Motorcycle exotica lovers will be all too familiar with the Bimota badge, or anyone who was riding in the 90s. More recently, the brand reached a wider, younger audience after being acquired by Kawasaki in 2019 and launched a purpose-built homologation superbike, the KB998 Rimini, to compete in WorldSBK (WSBK). Now, the company has launched its most affordable model ever, the KB399.
The KB399 is the second sportsbike to be launched under the KB line, following Kawasaki's acquisition of 50.1% of Bimota. Just like the KB998 is largely based on the Kawasaki ZX-10RR, the KB399 uses a Kawasaki ZX-4RR as its platform. The thing is, the KB998 is quite a step up from a standard ZX-10RR, hence the reason it costs nearly $20,000 more, but that's not the case with the KB399.
Right now, we only have the KB399's MSRP in the UK, which starts at £9,749 ($13,000) and goes up to £14,699 ($19,600) for the Edizione Speciale (ES) edition. And that's probably the most accessible price point ever seen for a Bimota badge. But has Bimota differentiated itself enough to warrant the price increase over a ZX-4RR, which comes in at around $9,999 in the US? What I'm really asking is, are you paying ≈ $3,000 for a rebadged ZX-4RR?
The KB399 shares the ZX-4RR's frame and engine, but gets some tweaks. The geometry will stay the same thanks to the shared frame, but the chassis components have been updated. On the standard KB399, riders will benefit from a higher-spec 41mm Showa front fork and rear shock, machined triple clamps, and Brembo Stylema calipers.
The ES edition takes things a step further with an Ohlins STX46 rear shock, lashings of billet aluminium goodies from levers to pegs, CNC rearsets and clip-ons, and a carbon fairing. Both the ES and standard KB399 come with an Akrapovič exhaust, meaning the little inline-four cylinder engine should sing all the way up to peak power, which will likely remain at around 79-80 hp in Europe. It also seems like the KB line will use the same electronic suite as the ZX-4RR.
Another thing featured on both models that you won't see on the ZX-4RR is a new fairing, featuring winglets. Now, how much those winglets do for performance, I don't know. The rationale behind the bike was also unclear to me; The KB399 is quite underpowered to compete in the new sportbike category of WSBK, although it would meet the qualifying criteria.
Pierluigi Marconi, Bimota COO, discusses what Bimota is hoping to achieve, saying, “Our goal with the KB399 is to offer an exclusive, distinctly Bimota riding experience to existing fans as well as a new and enthusiastic audience who are now becoming more aware of our craftsmanship-focused motorcycles.” If Bimoto brings the KB399 to the US, and that's a big if, as only a few Bimotas are being imported right now, would you fork over the extra cash for one instead of a ZX-4RR?
