We knew there was a new Bimota coming a couple of weeks back when the Italian exotica-monger, now owned fully by Japanese giant Kawasaki, dropped an intriguing teaser. Wait for the ‘espresso di Bimota’ it said, which was pretty cryptic.
Was it going to be a carbon-framed Versys with a built-in Nespresso machine? A hub-steered KLE500 in Starbucks replica paint? A brown Z125 with a £50 Costa gift card under the seat?
Of course, it was none of those things: rather the ‘espresso’ meant ‘small, tasty and powerful’. Because the crazy Italians have only just taken the Kawasaki ZX-4RR inline-four 399cc mini-superbike motor, and put it in their own trick chassis.
The result is the smallest Bimota in the current range (though it’s made smaller bikes before – Yamaha 250 and 350 powered racers and 400 road bikes powered by the Ducati 400SS V-twin lump).
It’s a superbike replica of course, with styling and looks inherited from the ZX-10R powered KB999 Rimini, thanks to a Bimota-designed bodywork package complete with aerodynamic fairing winglets. The frame is the same sinuous steel trellis unit as on the ZX-4RR with welded rear subframe, finished in red, with carbon inserts, which are trim rather than strengthening parts.
The motor makes a claimed 80PS, which is a few ponies more than the standard Kawasaki, and comes with a bespoke Akrapovic pipe. The chassis parts are the big change though: there’s 41mm Showa SFF-BP front suspension, mounted with billet upper & lower yokes and slick machined steering stem top cap, which is matched to Showa BFRC lite rear suspension, and it also comes with sweet Brembo Stylema radial mount front calipers.
Electronics are the same as on the ZX-4RR too, with three-mode Traction Control, Power Mode Selection, Integrated Riding Modes plus a Quick Shifter as standard.
There’s an even fancier version of the new bike available too: the ES Edizione Speciale KB399. It comes with an Öhlins STX46 fully-adjustable rear shock, and full carbon fibre bodywork, as well as clip-on handlebars, billet shift and brake pedals, plus adjustable billet aluminium footpeg assemblies and brackets.
Pierluigi Marconi, Bimota COO said, “Every Bimota is made with passion and this very exciting new Bimota expresses the very essence of our brand. 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 craftmanship focused motorcycles”.
The Bimota KB399 will be priced at £10,099 with the ES variant priced at £14,699. There will be order windows linked to each month’s production and will be limited. The first order window will close on Friday April 3rd with first arrivals due of this 2027 model in late October/early November 2026.
KB399 Engine specs
Engine: Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, in-line four
Displacement: 399 cm³
Bore x Stroke: 57.0 x 39.1 mm
Compression ratio: 12.3:1
Fuel system: Fuel injection: 34 mm x 4
Ignition: Digital
Starting system: Electric
Lubrication system: Forced lubrication, wet sump