Bimota KB399 Uses Kawasaki ZX-4RR Base for its Real Substance

• 399cc liquid-cooled inline-four engine; racing focus
• Bimota adds its own bodywork, billet parts, Brembo Stylema callipers and upgraded suspension

Bimota has just shown the new KB399 as a compact expression of the brand’s racing spirit. Built around a 399cc liquid-cooled inline-four, the KB399 is a mid-capacity model designed to bring more riders into the brand without diluting its exclusive identity. It’s compact design and high-revving four-cylinder nature adds it alongside previous creations like the KB998 Rimini and KB4.

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR as a base already gives Bimota a strong foundation for a small capacity racer. The inline-four engine produces up to 78bhp revving beyond a screaming 15,000rpm is combined with a compact supersport chassis developed with clear influence from the larger ZX family. A trellis steel frame and 189kg curb mass further helps Bimota to make it even sportier.

With its bodywork designed and sculpted in Italy, billet aluminium triple clamps and steering stem top cap, and a custom Akrapovic silencer fitted as standard to better support the engine’s high-rpm output and soundtrack. Fully adjustable 41mm Showa SFF-BP front suspension are paired with a Showa BFRC lite rear shock on the standard model and an Ohlins STX46 unit on the ES version for super sharp control. Brembo Stylema radial-mount monobloc front callipers are also part of this extreme package. Traction control comes with three modes, with the quickshifter coming in as standard fitment.

The entire exercise is a carefully judged example of how a strong donor platform can be elevated rather than just repackaged.