The Bimota HB1 Kit For Honda CB400F

July 13, 2012

The Italian motorcycle manufacturer Bimota started out making motorcycles in 1973 with the HB1. And from what I gather, they also made a conversion kit for the CB400F! Here’s a look at the original 750 HB1 and some history about it.

“The first ever Bimota was conceived at Misano in unfortunate circumstances. Massimo Tamburini crashed his CB750 at his local track in 1972, breaking three ribs and wrecking the Honda. Around its four-cylinder engine he built the HB1, featuring twin-shock steel frame, cast wheels and drilled twin front discs. With clip-ons, rearsets, full fairing, single seat and no lights, it was basically a racebike. Not that this would have deterred Tamburini, whose previous roadster had been MV Agusta’s 600 tourer, converted into a sports bike with factory engine parts and chain-drive conversion…

The HB1’s chassis was much lighter and far stronger than that of the standard CB750, and the bike was due to be raced in the Imola 200. But after Tamburini and Giuseppe Morri had worked all night to prepare it, rider Luigi Anelli chose to ride another bike instead. The irate duo vowed to keep building bikes until they’d won a big race. Only a further nine examples of the HB1 were ever built, which makes this one of the rarest and most valuable Bimotas. If you ever find one and want to buy it, expect it to cost more than a new DB7.”

Visor Down

“Only a few, maybe 10 of the HB1 were built. None of them was designed to be street legal, they were all meant to be race bikes. The most famous driver was Luigi Anelli, who raced a HB1 in 1973. Today, this is probably the most sought after special framed Honda CB 750 SOHC/4 bike. Ceriani front fork, Marzocchi rear dampers, Fontana brakes – Bimota used only the best accessories.”

Satanic Mechanic

And here’s the CB400F version. I guess this was originally sold as a kit. And I think you could still make your CB400F into a Bimota HB1! Take a look here at motocicliveloci.it  They have vintage Bimota replica parts!

Bimotas seem to be popular in Switzerland. Here’s 2 links to Swiss Bimota pages. The Bimota Club Switzerland and Bimota Classic.

“Bimota is a small, Italian manufacturer of custom and production motorcycles. It was founded in 1973 in Rimini, Italy by Bianchi, Morri and Tamburini. The company name is aportmanteau derived from the first two letters of each of the three founders’ surnames, i.e. Bianchi Morri Tamburini.

Because the state of frame design and overall packaging was poor,^[1] Bimota concentrated initially on building high-quality motorcycles around existing engines. From the beginning they customised the top models of Suzuki, Honda and Kawasaki. During the late 1970s, Bimota also helped develop and build motorcycles branded as Lamborghinis. In the 1980s they also customised Yamaha and Ducati motorcycles.

Bimota’s co-founder and long-time chief designer Tamburini has been an influential player in the development of other Italian brands, most significantly his work on the popularDucati 916, the Ducati Paso, and MV Agusta F4; other designers such as current Bimota chief Sergio Robbiano have also been involved with larger-volume manufacturers.”

Wikipedia

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← 1975 – The Year of the 4 into 1 Super Sport – CB400F, CB550F & CB750F

105 mph on a stock CB400F →