The Bimota KB4 has been under development for quite some time and following the sketches and spy pictures, some interesting specifications about the motorcycle have surfaced.
Tubular steel and carbon fibre chassis
Same power figures as the Ninja 1000’s engine
Lighter and smaller than the Ninja 1000
Starting with the inline-four engine, it is identical to the Kawasaki Ninja 1000’s unit. It makes 140hp and 111.2Nm of torque and is paired with a 6-speed gearbox. Bimota has fitted its own exhaust system, with a single end can. For those wondering why Bimota is using a Kawasaki engine, it’s because the latter owns a stake in the Italian company. Engine aside, the Bimota KB4 is completely different from the Ninja 1000. Its chassis is a tubular steel and carbon fibre unit.
For the uninitiated, Bimota has always been known for taking production engines and putting them into sporty chassis that it develops. The Bimota KB4 is also lighter than the Kawasaki Ninja 1000 by 41kg, and tips the scales at 194kg.
In fact, the KB4’s dimensions are also much smaller than the Ninja 1000’s. The most significant of those is the shorter wheelbase, at 1,390mm. To do so, Bimota refrained from shortening the swingarm and instead appears to have moved the front wheel closer to the engine. However, as the suspension compresses under hard braking, they ran the risk of the front wheel hitting the radiator.
Bimota seems to have resolved this issue by placing the radiator under the seat, instead of in front of the engine, as is the convention. This explains the large air intakes on either side of the fairing and a carbon fibre tunnel that runs from the intakes to the seat area.
It’s only a matter of time before we get to see the production version of the Bimota KB4 and know of all the specifications, possibly at the 2021 EICMA in Milan, Italy. Stay tuned.