Bimota is a small Italian manufacturer of custom and production motorcycles. It was founded in 1973 in Rimini, Italy by Valerio Bianchi, Giuseppe Morri, and Massimo Tamburini. The company name is a portmanteau derived from the first two letters of each of the three founders’ surnames, Bianchi Morri Tamburini.
The SB4 appeared at the 1982 Bologna Motor Show and remained in the catalog until 1984 . Both its aesthetics and design are the work of Italian designer and Bimota executive, Massimo Tamburini .
The inline-four engine is borrowed from the Suzuki 1100 Katana . It develops 111 horsepower at 8,500 rpm for 87 N m . As on all Bimotas of the time, the frame is a tubular trellis. The weight is reduced to 184 kg.
The tank-seat-rear hull assembly is in one piece. The tank, with a capacity of 22 liters, is very long and very flat, to be able to lie on it and improve aerodynamics.
The bubble is not very high, but it is wide and offers acceptable protection to the pilot. Comfort is Spartan, the saddle is covered with a thin layer of foam and the suspensions are hard.
The triple clamps are made of billet aluminium.
Braking is provided by two-piston Gold Series Brembo calipers, pinching three 280mm-diameter floating discs. It is considered good as long as the original rubber hoses are replaced by reinforced models.
The telescopic fork is made by Ceriani and the rear shock is from the De Carbon catalog.
Most models released from the chains are gray or white with red stripes running down the fairing sides, front fender, tank and rear hull. There are 75 white, 153 pearl white and 38 grey. 6 copies were released in red with dark blue stripes.
Bimota nevertheless presented to the public at the two-wheeler show in Milan in 1983 a model sporting a more flashy dress, representing a jungle, executed by the pilot Graziano Rossi, father of Valentino . This decoration made it possible to attract the public towards a machine which used a technique less visible at first glance. It was the first road bike to receive radial tires.
The bike in my collection was bought new by Dr.Steytler from Robertson, and the second owner was Mr Andrew Mearns.
There were only 272 units built of the SB4, and this is #59
The Suzuki GSX 1100 engine in this bike has the following modifications:
- Wiseco Big Bore kit to 1190cc
- Stage 2 camshafts
- Smoothbore Carburettors
- Competition Coils
- Re-calibrated oil pump for higher flow rate
- Bigger Oil Cooler.
- Welded roller bearing cranckshaft.
- In the late 80’s it ran a 10,8 second quarter mile sprint at Killarney.
