Did you know, Kawasaki own a 49.9% stake in Bimota? No? Well now you do. That might have something to do with the fact that the new slightly retro looking Bimota KB4 sportsbike has a big, fat, Kawasaki engine running it.
Just last week, at the Milan Motorcycle Show (EICMA), the Italian exotica stalwarts, Bimota, pulled the cover off their latest sportsbike. I say sportsbike; it might have a 1043cc engine, but it’s hardly a superbike. It’s got the Kawasaki Ninja SX motor with 140bhp, and 111Nm.
The details Bimota have given us about the KB4 are a little sparce at the moment. We do know that it’s got Öhlins suspension (non-electronic), Brembo brakes, and a carbon fibre fairing. It also has the electronics suite from the Kawasaki Ninja 1000. Although it doesn’t look like it has the latest radar enabled cruise control.
I think Bimota are going for exclusivity, over performance, with the KB4. If you’re into Italian exotica, and you don’t fancy buying a Ducati, like every dick and their dog, this kind of thing might be up your street. Then again, it might not be.
Because apart from the fact that they’re most likely going to be very rare, it doesn’t have many redeeming features. Yeah, you get top-spec Öhlins suspension, and decent brakes, but that’s about it. But for some people that will be enough.
I don’t know how much these things are going to cost, but if I had to guess I’d say £30k. There or there abouts. For what? For a bike that’s not very fast; looks like it’s been designed by a child; and has got almost zero dealer/support network, if/when it goes wrong.
There’s also a naked version, the KB4 RC, which doesn’t look much better. Beauty’s in the eye of the beholder though, I suppose, isn’t it?
Will anyone actually buy one of these? Would you?
