Bimota · 1973–1976
Bimota HB1: history and buying advice
The start of Bimota: a frame of its own for the Honda CB750 four.
History
Bimota was founded in Rimini in 1973 by Valerio Bianchi, Giuseppe Morri and Massimo Tamburini. The name comes from the first two letters of their surnames. Tamburini wanted a better frame for his own Honda CB750, and so the HB1 (Honda Bimota 1) was born.
Bimota then also built racers, among others around Yamaha and Aermacchi-Harley-Davidson engines. Riders became world champions with Bimota frames in the seventies. According to Cybermotorcycle only 10 HB1s were built; sources disagree about the years.
Key data
| Engine | Honda CB750, 4 cylinders |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1973, Rimini |
| Founders | Bianchi, Morri, Tamburini |
| Built | approx. 10 |
What to check when buying
- Bimotas were hand-built in small numbers. Ask for the frame number and check it with the club.
- The engine is from Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki or Ducati; parts for it are often still available. Frame and body parts are not.
- Check the frame for cracks and repairs, especially around the steering head and the swinging arm.
- Check that the fairing, tank and seat are original and complete; they are hard to replace.
SourcesCybermotorcycle: Bimota (English)MCNews: Bimota history (English)