Eighty horsepower from just 399 cubic centimeters — that’s the headline. 

The Bimota KB399 squeezes race-bike performance out of a middleweight engine, 

and it does so with the kind of obsessive craftsmanship that has defined the Italian brand for decades.  

“Eighty horsepower from 399cc” — Bimota’s engineers insist the numbers speak for themselves. Credit: New Atlas


The KB399 is Bimota’s smallest motorcycle to date, but “smallest” doesn’t mean modest. The bike runs on Kawasaki’s 399cc inline-four, the same high-revving unit found in the Ninja ZX-4RR. Inline-four means four cylinders arranged in a straight line, a layout prized for smoothness and the ability to rev high. Here, it delivers 80 horsepower and 28.8 lb-ft of torque, figures that put it firmly in track-ready territory despite its compact size.  

Eighty horsepower hides inside this 399cc engine — numbers that belong on a racetrack, not a middleweight commuter. Credit: Bimota


That Kawasaki connection isn’t incidental. Kawasaki owns a majority stake in Bimota, which explains why the KB399 borrows heavily from the ZX-4RR. The frame, the Showa inverted forks, even the TFT display and electronic aids — ride modes, traction control, quickshifter — all carry over. But Bimota doesn’t just copy. It refines. The KB399’s suspension is more adjustable, with preload and damping settings that let riders fine-tune the feel. The brakes step up to Brembo Stylema radial calipers, a serious upgrade over Kawasaki’s own units.  

Brembo Stylema calipers grip here — the same brakes trusted on superbikes. Credit: Bimota


Then there’s the Akrapovič titanium silencer, fitted as standard. Akrapovič is a Slovenian company known for lightweight, performance exhausts, and here it sharpens both the sound and the throttle response. The KB399 also wears new bodywork, sculpted in Italy, complete with winglets. Whether those winglets add measurable downforce at speed is debatable, but they certainly add visual drama.  

Carbon fiber meets Italian intent. Credit: Bimota


Bimota’s attention to detail shows in the billet aluminum triple clamps and machined steering stem cap. On the higher-spec ES trim, the upgrades go further: carbon fiber fairings, Öhlins rear suspension, billet footpegs, and clip-on handlebars. The ES trim pushes the price to £14,699 (about $19,600), while the base model starts at £9,749 ($13,000). For a middleweight, those numbers are steep. But Bimota has never been about bargains. It has always been about exclusivity.  

Brembo Stylema calipers grip here — the same brakes trusted on superbikes. Credit: Bimota


The KB399’s styling draws inspiration from the KB998 Rimini, Bimota’s liter-class sibling. The trellis frame is painted in a new shade developed specifically for this model, and the red-black-white livery is unmistakably Bimota. Every line, every surface feels deliberate, crafted to signal both speed and elegance.  


Production will be limited, as always. Bimota plans monthly “order windows” starting April 3, with deliveries expected by late October or November. That scarcity is part of the appeal. Owning a Bimota isn’t just about riding; it’s about joining a small circle of enthusiasts who value craftsmanship over mass production.  


There’s talk of the KB399 entering the World Sportbike Championship. If that happens, this street-legal machine could double as a homologation special — a bike built for the road but destined for the track. That possibility gives the KB399 a sense of purpose beyond its spec sheet.  


The KB399 doesn’t try to compete with Kawasaki on price or volume. It exists because Bimota believes there’s room for a middleweight that feels bespoke, that turns every ride into something sharper, more personal. Whether those winglets ever earn their keep, whether the premium over a ZX-4RR feels justified — those are questions riders will answer on the road. What’s clear is that Bimota has distilled its racing spirit into its smallest package yet, and it’s daring riders to see just how much performance can be coaxed from 399 cubic centimeters.  


Sources: New Atlas, Bimota