Oberdan Bezzi has clearly been dreaming about Ducati entering the off-road/mixed terrain market recently. The Italian designer has already come out with a Ducati dirtbike and Ducati supermoto, and now adds to that collection with a Ducati scrambler, dubbed the Desmoscrambler.

Out of all three of these sketches, we have to say the scrambler option seems the most fitting for the Italian brand. Not only is the scambler segment heating up, but the retro meets modern approach fits well with the Ducati brand…not too mention the bike is more street oriented. So what do you think? Can you see a Bologna-based scrambler tickling your Italian desire?

Source: Oberdan Bezzi

We promised ourselves that we wouldn’t publish any more Ducati singles by Oberdan Bezzi, after the Italian designer set out with his pen and paper to imagine the Italian brand with a bevy of off-road inspired motorcycles; however Bezzi’s Ducati Desmolight 450 concept was just too great of a design to ignore, and thus here we are. With styling drawn from the current Monster line, Obiboi’s 450cc single looks delicious, especially with the coloring that’s reminiscent of Ducati’s Corse theme. This is the kind of bike that would go in our fantasy garage, and we’ll need a Prozac knowing it won’t be built.

At 450cc’s, the Ducati Desmolight 450 would make the perfect beginner’s bike, but could just as easily find it’s way into the hands of an experienced rider who’s looking for a feather-weight corner-carver. We love the look of the bike. We love the thought of a road-going thumper. We love the thought of Ducati adding this bike to their line-up? Eh, Bologna?

Maybe if we generate enough interest here at Asphalt & Rubber about the Desmolight concept we cane convince someone at Ducati corporate to agree with us on building the bike (we can dream right?).

Source: Oberdan Bezzi

Italian designer Oberdan Bezzi (view our coverage here) is at it again with his pen and paper, and this time he’s set his mind to imagining a battery-powered electric motorcycle. Based off the now defunked Chaparral brand, Bezzi sees the Texan company reinventing itself and entering the electric motorcycle racing scene. The bike has a full carbon chassis, a liquid cooled motor, and great attention to aerodynamics, according to Obiboi. We can also see five removable battery packs on each side of the motorcycle, and single shock suspension used not only on the rear, but also on the front fork assembly.

Wait…we feel like we’ve seen this before…Yes, it seems Bezzi has ripped-off every detail found on the MotoCzysz E1pc, right down to the motor and controller mounting points. Of course the A1 e-Racer looks like the E1pc 1.0, with its square battery packs. Oberdan must have missed our article on the eDD where we explained that the E1pc’s chevron shaped batteries allowed for more front wheel clearance. Imitation is the highest form of flattery, right Michael?

We do like those winglets though…

Source: Oberdan Bezzi

Oberdan Bezzi has seized on the news that Norton intends to field a MotoGP bike in 2012, and came up with a drawing of what that British-born race bike could look like. The Italian designer sees Norton using a carbon-framed chassis to house its four-cylinder motor with pneumatic valves, and of course with a British rider at the helm. Obiboi sees Norton rocking the white paint-job, but we’re hoping that Norton will choose a color that stands out from the pack a bit more…British Racing Green perhaps?

Source: Oberdan Bezzi

UPDATE: Obiboi has done up a Kenny Roberts paint scheme version as well. Find it after the jump.

Do you dream of Yamaha producing a V4 sport bike? How about naked-variant that supplants the popular FZ1? Does a carbon/aluminum trellis frame work for you, with a titanium exhaust of course? If you answered yes to these questions, and envision such a bike late a night when you’re forming your dream garage in, then Oberdan Bezzi has just the concept sketch for you.

Drawing on the same 1,000cc fairing-less street bike theme as the FZ1, Bezzi imagines a Yamaha with a forward-tilted V4 motor that has an almost perpendicular cylinder arrangement, and is capable of being a platform with worldly appeal.

In addition to the salacious V4, the Ti exhaust system looks like it came straight off a GP bike, with a canister both under the tail section, and coming out below the left rearset. Oberdan stretches the likely tight budget constraints Yamaha would have on such a bike by including both Brembo calipers and a carbon swingarm on the VZ1 (not to mention the partially carbon frame). However as we’ve seen already with Suzuki, a move to such previously thought exclusive pieces isn’t entirely out of the realm of possibility for the Japanese manufacturers.

Of course the biggest hurdle for the VZ1 concept is selling the rabid FZ1 fans on the more “gentlemanly” V4 motor, and otherwise tinkering with a design that has such a cult following. A gutsy, yet intriguing idea Obiboi.

Source: Oberdan Bezzi

We haven’t had a sketch by Oberdan Bezzi on the site in a while, but the Italian designer has inked this Ducati concept that we thought would help everyone get through the work week. Coining the name “Desmodoctor” it should be clear to whom Obiboi is paying homage to with this design, as Bezzi imagines what sort of “gift” the Bologna company would give Rossi to play around with when he’s not racing the Ducati Desmosedici GP11 or GP12.

A modified Ducati Desmosedici RR, Bezzi has taken the Rossi/Ducati McColor scheme and applied it as artfully as he can to the supermotard design — certainly no small feat. While the paint will be hit or miss with some people, what really intrigues us is the changes done to the Desmosedici that go beyond just the color pallete. Slash-cut exhaust tips, true spoke & hub motard wheels, and a raised ride height from the different suspension pieces. It’s a unique look based off the GP-turned-street racer, though we think the 200+ hp will be a bit overkill on dirt-laden fire trails.

Source: Oberdan Bezzi

Confirming that the rumors were true, Husqvarna recently released photos of its new 900cc motor destined for the company’s first proper street bike. Based on the 800cc BMW parallel twin, we’ll have to wait until November to see what the Swedish brand has in store for us, but until then Oberdan Bezzi has some ideas to help whet our appetite. Called the Husqvarna 900 Street One, Bezzi sees a street-naked in Husky’s future, which will help show-off the firm’s newly minted engine.

With the new Husqvarna expected to have both more torque and horsepower than its German counterpart, Obiboi sees the Husky 900 as a sportier version of the BMW line, and has put those feelings into his concept sketch here. Perhaps the only thing that rivals our curiosity on what the new Husqvarna will look like, is how the company will differentiate its street motorcycles from its parent company’s offering, and what it will mean for the fabled dirtbike brand.

Official Photos of the Husqvarna 900cc Motor:

Source: Oberdan Bezzi.

For his latest work, Oberdan Bezzi imagines a three-cylinder Bimota that uses Triumph’s 675cc three-cylinder motor. Dubbed the Bimota TB-1 by the Italian designer, Bezzi brings up an interesting point with his sketch, namely that when the MV Agusta F3 comes it will, for all intents and purposes, be in a class of its own. You can’t really argue the point that there is yet-to-exist a premium well-designed supersport triple on the market right now (sorry Daytona owners), and Bezzi says that Bimota could easily come into this space with such a bike as seen here.

We’re inclined to agree that there is an opportunity in this space, as the Ducati Superbike 848 has certainly shown that you can sell in the middleweight class with a premium. However, MV Agusta won’t be the only Italian manufactuer coming out with a dead sexy 600cc range motorcycle (that is, if the MV Agusta F3 ever does come out…), as the Vyrus 986 M2 is one dead-sexy machine, and has a powerful Honda CBR600RR motor in it. Not quite the same as a triple, but we’d have a hard time choosing between the two, if given the option.

Source: Oberdan Bezzi (blog)

Last week Oberdan Bezzi inked his concept for a Triumph-powered Bimota, dubbed the Bimota TB-1. That fully-faired alternative to the MV Agusta F3 naturally needs a naked streetfighter variant, and accordingly Bezzi has penned today’s latest concept sketch, which he calls the Bimota TB-2 675. Featuring the Triumph 675cc three-cylinder motor, the Bimota TB-2 675 competes against its donor the Triumph Street Triple, and goes head-to-head with the heavily anticipated MV Agusta Brutale 675 B3.

While we don’t expect Bimota to start using Triumph motors anytime soon, the triple is a potent motor that we enjoyed considerably while riding on it in the stop-and-go traffic of San Francisco. With the buzz around the new Brutale 675 stirring some interest in the pergatory between inline-fours and v-twins, now seems like the time for manufacturers to starting thinking about three-cylinder power plants, as they are an intriguing way to distinguish their product. A fact that MV Agusta has astutely picked up on…now we’ll just have to see if they ever get their F3 and B3’s out the door, but that’s an entirely different topic all together.

Source: Oberdan Bezzi (blog)

Much has been speculated about the alleged Ducati 799 Superbike that surely is being planned in Borgo Panigale this very minute. Connecting the dots with the Italian company’s product roadmap, Ducati surely has a smaller-displacement version of its 1199 Panigale in the works, though what it will be called and what displacement it will use is still the subject of much conjecture. Today Oberdan Bezzi takes us back down that thought process with his Ducati 798 Desmosport R concept.

A supersport-market model, Bezzi’s focus is not with the water-cooled 1,200cc Superquadro motor, but the tried and true DesmoDue air-cooled lump currently found in the Hypermotard and Monster lines. Looking for a €9,000 price point, 100hp power figure, and 365 lbs dry weight, Oberdan Bezzi is striking the same vein that Radical Ducati and NCR have been touching on for the past few years, albeit at different ends of the price spectrum.

Clearly taking some design and technical cues from the Panigale, the Ducati 798 Desmosport R concept still features a traditional Ducati trellis-style frame (sorry frameless chassis lovers). It seems unreasonable at the price and performance spec mentioned that the Desmosport R concept actually be a 800cc-ish machine, given that the 1,100cc version of the air-cooled twin puts out a paltry 100hp in its EVO form. Still, a lightweight air-cooled Italian sport bike? That is something Ducatisti have been clamoring about for ages — thankfully Pierobon built one.

Source: Oberdan Bezzi

We follow Oberdan Bezzi’s work pretty closely here at Asphalt & Rubber, if for no other reason than we like the Italian designer’s ability to fantasize about the endless possibilities available in the two-wheel world — and after, who here doesn’t like to daydream about exotic motorcycles? Lately it seems Bezzi’s imagination has gone to a world where Bimota uses more than Ducati’s v-twin lumps in its exclusive street bikes, with his most recent sketches envisioning a BMW/Bimota collaboration.

Inking the Bimota BB-2 superbike, and it’s naked sibling the Bimota BB-3 “Paura”, the usual Bezzi lines and style are present in the designs. Oberdan’s thought-process on the Bimota BB-3 seems to be well-timed though, as the Bavarian company has recently been caught testing a naked version of the well-selling BMW S1000RR at its facility. Set to be a true Germans streetfighter, BMW could very well succeed in a motorcycle segment that the Japanese have historically struggled with here in the US.

Stopping the perpetuation of the lie that Americans don’t buy streetfighters/nakeds, the idea of a BMW-built S1000RR-dervied street-naked speaks at least to this author’s heart, and I am sure I am not alone in that sentiment. Expect that genuine article to have class-leading performance and to be competitively priced against its Japanese counterparts. Coupled with BMW’s history of making fine motorcycles, as well as the German company’s prestigious brand, it is hard to imagine how such a motorcycle will not be a hit…just like its full-faired sibling. Are the Japanese OEMs taking notes here?

As for Bezzi’s thoughts regarding Bimota, it is hard not to think about the current BMW/Suter bike being campaigned in MotoGP by Colin Edwards and the NGM Forward Racing team. Actually, it is hard not to think about any of the current CRT entries and the famous Italian brand. While Bimota’s Moto2 project seems to be slow in the making (last we heard, Ruben Xaus had been tapped to overlook the project, which may or may not be a good thing), the absence of Bimota in MotoGP would raise some eyebrows, if it weren’t for the almost certain reality that the company is once again on the verge of economic collapse, as seems to be the case every few years or so.

Still, for a company that made its name on taking production motors and building exotic custom frames and motorcycles around them, the very idea that Bimota isn’t in the CRT mix is certainly an interesting one.

Source: Oberdan Bezzi (Blog)

The Yamaha FZ-09, or the Yamaha MT-09 as it’s known outside of the USA, has become a big win for the tuning fork brand. A fun three-cylinder machine that has enough pep to carve up the canyons, yet also has a relaxed enough riding position to handle commuting duties, the Yamaha FZ-09 really wins our hearts and minds with its dirt-cheap price tag of $7,990 MSRP.

We’re not alone in our opinion, as the MT-09 has done so well in the global market, that Yamaha built off the buzz and released its two-cylinder cousin: the Yamaha MT-07.

If the Japanese OEM truly is eyeing more three-cylinder machines, we are excited for the prospect. Oberdan Bezzi is excited too, as the Italian designer has imagined his own interpretation of what Yamaha could do with the MT-09 line.

Envisioning a smaller displacement version of the Yamaha Super Ténéré, Bezzi sees Yamaha tapping the MT-09 chassis and engine to make a solid 847cc three-cylinder adventure-tourer. Smaller and lighter, such a design would be a great middleweight addition for the Yamaha line.

We’ve seen a lot of intriguing, yet fanciful, designs from Obiboi before, but this has to be the most practical concept to come from the Italian designer. Hopefully Yamaha is paying attention, they would do well to consider the prospect of an MT-09 base ADV bike.

Source: Obderdan Bezzi

We already showed you the concept by Oberdan Bezzi for a Yamaha MT-09 based Ténéré adventure-tourer, but we thought we would up the ante now that the Italian designer has inked a “Worldcrosser” version of the three-cylinder machine as well.

Complete with knobbies, and over 150 lbs lighter than the 1,200cc Super Ténéré, the Yamaha MT-09 Ténéré Worldcrosser could also boast a sticker price that is nearly half that of the venerable ADV bike from Yamaha.

It might just be a drawing, but there is something about this concept that really has us excited. To keep the creative juices rolling, there is a café racer version of the Yamaha MT-09 after the jump as well. Could this become the new “go-to” platform for customizers? At $7,990 MSRP, it just might be.

Source: Oberdan Bezzi (x2)

Yesterday we brought you a concept by Luca Bar Design for the Suzuki SV1000S, so it only seemed fitting today to show you another half-fairing sport bike from our other favorite Italian designer, Oberdan Bezzi.

Inking a concept for an Aprilia Shiver-based motorcycle with a half-fairing, Bezzi calls his creation the “Aprilia SS V2 Project” and it looks like something we would like to ride.

Several letters short from distinguishing itself from the Aprilia Tuono V4 R APRC ABS, Bezzi’s SS V2 concept would have a hard time against the much more powerful Tuono.

Though with a 750cc v-twin engine, and more approachable price tag, we could see the machine working in Aprilia’s already crowded street-naked lineup.

With the heavy parts crossover available with the Shiver and Dorsoduro models, whatever Aprilia lost on sales cannibalization would be made up for in the shared bill of materials.

Of course marketing such a machine would have to differentiate between the performance-oriented Tuono and perhaps a fun/touring slant for the SS.

Source: Oberdan Bezzi

I had to check the last time we showed you some of Oberdan Bezzi’s work, and it was over three months ago. The Italian designer has certainly been busy since that time though, as he has produced a number of BMW/Bimota concepts for us to ponder about.

Imagining the Italian company’s current trend of using BMW power plants — as has been seen with the Bimota BB3 — Bezzi’s drawings instead use BMW Motorrad’s popular boxer engine as their base.

The effect is an interesting one, as the BMW’s boxer engine has proven to be the base of the German brands Top 3 selling bikes, and has found interesting applications in the BMW R nineT modular machine, and the BMW Roadster Concept motorcycle.

Here dubbed the “Bimota BB4″, these concepts come in a variety of sporty standard, cafe racer, and streetfighter varieties that Bezzi’s simply calls a “Café Fighter” concept.

It’s hard to pick our favorite from the bunch, but we are enthusiastic about the idea of a boxer-powered Bimota. We doubt we’ll see such a move from the now Swiss-owned brand, but like a good concept sketch, it’s good to dream.

Source: Oberdan Bezzi Design (Blog)

We have seen a lot of concepts use Yamaha’s new MT line as their starting point. That is probably because the MT-09 (that’s FZ-09 to us Americans) and the MT-07 are very affordable versatile machines.

With rumors abound that Yamaha will use the MT-09 as the basis for a Yamaha TDM revival, the creative juices are certainly flowing. Not one to let the MT-09 have all the fun, Oberdan Bezzi has inked an intriguing street tracker concept from the Yamaha MT-07.

It’s actually surprising how well the design works and looks the part. We imagine the parallel twin, with its “crossplane” pin configuration, might not be the standard fare when it comes to flat track machinery, but on the street that won’t matter nearly as much.

Similarly, it is intriguing to see how versatile the MT-09/MT-07 are in the imaginations of creative people. It should really only be a matter of time before we say that translate into real life bike builds.

Source: Obderan Bezzi (Blog)

We’re really digging the FZ-07/FZ-09 based concepts from Oberdan Bezzi, if you haven’t noticed. It is probably because the FZ-09 is such an affordable, yet potent package, from Yamaha that it begs to be built-up and modded upon. We’ve already seen street tracker and world crosser concepts from Bezzi, and this “Triple Cross Over” design builds upon the same themes as before.

We already know that Yamaha has gotten the hint, and is expected to show a TDM-style version of the FZ-09/MT-09 at this year’s trade shows, but here is another design to whet our appetites and pique our imaginations.

The Triple Cross Over fills the gap left by the upcoming TDM model, and is more of a scrambler than an ADV bike. With Ducati coming out with its own take on the scrambler segment, it’s perhaps unsurprising to see the renewed interest in this space — that is, from the non-Pabst no-beard crowd.

Considering that the FZ-09 is supposed to be a lightweight, affordable, and basic street bike, the idea of making it into a scrambler sort of fits well with that ethos. It makes us wonder how long it will be before someone actually makes one these.

Source: Oberdan Bezzi (Blog)

Moto Guzzi would do well to add a scrambler model to its current lineup, and build off the hype generated by the Ducati Scrambler’s launch, not to mention the “post-authentic” movement (whatever that means) that seems to pull models out of the 1960’s and thrust them into the modern conversation.

Helping us imagine such a machine is Oberdan Bezzi, with his Moto Guzzi X-Rally 1200 concept. Maybe too heavy to appeal to die-hard off-roaders (I can hear the moans already in the comments section), but the X-Rally 1200 certainly fills the need for a brutish enduro with classic cues — not to mention, a break from the beaked-ADV status quo that the Stelvio tries so hard to chase.

Source: Oberdan Bezzi

The 2006 Yamaha YZF-R1 LE livery, which was a yellow, black, and white homage to Kenny Roberts Sr., is perhaps the greatest livery ever to adorn an R1, straight from the Yamaha factory.

Whether you are a loyal subject of King Kenny, or you just enjoy the fetching, yet simple, racing design, the Roberts livery is a treasure to see in any form — but especially so at speed.

Giving us a glimpse as to what the 2015 Yamaha YZF-R1 would look like with such a limited edition paint scheme, Oberdan Bezzi has once again whet our appetite ahead of a weekend full of riding.

And for you Giacomo Agostini fans, there is something special waiting for you after the jump as well. Enjoy!

Source: Oberdan Bezzi

After a bit of delay, the Ducati Scrambler is finally hitting US dealerships in meaningful numbers, so it is timely that we see a concept piece by Oberdan Bezzi on the affordable Italian twin.

With a name like “Scrambler” a certain off-roading heritage is implied by the new Ducati model, despite its low-to-the-ground stance and clearance-challenged exhaust pipes.

Ducati’s whole marketing campaign envisions some sort of beach-ready romp machine, which taps into the California Coast lifestyle. We doubt too many owners will be scrambling on their Ducati Scramblers, but then again, we could pass the same generalization about the venerable BMW R1200GS. Anyways, we digress.

Giving the Scrambler some lift, adding some knobbies and of course a Baja-style headlight, Oberdan Bezzi has inked an interesting take on the Ducati Scrambler, which should be easily reproducible for owners and enthusiasts alike.

That is perhaps the most important aspect of the Scrambler, in that it gives owners a versatile and affordable platform for which to build upon. Ducati hopes the same, having made an exhaustive aftermarket parts catalog for the machine.

The Bologna Brand currently has a contest for Ducati dealers to see who can make the most interesting Scrambler custom. We wonder how many shops will draw inspiration from Bezzi’s design here. We hope a few.

Source: Oberdan Bezzi (Blog)