Bimota KB399 image gallery

For the uninitiated, Bimota is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer founded in 1966 by Valerio Bianchi, Giuseppe Morri and Massimo Tamburini. Originally an air-conditioning company, it switched to the motorcycling business when Tamburini was frustrated by the poor frames on powerful Japanese engines. The brand is now known for pairing high performance engines with their high-end handcrafted chassis, aiming to deliver a superior middle-weight motorcycle.

Since Kawasaki acquired a 49.9 percent stake in 2019, Bimota's current models heavily rely on Kawasaki engines and electronics while maintaining Italian design and chassis.The KB399 is paired with the same engine as the one used on the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR. In the Kawasaki, the 399cc inline four-cylinder liquid-cooled engine produces a peak output of 80hp with a redline of over 14000 rpm. Both motorcycles also share the same trellis frame and electronic interface. Bimota being a more niche and premium entity enhances on Kawasaki’s foundation, it offers the KB399 with a unique Italian-designed bodywork with integrated winglets, billet aluminium triple clamps and a machined steering stem top cap. Additionally, it also gets higher spec components such as radially-mounted Brembo Steylema callipers, fully adjustable 41mm Showa SFF-BP fork  to Showa rear shock. The KB 399 also comes standard with a custom Akrapovic titanium silencer. Bimota is also offering a higher spec ES model that takes the ante up by another notch, it features carbon-fibre panels and billet aluminium components.