Legendary Italian motorcycle designer Massimo Tamburini passed away last weekend at the age of 70. Born in 1943, he created his first design in 1971, with a customized MV Agusta 750 Sport he welded himself. He passed away on April 5th, 2014, after a diagnosis on lung cancer in late 2013.
Two years later he went on to literally put the Ta in Bimota with co-founders Valerio Bianchi and Giuseppe Morri, as the trio switched from previous careers designing and fabricating air conditioning ducts. The outcome included the Bimota Tesi 1D, Bimota KB2 and Bimota DB1.
But it was in 1985, when Tamburini joined the Cagiva Group, that he created what remains the most beautiful motorcycle ever created. The same year saw Cagiva acquire Ducati, and the first design to be released for them was the Ducati Paso.
In 1994 the Ducati 916 arrived.
The 916 combined performance with style, grace and charm. Along with the 748, and later, more powerful 996 and 998, it meant a sea of red and yellow Ducatis were a feature at shows, race tracks and in magazine articles the world over. In addition to sales, those models also claimed six World Superbike championships from 1994-2001 for Carl Fogarty, Troy Corser and Troy Bayliss, along with national titles around the globe.
As if creating probably the most legendary sportsbike of all time wasn’t enough, Tamburini also inspired a legion of teenagers with the Cagiva Mito Evolution 1 and 2.
After聽 Cagiva owners, the Castiglioni brothers, sold Ducati, Massimo Tamburini stayed with Cagiva, and began work on the MV Agusta brand. He went on to create the beautiful MV Agusta F4, the naked MV Agusta Brutale, and his final design, the MV Agusta F3 675.
Creating any one of those motorcycles mentioned above would have been an incredible achievement. Creating all of them is simply legendary.
Massimo Tamburini Motorcycle Designs:
- Bimota Tesi 1D
- Bimota KB2
- Bimota DB1
- Ducati Paso
- Ducati 916
- Ducati 748
- Ducati 996
- Ducati 998
- Cagiva Mito
- MV Agusta F4
- MV Agusta Brutale
- MV Agusta F3 675
A great designer ( the motorcycle worlds finest??) & though I’m saddened by this news Dan, you will now understand why it’s not such a hardship selling my Monster ; my “other” Ducati is a blood red 748 馃檪 Purchased from Scotts brother Jim at a very reasonable October price, only one previous owner, fsh & only 6k on the clock.She resided in my front room during winter, now moved to kitchen as she’s the only bike running of the 4 I own & I have been for a couple of tentative short rides so far last week 馃檪
http://s622.photobucket.com/user/johnwiz/media/B8A57BE9-DEF8-44AA-A541-4886C6FC31EE_zpsrghzfoul.jpg.html
Plus points: just look at her! plus she’s on rails when ridden 馃檪
Minus points: crippling ergonomics ( especially for a 56 yr old),looking at a U.S forum where the many possible engine disaster scenarios were listed! Plus of course the sodding belts need changing every 2 seconds.
Cheers John