Bike exotica lovers shall be all too acquainted with the Bimota badge, or anybody who was driving within the 90s. Extra just lately, the model reached a wider, youthful viewers after being acquired by Kawasaki in 2019 and launched a purpose-built homologation superbike, the KB998 Rimini, to compete in WorldSBK (WSBK). Now, the corporate has launched its most inexpensive mannequin ever, the KB399.
The KB399 is the second sportsbike to be launched below the KB line, following Kawasaki’s acquisition of fifty.1% of Bimota. Identical to the KB998 is essentially primarily based on the Kawasaki ZX-10RR, the KB399 makes use of a Kawasaki ZX-4RR as its platform. The factor is, the KB998 is kind of a step up from an ordinary ZX-10RR, therefore the rationale it prices almost $20,000 extra, however that is not the case with the KB399.
Proper now, we solely have the KB399’s MSRP within the UK, which begins at £9,749 ($13,000) and goes as much as £14,699 ($19,600) for the Edizione Speciale (ES) version. And that is in all probability probably the most accessible worth level ever seen for a Bimota badge. However has Bimota differentiated itself sufficient to warrant the worth enhance over a ZX-4RR, which is available in at round $9,999 within the US? What I am actually asking is, are you paying ≈ $3,000 for a rebadged ZX-4RR?
The KB399 shares the ZX-4RR’s body and engine, however will get some tweaks. The geometry will keep the identical due to the shared body, however the chassis parts have been up to date. On the usual KB399, riders will profit from a higher-spec 41mm Showa entrance fork and rear shock, machined triple clamps, and Brembo Stylema calipers.
The ES version takes issues a step additional with an Ohlins STX46 rear shock, lashings of billet aluminium goodies from levers to pegs, CNC rearsets and clip-ons, and a carbon fairing. Each the ES and commonplace KB399 include an Akrapovič exhaust, which means the little inline-four cylinder engine ought to sing all the way in which as much as peak energy, which is able to doubtless stay at round 79-80 hp in Europe. It additionally looks like the KB line will use the identical digital suite because the ZX-4RR.
One other factor featured on each fashions that you simply will not see on the ZX-4RR is a brand new fairing, that includes winglets. Now, how a lot these winglets do for efficiency, I do not know. The rationale behind the bike was additionally unclear to me; The KB399 is kind of underpowered to compete within the new sportbike class of WSBK, though it might meet the qualifying standards.
Pierluigi Marconi, Bimota COO, discusses what Bimota is hoping to attain, saying, “Our aim with the KB399 is to supply an unique, distinctly Bimota driving expertise to present followers in addition to a brand new and enthusiastic viewers who are actually changing into extra conscious of our craftsmanship-focused bikes.” If Bimoto brings the KB399 to the US, and that is a giant if, as only some Bimotas are being imported proper now, would you fork over the additional money for one as an alternative of a ZX-4RR?
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