Form & Function

The impeccable design and unparalleled performance of the T12 Massimo.

- Keith Gordon

WHEN MASSIMO TAMBURINI, ONE OF THE most influential motorcycle designers in history, ended his tenure at MV Agusta, the iconic Italian builder where he had spent much of his career, one could be forgiven for seeing the move as the retirement of a legend. But, Tamburini had other ideas. The man who designed some of history’s most beloved two-wheeled machines, including the Ducati 916 and the MV Agusta F4, had something special in mind. The break with MV Agusta at the end of 2008 provided the veteran Italian designer with the time, and freedom, to begin turning his wildest dream into reality: creating the most extreme, performance-focused, track-only sport bike ever built.

So, Massimo set to work, often designing for 12 hours a day. Complying with his noncompete agreement with Agusta, he worked independently from any motorcycle brand, sculpting his dream project in his head, and then on a computer with the help of a small team eventually led by his son, Andrea. The result is the T12 Massimo, a true candidate for the most extreme bike on the planet.