BMW S 1000 RR Engine : Left

Bimota will be unveiling its latest 4 cylinder motorcycle as a concept at the EICMA in a few days time. Surprisingly, Bimota has opted for the fantastic inline 4 cyinder engine from BMW Motorrad, used in the highly regarded BMW S 1000 RR.

BMW S 1000 RR Engine : Right

By selecting the in-line 4-cylinder power unit of the BMW S 1000 RR, Bimota has gone for the technologically most innovative straight-four engine currently available says BMW Motorrad. The 193 bhp engine is only 59.8 kilograms heavy (light?) with an extremely speed-resistant valve gear with two overhead camshafts and weight-optimised cam followers.

This isn’t the first time BMW Motorrad and Bimota have collaborated. In 1995 the Italian company presented the BB1 Supermono, 376 units of which were made and were powered by the single cylinder engine of the BMW F 650. The BB1 Supermono with the BMW engine had an output of 35 kW (48 bhp), weighed just 167 kilograms and could hit a top speed of 196 km/h.

The last decade has seen mostly Ducati powerplants in Bimotas. The Bimota DB5,DB6,DB10 and the exotic Tesi 3D use the 1078cc engine seen in the Ducati Hypermotard, while the DB7 uses the 1099c mill we’ve seen and loved in the Ducati 1098 and finally the DB9 BRIVIDO and the DB8 SP use the 1198cc L-Twin. Bimota’s quest to bring back the 4 cylinder heritage of the 1970s Bimotas has led the firm to opt out of using the newest twin cylinder Superquadro engine from Ducati, with power figures of 195 HP @ 10,750 rpm in favour of the inline 4 cylinder from BMW Motorrad.