Part of Throttle Times’ live coverage of EICMA 2026.

Bimota has officially taken the wraps off the road-going production version of the KB998 Rimini at EICMA in Milan, delivering the 500-unit homologation weapon that underpins the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team (BbKRT) in the FIM Superbike World Championship.

Rather than dressing an existing Japanese superbike in Italian styling flair, the KB998 Rimini represents an uncompromising structural re-imagining of Akashi’s race platform. Combining a 200-horsepower inline-four sourced from the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR with a proprietary hybrid steel-trellis and CNC-machined aluminum billet chassis, the Rimini introduces active dynamic aerodynamic winglets designed to manipulate downforce in real time. It arrives at Milan amidst an unprecedented arms race of track specials, facing off against the CFMoto V4SR-RR superbike and the limited-run Aprilia RSV4 Obscure Spe.Ed.

Active Dynamic Aero: Tilting Winglets for Trail-Braking Downforce

The KB998 Rimini debuts motorized active front winglets integrated into its autoclaved carbon-fiber fairing, dynamically altering their angle of attack to maximize braking stability and reduce cornering drag.

Traditional fixed aerodynamic wings generate maximum downforce at 280 km/h on straightaways—precisely where extra drag robs top speed—while offering diminished authority when a rider tips the bike into a slow chicane. Bimota’s servo-controlled winglets pivot downward under hard front-brake lever pressure, increasing downforce over the front wheel to suppress pitch and pitch-induced chassis oscillation. As the rider releases the Brembo Stylema calipers and leans toward the apex, the winglets flatten out to preserve front-end flickability.

“A WorldSBK homologation machine cannot rely on cosmetic aero add-ons. By articulating the winglets under braking telemetry, we plant the front tire into the tarmac without penalizing top speed down the straight.”

Hybrid Trellis Chassis: CNC Billet Aluminum Meets ZX-10RR Power

The Rimini is powered by the 998cc, 16-valve DOHC inline-four from the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR, producing 200 hp (147.1 kW) at 13,600 rpm and 111 Nm of torque at 11,700 rpm in Euro 5+ road trim.

Internally, the powerplant retains titanium connecting rods, lightweight pistons, and high-lift racing camshafts. However, the frame housing it is purely Italian exotica: chrome-molybdenum steel trellis tubes clamp the steering head, bolted directly into massive side plates milled from solid aircraft-grade Anticorodal aluminum alloy. A massive machined aluminum swingarm pivots directly through the crankcase castings, controlled by a fully adjustable Showa balance-free rear cushion shock and 43 mm Showa inverted race forks.

Weighing in at 195 kg dry (approximately 207 kg road-ready with 90% fuel in its 17-litre tank), every fairing bracket, foot control, and triple clamp is CNC-machined from billet aluminum or molded in visual-weave carbon fiber.

Side-by-Side: Bimota KB998 Rimini vs Ninja ZX-10RR vs Panigale V4 R

Metric / Specification Bimota KB998 Rimini Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR Ducati Panigale V4 R
Engine Configuration 998cc Inline-Four 998cc Inline-Four 998cc 90° Desmosedici V4
Peak Power Output 200 hp (147 kW) @ 13,600 rpm 214 hp (with RAM-Air) @ 14,000 rpm 218 hp @ 15,500 rpm
Peak Torque Output 111 Nm @ 11,700 rpm 111 Nm @ 11,700 rpm 111.3 Nm @ 12,000 rpm
Chassis Architecture Steel trellis + CNC billet plates Aluminum perimeter twin-spar Aluminum front frame
Aerodynamics Active dynamic tilting winglets Fixed fairing aerodynamic ducts Fixed carbon biplane winglets
Front Braking Hardware Brembo Stylema Monobloc Brembo Stylema Monobloc Brembo Stylema Monobloc
Dry Weight 195 kg 207 kg (curb) 172 kg
Homologation Volume 500 units globally Mass-production limited 500 units globally
Est. European Pricing ~€44,000 €29,999 €43,990

The Rider’s Trade-Off: Handcrafted Exotica vs Factory Spare Parts

The trade-off of Bimota ownership is the sheer vulnerability of handcrafted boutique architecture. While the ZX-10RR engine guarantees bulletproof powertrain reliability and standard Kawasaki dealer diagnostics, virtually everything else on the KB998 Rimini is proprietary. Low-siding at track-day speeds won’t just scuff plastic; it risks damaging CNC-machined Anticorodal structural side plates that cannot be ordered from a local dealership parts counter. But for privateer racing teams and discerning collectors, that uncompromising bespoke craftsmanship is the entire point. The KB998 is an unapologetic, pure-blooded racing machine that trades mass-market convenience for WorldSBK podium potential.

Media citation: Editorial outlets and forums may quote excerpts with attribution and a link to Throttle Times.

Official source: https://bimota.com/models/kb998-rimini/

Reporting via: cycleworld.com, motor.nl