While we wait to here the specs on the upcoming Bimota BB2, the boutique Italian firm’s rekindled collaboration with the German motorcycle manufacturer, Bimota continues to work with Ducati lumps, both of the air and liquid-cooled variety. One of the more intriguing concepts put forth at EICMA, the 2013 Bimota DB12 is an expression of an uber-exotic Ducati Multistrada 1200.
Unlike the supercharged Bimota DB11 VLX, the Bimota DB12 will remain naturally aspirated in its 160hp state, but like how the Multistrada 1200 was part of the Bologna Brand’s movement away from being solely a sport bike company, the DB12 represents the same movement for Bimota. Already showing a dirt bike at last year’s EICMA show, the 2013 Bimota DB12 is clearly the Italian brand taking a step back, and testing the waters with this design direction.
The chassis on the Bimota DB12 looks to be the same as the one found on the Bimota DB9 & Bimota DB11, which should be unsurprising since both bikes use the Ducati Testastretta 11° motor for their basis. A fully faired machine, the Bimota DB12 concept has a rare feature for the Italian brand: a seat for a pillion.
Marzocchi has handled the fully adjustable forks, while Extreme Tech’s four-way adjustable shock handles the suspension duties in the rear of the DB12. For stopping power Brembo monoblocs have been mated to 320mm Brembo discs up front, while a 220mm unit is in the rear. With a 4.75 gallon tank, the 2013 Bimota DB12 weighs 408 lbs dry.
The DB12 also has mounting points for a luggage system, making it the ultimate expression in sport-touring…and we do mean sport at claimed 162hp. Bimota is floating the DB12 as a “concept” so there is no official confirmation that the machine will go into production, but we suspect it will as long as pitchforks don’t start showing up at the Bimota EICMA booth.
Source: OmniMoto.it
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