The KB998, developed in collaboration with KAWASAKI for the prestigious Bimota's return to SBK, is sure to be the center of attention in the 2025 season, and the street version is expected to be unveiled at EICMA (Milan Show) in 2024.
SBK "KB998" showed its true potential from its debut
The withdrawal of the factory team KRT from SBK came as a big shock to the racing world, but as you all know, BIMOTA announced that they will be competing with a KAWASAKI-engine machine as the "Bimota by KAWASAKI Racing Team" from 2025. The machine they will be competing with will be the "KB998" equipped with an engine based on the ZX-10RR, and the rider lineup will remain the same as KRT in 2024 with Alex Lowes and Axel Bassalini, so it can be said that the team will essentially be a structure that is not very different from KAWASAKI's works team.
The logo of "BIMOTA by KAWASAKI Racing Team" is placed under the Bimota "b" logo.
Bimota is a small-scale Italian sports motorcycle manufacturer that manufactured motorcycles equipped with engines from Japanese motorcycles on steel pipe frames made by Massimo Tamburini. The company name combines the initials of the engine manufacturer and BIMOTA's initial "B", and numbers are added in the order of their release. For HONDA, it is "HB", for YAMAHA, it is "YB", for SUZUKI, it is "SB", for DUCATI, it is "DB", and for KAWASAKI, it is "KB".
In 2019, BIMOTA established a joint venture with KAWASAKI Motors Europe and announced the "TESI-H2", which is equipped with an H2-series engine on a frame with hub-center steering. It then announced the "KB4", which is equipped with a NINJA1000SX-series engine, and is sold through KAWASAKI dealers. The SBK version of the KB998 made its debut at the Jerez test just the other day, taking an immediate one-two finish. KRT won the Superbike Championship for six consecutive years from 2015 to 2020 with Jonathan Rea, and this result is a reflection of the momentum of that era.
The "TESI-H2" is a model that mounts an H2-series unit on a frame that uses a hub-center steering system. BIMOTA previously sold a hub-center steering model equipped with a DUCATI engine called the "TESI 1D."
The "JB4" model, which is equipped with a NINJA1000SX engine, has a cafe racer style and can be purchased at KAWASAKI dealerships.
The KB998 was unveiled for the first time at the Jerez test. The riders are Alex Lowes and Axel Bassarini, who competed for KRT in 2024.
On the second day of the Jerez test, Bassalini recorded the fastest time. Lowes followed in second place, a result that shows the high level of perfection of the machine.
BIMOTA has previously released three models equipped with KAWASAKI engines: the KB1 equipped with a Z1000 series engine, the KB2 equipped with a Z550 series engine, and the KB3 equipped with a Z1000J series engine. The KB3 was released in 1983, so it has been 36 years since the TESI-H2 was released.
The "KB1" is equipped with an air-cooled Z1000 engine and was designed by Tamburini in the 1970s.
The "KB2" was a model equipped with a medium-displacement engine from the Z550 series. At the time, it was a full-scale racer replica that many riders aspired to own.
The KB3, equipped with a Z1000J engine, was the last machine to be fitted with a Kawasaki engine until the birth of the TESI-H2 and KB4.
Naturally, the KB998, being an SBK racer, requires a street version to serve as the base machine according to regulations, and according to Bimota's Facebook page, it will be making its debut at this year's EICMA.
A frame that embodies the soul of BIMOTA
As mentioned earlier, the KB998's engine base is the ZX-10RR, and even in its normal form, it produces a powerful 154.5kW (210PS) / 13,600rpm when pressurized with ram air. Even when it is installed in the street version of the KB998, it is unlikely to be significantly modified, considering that it is intended for road use.
The design of the front cowl is similar to that of the ZX-10, but the bodywork is a completely original BIMOTA KB998. It is also equipped with winglets, and the red part of the frame appears to be a high-strength steel trellis frame.
The ZX-10RR is not currently on sale in Japan. It is believed that this engine is the basis for the engine installed in the KB998.
What is noteworthy about the KB998 is the bodywork, especially the frame. Since Tamburini moved to Cagiva, Bimota has produced many aluminum frame models, but for the KB4, the front part is a high-strength steel trellis frame, and the engine is part of the frame, combined with a machined swingarm pivot plate. Judging from the published photos, the KB998 also seems to use a frame structure that combines a steel trellis frame and aluminum. In the world of MotoGP, Ducati and KTM have achieved certain results with frames that combine such steel trellis frames with aluminum or carbon, proving that the so-called "iron frame" is not a thing of the past. In fact, it can be said that the KB998 proved the high combat power of this frame in the test at Jerez.
A machined aluminum plate is attached to the swingarm pivot. It appears to be connected to the steel pipe trellis frame with bolts.
The swingarm is made of aluminum, and is probably made by welding machined parts together like the KB4. The KB4 had three pieces, but judging from the weld marks, the LB998 seems to have four pieces. The inside of the swingarm has been largely hollowed out, leaving the ribs, achieving both lightness and strength. The top bridge has also been beautifully hollowed out, and the high level of machining precision is a quality that you would expect from BIMOTA.
The aluminum swingarm is likely a four-piece structure. The hollowing out of the inside of the arm shows the meticulous design philosophy behind it.
The beautifully hollowed-out top bridge has a "b" logo in the center. The top bridge center nut has also been designed.
The currently installed cowling has a reverse slant face that is somewhat reminiscent of the ZX-10R, but for the street version, there is a possibility that a design that is more unique to Bimota will be adopted. Carbon winglets are attached to the sides of the upper cowling, and the shape is similar to that of the one attached to the H2R. Rivals such as the Yamaha YZF-R1, BMW S1000RR, and Ducati Panigale V4R are equipped with winglets, so naturally these will be installed on commercial models as well.
The KAWASAKI H2R, which set the world record for the fastest production vehicle, was equipped with winglets.
The winglets of the H2R are made of carbon. It is highly likely that KAWASAKI's aerodynamic technology has been incorporated into the winglets of the KB998.
The SBK version of the KB998 is equipped with SHOWA inverted type front forks and BREMBO brakes. The rear shock cannot be confirmed, but it should be assumed to be made by SHOWA. The current ZX-10R is equipped with SHOWA BFF with an inner tube diameter of 43 mm at the front and Showa BFRC lite at the rear, so it is highly likely that the street version of the KB998 will also be equipped with this combination. As for the brakes, the radial mount BREMBO M50 monoblock used on the ZX-10R would be appropriate.
Will the street version be limited edition or mass produced?
According to SBK regulations, a minimum of 500 road-going models must be delivered, so the road-going version of the KB998 will be released 100%. However, it is still unclear whether it will truly be a limited edition model with only 500 units produced, or whether it will be a model with a certain degree of mass production in mind like the KB4.
Either way, the KB998 was developed by BIMOTA and KAWASAKI to take the SBK championship, so there's no way you'll be disappointed when you see the actual car. It will likely be the street version of the KB998 that will be unveiled at 11:45am local time on November 5th, so for now I'll just sit in front of my computer and wait for more information.
What form will the street version of KB998 take and what kind of equipment will it come with? I can't wait until November 5th.
