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And now we present a 1998 Bimota V Due 500 Evoluzione with a 500cc, liquid-cooled, two-stroke, carbureted v-twin engine that makes 120bhp at 9000rpm, and 90Nm of torque at 8000rpm. This 1998 V Due 500 Evoluzione (serial number 226) appears to be one of only 21 Evoluziones built for street use prior to the 2003/2004 model. It is currently titled in Vermont with an active registration, and has emissions and VIN# that will allow it to be titled in all 50 States.
The V Due took eight long years of Bimota’s development time, effort and money. Initially intended to be a 500cc GP racer, the V Due was designed to deliver GP-spec performance and handling on the street. To go with the 500cc two-stroke engine, the V Due was equipped with a stiff, lightweight aluminum chassis, meaty aluminum swingarm, six-speed cassette-type gearbox, 17-inch wheels, fully adjustable 46mm Paioli forks, fully adjustable Ohlins rear shock, and Brembo brakes. Tire sizes are 120/70 ZR17 at the front, and 180/55 ZR17 at the rear.
With its carbonfibre bodywork and exhaust cans, a dry weight of less than 330 lbs, the V Due is capable of doing the standing quarter-mile in 12.5 seconds, and has a top speed of 164 mph.
Not only is the Bimota V Due's bodywork made of carbonfibre, but also the internal air boxes, Paoli fork lowers, exhaust cans, fenders and huggers. Everywhere that Bimota could save weight, they have adorned this bike with an extremely high-standard and finish of carbonfibre. The fine Italian workmanship on the milling and welding of the frame and aluminum billet is evident everywhere.
Exotic, and expensive (about US$30,000) when first released in 1997 as a fuel injected two-stroke... Designed by Robbiano and engineered by Marconi, this bike was created as a Moto GP bike for the road. Powered by a 500 cc twin-cylinder Bimota engine, the first and only Bimota designed engine, customers were immediately clamoring for delivery. Such intense demand leads Bimota to start delivery before full development is completed ultimately leading to a complete recall of all of the first 185 bikes of the planned total production of 500, and a financial crisis for the company.
In 1998/1999 Bimota released a new engineered V Due 500 they called the Evoluzione fitted with twin Dell'Orto carburetors instead of the fuel injection, an electronic dash, and a new compliment of bottom-end engine components to handle the additional torque requirements of the original engine design were also fitted. By 2000, Bimota would file bankruptcy over the continued financial strains placed on the company by the initial introduction of the fuel injected V Due and severe itself from the remaining V Due production. But, prior to the bankruptcy, the carbureted V Due proves reliable and Bimota successfully builds a race series around it.
The remaining V Due assets (including parts and incomplete motorcycles of the planned production of 500) would eventually be bought by Piero Carroni, who still supplies parts including accessories for these motorcycles. A total of 388 V Dues would eventually be built through 2005. According to the production history of Bimota, of the total of 167 carbureted Evoluziones manufactured, 120 of them were manufactured as 2003/2004 models. 26 were manufactured as racing only motorcycles in 1999/2000 which were not fitted with road going number plates.
Original factory Bimota V Dues are rare and hard to find in this condition and with such low-mileage. This 1998 Evoluzione is still fitted with its original Michelin Hi-Pro sport tires of 1998 and includes its original manual. Bought from a collector through National Powersports in 2007 with only 26 kms, this bike has just barely been broken-in and now has 902 kms (560 miles).
This bike has not been detailed; yet is in immaculate condition. It has been ridden only on smooth Vermont and New Hampshire mountain roads and has never encountered stop & go traffic. As a result, the engine has been broken-in smoothly and gradually.
A new paint scheme was created on the same style bodywork to differentiate the 1998/1999 Evoluzione from the fuel injected 1997 model, but did not take into consideration the tight fit caused by the carburetors. The only blemish to the Evoluzione design is the tendency of the lower panels to stress-crack, a known issue. This bike shows two small cracks on the belly pan where the side panels meet. The alternative to living with a 100% original bike is to fit it with the black carbonfibre underbelly pan of the 2005 V Due Edizione Finale, or the white fiberglass underbelly pan of the racing Evoluziones now sold by V Due USA. While a tremendous parts supply exists, V Due has not been able to assemble North American legal road bikes for some time now.
The V Due engine gives a rush of horsepower between 7500rpm - 9500rpm, and with its extremely low weight of 330lbs makes the riding sensation as close to a 500cc MotoGP bike as possible. This was Bimota's intent in producing the V Due 500. The riding position ergonomics are extremely comfortable for this type of exotic performance. The seat, hand and foot controls and tank design make it easy for the rider to sit within a "tuck" position or more straight up for casual riding. For example, the unusual tank design permits a rider to easily apply pressure with a knee in order to cause the bike to tip-in to a turn with as little pressure as necessary on the bars. Likewise, it is easy to move the rider's weight from forward to rearward to help stop spinning of the rear wheel when apply throttle out of the turns.
There is little fatigue with the rider's ergonomics of this bike that are associated with today's sports bikes. This bike is by far the best handling road bike its current owner has every ridden to include the legendary handling of the Aprilia RS250. This bike has more than twice the BHP of an Aprilia RS250 Challenge Cup bike and yet weighs only 20 additional pounds. For those who have enjoyed the pure riding enjoyment of the Aprilia Cup bikes, this will put the potential for experiencing MotoGP riding in perspective as Bimota intended. For stopping power, the bike is equipped with 4-pot Brembos, and the brake lever design requires only light pressure from the rider. As is with all Bimotas, this bike is fitted with the necessary performance equipment to be relative long into the future.
This bike has never been ridden in poor weather, has only been stored in a heated garage, and winterized including the draining of gas from the tank and carburetors. As a result of meticulous mechanical care from its adult owner who races both Aprilia RS250 and Honda RS250R two-strokes in the USGPRU series, this bike is able to start with a single push of the electric start button. The bike has never been operated without the engine first being brought to 60 degrees centigrade.
There are no mechanical issues with the drive train or engine. The font wheel when spinned will continue to turn several revolutions without slowing from brake drag. This bike is in excellent condition and is ready to ride. The electronic dash on V Dues can be improved with shielding of the speed sensor cable to the front wheel, but the present owner has ridden the bike accepting the speed fluctuation behavior of the dash rather than to alter the original design. This known issue is easily corrected by instructions from Maurizio of Vdue USA, who can also supply any parts for your future enjoyment of this bike, including the carbonfibre race wheels and titanium undertail exit exhausts of the racing Evoluziones. The current bodywork can also be substituted for V Due USA fiberglass and put on the track. Whether to display in collection, ride on the street, or to use as an exotic track bike is up to this bikes next owner.
While 100% original, this bike is not without the minor defects of the tightness cracks of the original lower belly pan, and a mishap when the bike fell over from its kickstand causing minor scratches to the decals and finish on the left body panel which are identifiable in the large images in the image gallery. The bike has no belt or zipper scratches on the tank, or any other scratches or dings on the bodywork or metal. This may be as perfect an example of an original Bimota V Due 500 Evoluzione that exists today.
With a minor detailing this bike is ready to become a living room sculpture. However, the best value of this bike is that not only is it incredibly gorgeous and rare, but that it is road worthy and ready to ride.
Priced at US$19,000.00. Shipment in continental 48 states will be arranged by Seller at current rates, and paid for by Buyer. Shipment outside the continental 48 states must be arranged by Buyer. Contact the owner by email by clicking here.
31 images of this bike are available by clicking:Additional bikes of interest for sale by Owner are 1989 Honda RC30, 1974 MotoGuzzi custom cafe, 1999 Ducati M900 custom cafe, 1999 original Aprilia RS250 Challenge Cup in mint condition.