Bimota
By ben Purvis
Since being bought by Kawasaki, Bimota hasn't been short of radical new models - launching the Tesi H2, KB4 and KB4RC over the last couple of years - but the only completed new model to be seen on the 2022 EICMA stand was the BX450.
Something of a surprise, and certainly a departure for the Bimota name, the BX450 is essentially an enduro version of the Kawasaki KX450X, sharing the Japanese motocrosser's frame, engine and even its bodywork, but featuring a slightly larger fuel tank, Bimota graphics and basic lighting equipment. The electronics are also remapped, with revised throttle maps and traction control settings, but it would be fair to question whether the changes are enough to earn the Bimota branding.
That accusation certainly can't be levelled at Bimota's other announcement, the Tera. Seen only as a bare chassis so far, and as a then-unnamed sketch last year, the Tera is Bimota's first Adventure bike and notably features a Tesi-style hub-centre-steered chassis overseen by Pierluigi Marconi. Expected to feature the same Euro 5-compliant, supercharged 147 kW (197 hp) engine that Kawasaki uses in the H2 SX and Z H2 models, the Tera has a redesigned front swingarm concept that adds more steering lock and suspension travel compared to the Tesi, and will use electronically adjustable, semi-active damping from Marzocchi, giving height adjustment at the touch of a button. However, the Tera still appears to be some way from production, so we don't expect to see showroom-ready versions until 2024.
