2025 Bimota KB998 Rimini First Look

Since the tiny Italian company’s inception, Bimota’s intent, except for one fatal exception with the infamous Vdue, has been to take powerplants from mainstream manufacturers and plug them into its own chassis. Just as is the case with this new 2025 KB998 Rimini. But flashing back to the early ‘70s, why did Bimota feel it could do a better job than the likes of Honda, Ducati, Suzuki, Kawasaki, and Yamaha in this regard? From the start, founders Valerio Bianchi, Giuseppe Morri, and Massimo Tamburini understood that the big companies had to put profitability before everything else. Bimota never had that handicap and was able to build the best chassis that it was capable of developing, with the best components, materials, and designs that were available.

If you haven’t been paying attention, back in 2019, Kawasaki acquired a minority share (49 percent) in the company. Currently the company builds six models, all powered by Kawasaki engines including: Tesi H2, Tesi H2 Terra, KB4, KB4RC, BX450, and this KB998. Currently only two models are imported to the US, the Tesi H2 and KB4, but there is likely change on the horizon. The KB998 is a homologation model that will compete in the 2025 World Superbike Championship as Kawasaki’s “official” entry being called the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team (with the current factory Kawasaki team just getting a rebranding).

This isn’t Bimota’s first attempt in WSBK, over the years it has taken multiple stabs at it, in the inaugural season in 1988, current Ducati MotoGP team boss Davide Tardozzi won five races on a YB4. But perhaps the most memorable was the late Anthony Gobert’s almost incomprehensible win as a wild card on the Bimota SB8K at Phillip Island in 2000, where he beat world champ Carl Fogarty by 30 freaking seconds in the rain.

“The engineering, technology and day to day business support already offered by Kawasaki has put Bimota firmly back into the consciousness of the media and potential customers; now it is time to take a next step in our evolution,” said Bimota’s COO, Pierluigi Marconi. “Bimota has had racing as part of its DNA from day one and to compete in WorldSBK alongside developing our new product range, while expanding the European and global dealer network, has an undeniable logic to it. With the unparalleled experience of the existing Kawasaki Racing Team experts plus the full support and cooperation of Kawasaki Motors Ltd. in Japan fills us with pride and optimism. The Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team will surely form the foundations of the next chapter in the Bimota story.”

As a homologation model, Bimota will have to build 500 units of the KB998 to be eligible for World Superbike competition. The first batch of 125 units will be ready by the end of February 2025, another 125 by December 31, 2025, and the remaining 250 by December 2026. At its core is the 998cc inline-four from the Kawasaki ZX-10RR. The engine has a 76.0 x 55.0mm bore and stroke dimensions with a 13.0:1 compression ratio. Claimed output is 200 hp at 13,600 rpm and 81.9 lb.-ft. of torque at 11,700 rpm. This compares to the ZX-10RR’s claimed 188 hp at a much lower 11,500 rpm.

The chassis is anchored by a frame constructed of a chrome-moly steel, oval-section trellis front structure that is bolted to a pair of machined billet-aluminum swingarm pivot plates. This construction is consistent with Bimota’s unique design philosophy. The frame has provisions for geometry changes via an eccentric swingarm pivot adjuster. The wheelbase measures 57.2 inches (identical to the current ZX-10RR), but the rake and trail numbers are not listed at this time, but are likely similar to the ZX-10RR’s 25 degrees and 4.1 inches.

Like the current Kawasaki ZX-10RR, the KB998 uses a 43mm inverted Showa Balance Free Fork (BFF), and a Showa Balance Free Rear Cushion (BFRC) lite shock, both are fully adjustable. A pair of Brembo radial-mount four-piston calipers with 330mm discs sit at the front and a single-piston caliper and 220mm disc at the rear, and will surely also utilize the Kawasaki Intelligent anti-lock Brake System (KIBS). Like the ZX-10RR, the KB998 uses forged Marchesini wheels in 17 x 3.5 inch front, 17 x 6.0 inch rear sizes. Claimed dry weight is 430 pounds.

All bodywork appears to be constructed of carbon fiber, while according to the press release the aero winglets are “able to automatically maintain the optimal angle at all times.” Are they active or semi-active? As long as the homologated production bike has the same system, they are legal. But we’ll have to get more information in the near future.

Currently, there is no information on availability and pricing for the US. So stay tuned for further updates when they become available.