Topic: R.I.P. Massimo Tamburini

[turboguzzi]

He will be mostly remembered for the 916 and F4, but his way to stardom started with the CB750 powered HB1.

He died this saturday after 10 years of fighting lung cancer.

a fitting pic to remember him

[Tintop]

Definitely the passing of another of the 'old guard'.   Even if you were not into Italian bikes his is a name you knew.

[simon#42]

that is very sad , he certainly made his mark on motorcycle design though the 916 still looks as good today as it did when it was conceived .

[Operator]

I have always been in awe of the MV Augusta F4.

[Retro Rocket]

that is very sad , he certainly made his mark on motorcycle design though the 916 still looks as good today as it did when it was conceived .

+1, a sad day indeed.....

[turboguzzi]

certainly he is behind two bikes without which, the Italian industry wouldn't be what it is today.
that said, from personal experience with both, they are as painful to ride just as they are beautiful

was reading one of the many interviews published locally these days and in one he said that if he hadn't crashed the tits out of his stock CB750 at Misano one fateful day, he is not sure he would have entered the business of frame manufacturing in the first place!

[MRieck]

I believe one of his favorite bikes ( great power to weight ratio) was the KB2 which used the Kawasaki GPZ-550 engine. He designed and built his own special (frame # 0001) and it is the only Bimota to ever carry his signature on the upper triple clamp and the seat. A timeless beauty for sure.

[turboguzzi]

I believe one of his favorite bikes ( great power to weight ratio) was the KB2 which used the Kawasaki GPZ-550 engine. He designed and built his own special (frame # 0001) and it is the only Bimota to ever carry his signature on the upper triple clamp and the seat. A timeless beauty for sure.

yep, KB2s , also called Laser TT, are not very well known.... I remember that when i first saw it's picture back then, I thought it had heavenly proportions. Amazing little thing.

drool....

[FuZZie]

All the lines on that kb are just perfect total eye candy!

[HB-1fan]

My hero for sure!!!
 I do not have my book with me here, but there is a pic in the Bimota book that shows his creations(from the early years) side by side next to the factory Japanese models that he borrowed engines from. This pic really shows his visions for light weight, performance machines. I have always said look at what these standard models became in the next couple of years after he showed the true potential of what they could do with mass production. THEY MUST HAVE TAKEN NOTICE!!!!!
 He was ahead of their time and I believe therefore responsible for the creations of GSXR, FZR, CBR and NINJA's.

"And thats all I'm going to say about that"
Massimo Tamburini, my hero!!
R.I.P.  brother

HB

[turboguzzi]

some would even say he was the father of the twin spar frame....
the 1981 KB2 must have been the first time ever a frame went AROUND the motor,
(even if the "spars" where a triangulated tubular structure), anticipating Cobas's 1982 ally twin spar racer...
Not sure if Simon will agree with me though

[Tintop]

some would even say he was the father of the twin spar frame.... the 1981 KB2 must have been the first time ever a frame went AROUND the motor,
(even if the "spars" where a triangulated tubular structure), anticipating Cobas's 1982 ally twin spar racer...
Not sure if Simon will agree with me though

Your likely right TG.  Although would think the Seeley Mk3 frame might qualify as the step towards a true 'spar' frame.  It wrapped around the tall AJS 7R, used it as a stressed member, and had no front down tubes.  Spondon were doing all alloy frames around that time (TZ250/350), but their 'perimeter' frames didn't appear until closer to mid 80's.

[simon#42]

some would even say he was the father of the twin spar frame....
the 1981 KB2 must have been the first time ever a frame went AROUND the motor,
(even if the "spars" where a triangulated tubular structure), anticipating Cobas's 1982 ally twin spar racer...
Not sure if Simon will agree with me though

you know i wont agree with you on this yossef !  .  an interesting question though . tintop makes a good point with seeley but i suspect there was an earlier bike again .
i have always hated the kb2 , horrible wide swing arm pivot thats in the wrong place and an over complicated steering head that is strong in all the wrong places .
this bike should not be mentioned in the same sentence as any cobas yossef !  the true inventor of the modern race frame .

[Retro Rocket]

BMW had perimeter frames in the 1930's, maybe even earlier... ?

[01Thomas]

Not just around the engine, but also around the steering head.
(and I'm very happy with my KB-3...  :-)   )

some would even say he was the father of the twin spar frame....
the 1981 KB2 must have been the first time ever a frame went AROUND the motor,
(even if the "spars" where a triangulated tubular structure), anticipating Cobas's 1982 ally twin spar racer...
Not sure if Simon will agree with me though