The Bimota BB3 is a BMW S1000RR-engined superbike that Bimota produced from 2013 to 2017, planned around the FIM Superbike homologation rules.
Bimota BB3 at a glance
| Manufacturer | Bimota, Rimini, Italy |
|---|---|
| Production | 2013–2017 |
| Engine | BMW S1000RR-derived inline four, four-stroke |
| Power | 193 hp at 13,000 rpm |
| Torque | 11.2 kgm at 9,750 rpm |
| Frame | Steel trellis with aluminium side plates, like the DB8 |
| Fork | 43 mm Öhlins, inverted |
| Brakes | Brembo, 320 mm front and 220 mm rear discs, ABS |
| Wheels | OZ Racing forged aluminium |
| Exhaust | Arrow |
History of the Bimota BB3
At EICMA 2012 Bimota presented the BB2, a prototype intended to receive public criticism. The following year the company offered the BB3, the production model, previewed at EICMA in early November 2013. Its engine was the inline four of the BMW S1000RR, supplied through an agreement between Bimota and BMW, producing 193 hp at 13,000 rpm and 11.2 kgm of torque at 9,750 rpm.
The engine was a structural member of a frame whose construction was identical to the DB8’s: a tubular steel trellis at the front, connected laterally to two aluminium alloy plates. Brembo supplied two 320 mm front discs with radial four-piston calipers and a 220 mm rear disc, both with ABS; the 43 mm inverted fork and the rear shock were Öhlins units, the forged aluminium wheels came from OZ Racing and the exhaust from Arrow.
Racing and the kit
The BB3 was created to obtain FIM homologation for racing, including the Superbike World Championship. Bimota had not yet produced the number of examples required by the FIM and was admitted to the 2014 Superbike World Championship “with reserve”. A later rule change altered the production numbers and deadlines, and allowed models not yet homologated to compete without scoring points. Bimota did not manage to build the required number in time, so although it took part in eight rounds and sixteen races, its results were not validated.
From the end of 2015 Bimota offered the BB3 as a kit to be assembled, with the purchaser obtaining the engine and wiring from an S1000RR. The parts came from machines intended to certify participation in Superbike in 2014, which could not receive an engine. The BB3 was presented in a white, red and black livery, but could also be ordered white and black or completely black, and a limited TT Tropheo edition with white, red, black and green paint was made for the British importer.
Design and features
- Engine: a BMW S1000RR-derived inline four with 193 hp.
- Frame: a steel trellis with aluminium side plates, like the DB8’s.
- Suspension: a 43 mm Öhlins inverted fork and an Öhlins rear shock.
- Brakes: Brembo 320 mm front discs, a 220 mm rear disc and ABS.
- Wheels and exhaust: OZ Racing forged aluminium wheels and an Arrow exhaust.
Bimota BB3 versions
- BB2: the 2012 EICMA prototype.
- BB3: the production model, built from 2013 to 2017.
- BB3 kit: from late 2015, a kit assembled with an S1000RR engine and wiring.
- BB3 TT Tropheo: a limited edition for the British importer.
See also: the Bimota DB8, the Bimota DB7, the Bimota HB4 and the Bimota collection.
Bimota BB3 questions and answers
What is the Bimota BB3?
A BMW S1000RR-engined superbike produced by Bimota from 2013 to 2017.
How much power did the BB3 make?
193 hp at 13,000 rpm and 11.2 kgm of torque at 9,750 rpm.
Did the BB3 race in the Superbike World Championship?
Yes, in 2014, but Bimota did not build the required number of machines in time and its results were not validated.
What was the BB2?
The 2012 EICMA prototype that previewed the BB3.
Could the BB3 be bought as a kit?
Yes, from the end of 2015 Bimota offered it as a kit with the buyer supplying an S1000RR engine and wiring.
Sources
- Bimota BB3, English Wikipedia: engine, frame, brakes, suspension and the kit
- Bimota BB3, Italian Wikipedia: production years, EICMA debut and the 2014 Superbike programme
