Bimota is the historic motorcycle manufacturer, founded in Rimini in 1973. Over the years, the company has undergone various changes and evolutions, leading to its revival through the acquisition by Kawasaki Heavy Industries: 49.9% in 2019, eventually increasing to 100% at the beginning of 2023. Now, Bimota can rely on Kawasaki’s technology supply, including engines, and its sales network.

“We started designing the new Tesi H2 right away: carbon bodywork and a supercharged, high-performance engine with the highest category performance, boasting 230 horsepower for the Euro 4 version and 200 for the Euro 5,” confirms Pierluigi Marconi, Bimota’s technical director. “However, we soon encountered an unforeseen obstacle – the Covid pandemic and the need to work from home. It turned out to be an opportunity to change our approach and design the entire motorcycle in 3D, opening up a range of interesting possibilities.”

From the idea to the first exhibition mockups, it is possible to reduce the timeline from approximately 12 to 4 months, with a clear reduction in associated costs. Once the validity of the project is confirmed, the production of equipment begins. Marconi continues, ‘The development proceeds very quickly, the fine-tuning of components takes a few weeks, and a 3D-printed prototype is obtained from the file within a couple of days.

We check if the geometries and modifications are correct or if further adjustments are needed. In this case, it is sufficient to send the file back to Prosilas to obtain the new printed piece for testing. Typically, with a couple of iterations, we achieve the best possible result. Previously, mold adjustments were necessary, a very costly activity: at best, it required some modifications, and sometimes even a complete remake.”

And this is where Prosilas’ rapid prototyping proves reliable and valuable. “Once we designed some body parts and ducts, we obtained the printed pieces in a day and tested them,” explains Marconi. “The use of Nylon loaded with glass fiber (PA12 GF) is ideal in terms of mechanical strength and resistance to high temperatures. Some parts are indeed very close to the exhaust system or radiators and need to endure for a long time, providing us with useful data to understand if we are on the right track. Additionally, it is a material that does not deform, a very useful characteristic when used for the coupling of body parts.”

Tesi H2 marked the beginning of a path entirely dedicated to 3D for Bimota. With the KB4, featuring an appealing Vintage Inspired appearance, Prosilas’ additive manufacturing allowed, for example, the creation of a complex air duct system. TERA, the latest addition from the Rimini manufacturer, stood out at the last edition of EICMA – Milan, thanks to two exclusive kits, which will soon be updated with additional aerodynamic appendages.

Another critical detail is related to timelines: while prototyping allows for a reduction in development times, it also demands that the supply chain be absolutely reliable. Another challenge that Bimota and Prosilas have overcome together. “Prosilas is the most accurate and punctual suppliers we have ever had,” concludes Marconi. “We provide them with the file, and we get a delivery timeline that is crucial for us, as we base subsequent activities on it.”