condition of the bike is fantastic and My dad is the second owner

For those readers who don’t know what a KB2, is, allow me to educate. The second major series of Bimotas to be powered by a Kawasaki engine (K=Kawasaki, B=Bimota, 2=Series of KB bikes), the Laser accepted the engine and running gear from a Kawasaki GPz550. Thus, the KB2 is one of the smallest bikes created by the Rimini firm. It is difficult to obtain accurate numbers, but production quantities for the KB2 were relatively small (some sources indicate only 177 units total). And while these bikes do come up for auction occasionally, it is a pretty rare occurrence – and pricey to boot.

This bike looks to be in exceptional condition, absolutely clean and without obvious damage. The listed mileage is low (less than 1,000 miles), although you cannot always trust the odometer in this case as this was one of the pieces pilfered from the donor bike when the kit was assembled. If you are serious about the bike, best to contact the seller and confirm.

A KB2 in average condition is a $15,000 purchase any day of the week. Exemplary bikes, like the one pictured here, are much more into the $20,000 territory. This auction started at .99 (!), and is currently sitting around $4k with reserve not yet met. For your opportunity to own this gem – or just to drool over more of the pictures as provided by the seller – . And while you’re at it, tell ’em you found it on RSBFS!

MI