Unleashing the Myth: An Exclusive Track Test of the Bimota KB998 Rimini Superbike at Laguna Seca
Over the past few decades, Bimota has forged a nearly mythical status within the global motorcycle community. Operating out of its headquarters in Rimini, Italy, the tiny boutique firm—comprising a lean team of just 14 employees spanning roles from the secretary to the chief executive officer—specializes in hand-building high-performance motorcycles. Rather than developing engines from scratch, Bimota leverages proven power plants from major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), including Ducati, Yamaha, BMW, Honda, and, more recently, Kawasaki.
By pairing these power units with inventive swingarm geometries, bespoke hand-crafted components, and unconventional engineering solutions, Bimota consistently manages to reimagine and elevate the donor platforms that ostensibly serve as their underpinnings. Following its integration into the Kawasaki corporate family, Bimota has also returned triumphantly to the upper echelons of professional motorsport, taking over the factory WorldSBK team for the 2025 racing season.
Against this backdrop of renewed racing pedigree, the manufacturer has introduced its latest masterpiece: the KB998 Rimini. Ahead of its official American market launch, Bimota extended an exclusive invitation to test the road-legal superbike at Northern California’s legendary WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The goal: to evaluate whether the boutique manufacturer’s racing provenance translates seamlessly into a tarmac-ripping, high-performance street machine.
Main Facts: Anatomy of an Italian-Japanese Hybrid
The nomenclature of Bimota’s latest machine tells its immediate story: "KB" designates a Kawasaki engine paired with a Bimota chassis, while "Rimini" honors the company’s hometown. Beneath its striking, sculptural carbon-fiber bodywork lies a 998 cc inline-four engine sourced directly from Kawasaki’s high-revving ZX-10RR.
While it lacks the supercharged brute-force nature of Kawasaki’s H2 line, this homologated racing engine rewards high revs and full-throttle engagement, pumping out a formidable 197 horsepower and 81.87 ft-lbs of torque. The engine breathes through a massive front intake—a design choice that necessitated a complete reworking of the steering head—and expels exhaust gasses through titanium headers matched to an Akrapovič silencer.
The physical presence of the KB998 Rimini in the Laguna Seca trackside garages instantly turned heads, drawing murmurs of approval even among dedicated devotees of competing Italian marques like Ducati and Aprilia.
Key Technical Specifications
- Engine Type: 998 cc liquid-cooled inline-four (Kawasaki ZX-10RR derivative)
- Power Output: 197 hp at 13,750 rpm redline
- Torque: 81.87 ft-lbs
- Weight (Wet): 456 lbs
- Frame: TIG-welded oval chromium-molybdenum trellis frame with billet aluminum components
- Suspension: Showa Balance Free Fork (retuned with lower spring rate, firmer compression, softer rebound) and rear damper adjustable up to 30mm via eccentric bolt
- Brakes: Brembo 330 mm rotors with M50 monobloc calipers
- Price: $65,399
- Production Volume: Limited to 250 units annually globally
Chronology: From Factory Integration to the Laguna Seca Asphalt
The path to the KB998 Rimini’s American debut has been swift and marked by immediate competition success.
- Late 2010s to 2020s: Following Kawasaki’s strategic acquisition of a major stake in Bimota, the Italian craft shop gained access to world-class Japanese engineering, laying the foundation for a new generation of hybrid superbikes.
- Early 2025: Bimota takes over the factory WorldSBK racing team reins, with riders Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani delivering immediate podium success early in the season.
- Mid-2025: The KB998 Rimini arrives stateside, coinciding with exclusive press and VIP track evaluations.
- The Track Test Day: Riders take to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca alongside a track-ride organization, putting the motorcycle through rigorous 20- to 30-minute sessions to test chassis rigidity, braking durability, and electronic rider aids.
- Current Status: Order rolls are officially open in the United States through the brand’s sole American dealer, Bimota Spirit, located in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Supporting Data: Artisan Engineering Meets Track Dynamics
Upon pulling out of Laguna Seca’s long pit lane, the KB998 Rimini immediately dispels any preconceived notions tied to its 456-pound wet weight. Preheated Pirelli Diablo Superbike SC2 tires allow riders to push hard right out of the gate, while the front end carves into turns with minimal body shift.
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| BIMOTA KB998 RIMINI PERFORMANCE |
+--------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
| Metric | Specification / Behavior |
+--------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
| Maximum Horsepower | 197 hp @ 13,750 rpm |
| Power Delivery Profile | Linear swell; lightspeed reached >11,000 rpm |
| Suspension Setup | Showa Balance Free Fork / Eccentric Bolt |
| Braking System | Brembo 330mm Rotors + M50 Monobloc Calipers |
| Active Aero Function | Flattens under braking to reduce nose-dive |
+--------------------------+----------------------------------------------+The chassis architecture is a masterclass in weight-saving and rigidity. A TIG-welded oval chromium-molybdenum trellis frame anchors the machine, complemented by billet aluminum utilized extensively throughout the chassis, including the swingarm. Artisan attention to detail is evident down to the titanium bolt tuning—utilized even on the rear axle bolt and nut.
The suspension relies on Showa components derived directly from Kawasaki’s dominant seven WorldSBK titles (including six consecutive wins from 2015 to 2020). Bimota expertly retunes the Balance Free Fork with a lower spring rate, firmer compression damping, and softer rebound. Furthermore, the rear damper can adjust up to 30 millimeters via an eccentric bolt, eliminating the need to remove the seat or fiddle with shims to dial in track geometry.
Official Responses and Expert Impressions
Reviewers and test riders have universally praised the KB998 Rimini’s unique positioning, though they note certain quirks inherent to its niche, low-volume production nature.
When asked about the machine’s distinct character, testing feedback emphasized the duality of its Japanese heart and Italian soul:
"The magic that Bimota manages with the KB998 shines through in just how small the relatively sizable bike feels… Unlocking all 197 hp on the way up to a 13,750 rpm redline becomes a joy, rather than a workout."
On Track Handling and Aerodynamics
Through Laguna Seca’s infamous sequences—from the deceptive false flat cresting Turn 1 to the gut-wrenching drop of the Corkscrew—the bike’s center of mass proves exceptionally nimble. Notably, the active-aero winglets function counterintuitively compared to Formula 1’s DRS system: rather than opening to shed drag on straights, they actuate with the brake lever, flattening out under hard braking to mitigate nose-dive.
Constructive Critiques from the Paddock
Despite its stellar performance, extended track sessions exposed minor areas for refinement:
- Braking Fade: After multiple 20- to 30-minute sessions, stopping performance showed slight fade—unexpected given the high-spec Brembo 330 mm rotors and M50 monobloc calipers, suggesting that a post-delivery brake bleed may be necessary for track enthusiasts.
- Quickshifter Character: The up/down quickshifter retains some lurchy characteristics inherited from its Kawasaki donor roots, particularly when attempting full-throttle upshifts near the 13,750 rpm redline. Switching to full power and selecting an aggressive traction control mode (Level 1) helps smooth out on/off throttle modulation.
- Lack of Electronic Suspension: At a price point of $65,399, some riders noted the absence of electronically adjustable suspension as a surprise, given that competitors from Ducati and Aprilia offer fully digital suspension suites.
Implications: The Rarefied Air of Boutique Superbikes
The arrival of the Bimota KB998 Rimini carries significant implications for the ultra-luxury motorcycle segment. Priced at $65,399 and strictly limited to 250 units globally per year, the Rimini occupies rarefied air, competing directly only with track-focused exotics like the Ducati Panigale V4R and the Aprilia RSV4 Xtrenta.
What sets the Bimota apart in this exclusive tier is the fusion of Italian chassis artistry with bulletproof Japanese mechanical reliability. While Italian exotics can sometimes instill anxiety regarding track reliability, the Kawasaki-derived inline-four engine provides absolute peace of mind when exploring the upper limits of performance.
For collectors and track-day aficionados seeking the absolute pinnacle of exclusivity, Bimota also manufactured an ultra-rare run of just five Elite variants. Hand-built entirely by the WorldSBK racing team, the track-only Elite sheds nearly 10 percent of its weight while bumping power output by 7.5 percent. With only two of those units allocated to the United States—and all slots already sold out—the standard KB998 Rimini stands as the definitive gateway to owning a piece of modern racing royalty.
Order rolls for the standard U.S. allocation remain open exclusively through Bimota Spirit in Raleigh, North Carolina, inviting a fortunate few to experience a machine where myth and motorsport formally collide.
