Bimota KB998 Rimini Elite: Only Five Race Versions for Customers

• Power raised to 215 hp (160.3 kW), 16.7 kg lighter than the production model
• Global production capped at five motorcycles, handover at the Jerez winter test
• Price set at 99,800 euros net (around 117,600 US dollars), no road homologation

The KB998 Rimini Elite was presented on 17 April 2026 as part of the Assen race weekend of the Superbike World Championship. Behind the project stands Provec Racing, the Spanish race team that also runs the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team in WorldSBK. The special edition was developed at the beginning of the brand’s second WorldSBK season and aims to transfer the know-how from the ongoing racing programme directly into customer hands. Technically and conceptually it is an independent model that builds on the production KB998 Rimini superbike but goes clearly beyond it in volume, focus and performance.

How it differs from the standard KB998 Rimini

To place the Elite edition in context, a look at the base model is worthwhile. The regular KB998 Rimini is a homologation superbike that Bimota produces in a total run of 500 units. That volume derives from the FIM requirements for entry into the Superbike World Championship. The production plan calls for the 500 units to be completed in stages by the end of 2026. Sales started on 9 April 2025 in Europe and Asia, and the motorcycle has been available through dealer networks in those markets ever since. Each unit is assembled from start to finish by a single technician at the factory in Rimini.

The newly unveiled KB998 Rimini Elite is not an additional production batch but a stand-alone special edition limited to only five units worldwide. It builds on the substance of the production model but is comprehensively reworked and individually set up by the race technicians of Provec Racing. While the production model is conceived as a road-going superbike, the Elite version is intended exclusively for track use and has no road homologation.

Technical highlights and weight reduction

The powertrain in both cases is the 998 cc inline-four from the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR. In the standard KB998 Rimini this engine produces around 200 hp. For the Elite edition Provec Racing quotes peak power at 215 hp (160.3 kW), an increase of 15 hp or 7.5 percent. Peak torque rises to 124.4 newton-metres (91.75 lb-ft), a gain of 13.4 newton-metres. In parallel, weight has been cut by 16.7 kilograms (36.8 lbs). At 176.0 kilograms (388 lbs) in running order without fuel, the Elite edition sits in a region normally reserved for pure race bikes.

Components taken straight from the WorldSBK toolkit

The components fitted come largely from the current race series toolbox. Braking is supplied by Brembo, the suspension by Showa, the exhaust is an Akrapovič system, and Pirelli provides the tyres. The complete electronics package was developed by Mectronik and includes track software with several mapping options plus a refined calibration of traction control, ignition and engine braking. A 2D telemetry system, the kind normally used in professional racing, is also integrated. Each of the five units is set up individually by the team’s race technicians, according to Provec Racing.

Development with WorldSBK riders

Involved in the development were test rider Xavi Forés as well as the two regular riders of the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team, Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani. Former MotoGP rider Tito Rabat raced a KB998 Rimini Elite in the final round of the Spanish Superbike Championship ESBK 2025 in Jerez and claimed a podium in his only official race outing. The motorcycle has therefore already delivered results under competitive conditions before reaching customers.

Price, volume and handover

The KB998 Rimini Elite costs 99,800 euros net, which equates to around 117,600 US dollars at current exchange rates. VAT is not included in this price, as the machine is not road-registered. The Elite edition is explicitly designed as a track bike and may be used only on closed circuits. Handover of the five units is scheduled for the WorldSBK winter test in Jerez, meaning customers receive their motorcycle in the direct environment of the factory team. For comparison: the standard KB998 Rimini costs 44,000 euros and is therefore less than half the price, but also does not sit in the same product category.

There are also differences between the two models when it comes to road homologation. The Elite version was never homologated for road use from the outset. The standard KB998 Rimini is marketed as a road-legal variant, but according to MCN it can currently be sold in the United Kingdom only as a track bike as well, because the Kawasaki engine does not meet the Euro5+ emissions standard. Since that standard applies across the EU, the situation is comparable in other European markets.

Experience package centred on racing

Anyone who opts for one of the five units gets considerably more than just a motorcycle. The delivery package includes an exclusive track-experience programme alongside the WorldSBK riders Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani as well as the development riders Xavi Forés and Tito Rabat. Owners receive direct technical support from the Provec team, including set-up and assistance at the circuit. On top of that comes VIP hospitality at the rounds of the Superbike World Championship. Registration for the model is handled via the official website of the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team.

Where it fits in Bimota’s range

The name and concept of the range point to the partnership between Bimota and Kawasaki. The K stands for Kawasaki, the B for Bimota, 998 refers to the exact displacement of the Kawasaki engine, and Rimini points to the Italian manufacturer’s production site. While the standard KB998 Rimini made the brand’s return to the Superbike World Championship possible in the first place, the KB998 Rimini Elite is positioned as an additional step above it. With only five units, raised power, reduced weight and the race-ready Mectronik electronics package, it targets a very narrow customer circle that not only has the means but also the right setting to use such a motorcycle.

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