Blimey, look at that!

Bimota Tesi H2: a motorcycle that refuses to look ordinary

Italian chassis experimentation meets a Kawasaki supercharged four-cylinder.

Some motorcycles are instantly recognisable by their silhouette. The Bimota Tesi H2 goes much further: look at the front end and you will not find the conventional telescopic forks seen on most production motorcycles. Instead, its hub-centre steering forms part of an unusual front suspension layout.

The Tesi concept is closely associated with separating steering from the suspension forces that act on a conventional fork. In the H2, Bimota combined that distinctive chassis philosophy with a supercharged Kawasaki-derived inline-four engine. It is an exotic meeting of two very different engineering ideas.

Why build it this way? Alternative front suspension is an attempt to manage forces under braking and cornering through a different mechanical arrangement. That does not automatically make it superior for every rider, but it makes the Tesi fascinating for anyone interested in how a motorcycle can be built.

One thing is certain: it would be difficult to mistake the Tesi H2 for anything else in the motorcycle park. For buyers, the specialist chassis, limited-volume production and servicing requirements matter as much as its dramatic appearance.