Zero-mile Bimota V-Due on eBay

A RARE opportunity to snap up a zero-mile Bimota V-Due two-stroke race replica has come up for grabs on eBay.

Launched in 1997, the V-Due was fitted with a 500cc, liquid-cooled, two-stroke, fuel-injected v-twin engine. It was the first time Bimota built an engine in-house, instead of sourcing engines from existing bike manufacturers.

The powerplant suffered various teething problems when it was first introduced but when it did run right the V-twin could produce 110bhp at 9000rpm, and 90Nm of torque at 8000rpm. This particular model is the Evoluzione 2003, fitted with carbs, instead of the company's dire fuel-injection system.

At the time of its launch, the V Due dripped with the latest technology: lightweight aluminium chassis, chunky aluminium swingarm, six-speed cassette-type gearbox, 17-inch wheels, fully adjustable 46mm Paioli forks and Ohlins rear shock and Brembo brakes. Tyre sizes were 120/70 ZR17 at the front, and 180/55 ZR17 at the rear - massive rubber for a lightweight two-stroke race replica.

Sadly, the bike's mechanical woes were to cause its demise after many disgruntled owners demanded a refund from their local Bimota dealer. Only 340 V-Due's were ever made, instead of the 500 proposed at its inception, making this zero-miler a must-have for any serious two-stroke collector.

It's up for £13,500 but the owner's open to offers.

By Visordown News