- Official reveal on March 18, 2026, just before the Osaka Motorcycle Show
- Silhouette in the teaser video closely resembles the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR
- Model name, specifications and European availability not yet confirmed
Bimota has published a short teaser video on its social media channels showing the silhouette of a new motorcycle. Along with it comes a clear date: The new model is set to be officially unveiled on March 18, 2026, just days before the start of the Osaka Motorcycle Show in Japan. The tagline of the announcement reads “Espresso di Bimota” and, together with the teaser image, already provides several clues as to what the new project might entail.
Silhouette Points to Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR as the Base
The silhouette visible in the teaser video can be fairly clearly matched to the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR. The shapes and proportions are nearly identical, suggesting a close technical relationship. This would come as no surprise, since Kawasaki has held approximately 50 percent of the shares in the legendary Italian small-series manufacturer from Rimini since 2019. All current Bimota models have been based on Kawasaki technology since then. The most prominent collaboration is the Bimota KB998 Rimini, which is built on the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR platform and has been competing in the Superbike World Championship since 2025.
The timing and location of the presentation are also a clear indicator. 400cc models have traditionally held the greatest significance in Japan, and the Osaka Motorcycle Show is one of the most important industry trade shows in Asia. Bimota deliberately placing the reveal in this setting suggests that the Japanese market will play a central role in the marketing strategy.
High-Revving Inline-Four with 399cc
Should the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR indeed serve as the technical base, the new Bimota would adopt its inline-four engine with 399 cubic centimeters of displacement. In the current Kawasaki tune, the powerplant produces 77 hp (57 kW) at 14,500 rpm. With ram-air intake pressure at high speeds, it reportedly delivers up to 80 hp (59 kW). A significant power increase beyond these figures would be unlikely in a street-legal Bimota version with emissions compliance.
The ZX-4RR’s four-cylinder engine is an outlier in its displacement class: No other current 400cc engine revs to such heights while offering four cylinders. This could well fit the “Espresso” name, which in Italian coffee culture stands for something small but concentrated and intense.
Weight Savings Through Carbon and Titanium?
The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR has a curb weight of 189 kilograms (417 lbs) with a full 15-liter fuel tank and a steel trellis frame. For a Bimota version, weight reduction would likely be one of the central themes. Carbon bodywork, a titanium exhaust system and high-quality aluminum-machined components are traditionally part of the Bimota concept. The larger sibling model KB998 Rimini already features hand-painted frames, carbon fairings and Brembo brake systems.
Various international media outlets speculate that the new 400cc model could weigh less than 180 kilograms (397 lbs). There is also talk of Brembo brakes, forged wheels and a lithium-ion battery. However, none of this has been officially confirmed. Price estimates ranging from 18,000 to 22,000 euros (approximately 18,900 to 23,100 US dollars) are also circulating, roughly double the price of the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR. These figures are based solely on speculation and experience with previous Bimota models, not on manufacturer information.
Possible Model Name: Bimota KB399 Espresso
The model name follows a logical pattern. The current Bimota KB998 Rimini carries the KB designation for the Kawasaki-Bimota collaboration, followed by the displacement figure 998. Applying the same scheme to a 400cc model results in the designation KB399. The “Espresso” suffix comes directly from the teaser and the announcement tagline. Whether Bimota will actually adopt this name remains to be seen until the official reveal.
Not the First 400cc in Bimota’s History
Bimota already has experience with the 400cc class. In the 1980s, the manufacturer produced the YB7 Folgore based on the Yamaha FZR 400. Since Kawasaki’s involvement in 2019, however, only KB models based on Kawasaki technology have been in the lineup, including the KB998 Rimini, the Tesi H2 with the supercharged engine from the Kawasaki Ninja H2, and the retro-oriented KB4.
European Availability and Potential Racing Involvement Unclear
Whether the new Bimota is intended exclusively for the Japanese market or will also come to Europe is currently unknown. The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR is currently priced at around 10,000 euros (approximately 10,500 US dollars) in Germany. That a Bimota version would be significantly more expensive is beyond question. How large the premium will be can only be guessed before the official reveal.
Also interesting is the question of a potential racing involvement. The Kawasaki ZX-4RR is already being used in the Kawasaki Superteen class in Great Britain and is moving to a new Junior Sportbike category in 2026. Whether Bimota could also become active on the racing circuit with the new 400cc model, perhaps in the new World Sportbike class, is pure speculation. With the KB998 Rimini, however, racing involvement in the Superbike World Championship was part of the plan from the very beginning.
On March 18, 2026, Bimota will lay its cards on the table. Until then, “Espresso di Bimota” remains a promising teaser with a silhouette that points quite clearly toward the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR.
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