Description
Additional photos of this Bimota V-Due are available here for your perusal.
The sale of this V-Due includes an original sales brochure, so we thought it’d be fun to get the usual introductory description straight from Bimota themselves!
“The most prestigious star is at last shining in the Bimota world. The 500 Vdue is born, the first complete Bimota motorcycles, powered by the innovative twin cylinder, two stroke, fuel injected engine. For the first time in its history, Bimota has been able to decide autonomously on the heart of its creature, to think and develop this together with the body (chassis) and the brain (the electronic system running the engine) and obtain a perfect combination between the three functions.
Bimota heart is beating and so is the heart of he who chooses the new Bimota 500 Vdue. State-of-the-art technology, top-quality components, extraordinary performance all blended in a model which is already on top of the sports bike class and is destined to become a milestone in the Bimota history.
The Bimota 500 Vdue is a motorcycle with great character. The sports and slim shape attracts at first sight. The design, made by Sergio Robbiano, is pure Italian style and is attractive for the good blend of shapes, lines, and colors. Riding the 500 Vdue, you will distinguish yourself. Choose the new Bimota 500 Vdue to enter the third millennium!
The Bimota 500cc engine, the heart of the 500 Vdue, is an example of high technology and is the result of many years of research and tests. Two stroke, twin cylinder offers the best features of two stroke engines combined with good consumption and pollution made possible by the electronic injection system (direct in the cylinder) and the special separate lubrication system.
The power of the Bimota 500cc engine reaches 110 horsepower which, with 145 kilograms of weight, give the bike an extraordinary power/weight ratio. It certainly won’t be so easy to master the Bimota 500 Vdue on the road…
Art and technique once again are perfectly integrated in this Bimota, to let you experience the best emotions. the strong light aluminum alloy frame with oval profile pipes, the self-bearing seat unit entirely made by carbon fiber, the well tested Paioli front forks with 46mm stanchions, the very powerful Brembo brake discs and the beautiful aluminum alloy Antera rims, have all been designed to offer you the emotions of a dynamic, agile, pleasant and safe ride. Try the emotions of the new Biomta 500 Vdue!”
Unfortunately, marketing-speak and reality are not one and the same, and out in the real world the V-Due didn’t really work. “Within 200 yards it became apparent to most UK testers that the V-Due was virtually unrideable.” Bimota recalled the bikes and replaced the fuel injection with a pair of 39mm Dell’Orto carbs, but it wasn’t enough to save Bimota from bankruptcy. For more on the V-Due story, we recommend you check out this excellent profile by Jason Cormier of OddBike. But if you want to try one for yourself – read on for an interesting opportunity!
This example (VIN: ZESVT5000WR000335) comes out of the zero-mile collection we started auctioning off last year.
We assumed it would not run, but when we hooked up a battery to verify the mileage, we were more than pleasantly surprised to find that the starter was ready to go. The fuel pump wasn’t, but Steve the Professor was able to fix it, and this V-Due fires up and idles! As tempting it is for us to ride it, we’re going to keep the mileage as low as possible for the next owner. The odometer shows just 5 kilometers (3 miles.)
The carb’d sequel to the original V-Due was called the Evoluzione, and this model has the Evoluzione tail and angled exhaust. The sale includes spare silencers from the original model however we do not have the mid-pipe.
It also includes two keys.
Cosmetic Blemishes:
Currently located at our facility in Santa Monica, California (please make an appointment for an inspection), this Bimota is offered on the MSO from 10/30/1998 made out to Moto Italia in Raleigh, North Carolina (no longer in business).
Have any V-Due stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the comments!
