The Bimota KB4 is a classy, retro-style litre-class street bike
Meet the Bimota KB4 that has been showcased at EICMA 2021 in all its glory. Shown in prototype form at the same event 2 years ago, the Italian motorcycle with a Japanese heart is quite the looker.
There are 2 versions of the bike – the KB4 and KB4 RC (stands for Race Cafe) – and both feature a trellis frame and an aluminium alloy swingarm, while the powertrain has been borrowed from the Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX sports-tourer.
Evidently, the Bimota KB4 is more about styling and attention to detail rather than outright performance. Mind you, it is still a fast machine with a maximum of 142 HP and 111 Nm of torque.
The circular headlamp, cafe racer-style front fairing, large yet shapely fuel tank, sharp and flowing fairing that merges with the side panels and the tail section, make the KB4 one of the prettiest machines on earth.
While the KB4 RC is a naked derivative of the KB4, it loses the fairing and has a different rear cowl, it still retains much of the KB4’s charm. The fact that the bodywork is made from carbon-fibre helps matters too.
But, there is more. Bimota has used a lot of machined aluminium billet components on both motorcycles. For example, the above-mentioned swingarm, rear shock linkage, triple clamps, and even the foot pegs are made from the material.
Then there is the leather seat, and top-notch componentry, like the Ohlins suspension (front and rear), and forged 17-inch wheels with wide tyres (120-section at the front and 190-section in the back).
Bimota has worked hard on aspects that will make this a quality street bike. For example, the bike weighs 187 kg (dry) and will still not be too heavy when its 19-litre fuel tank is topped up.
The wheelbase is tight at 1390 mm, while the seat height has been kept at an accessible 810 mm. In order to reduce the wheelbase, Bimota even moved the radiator to the rear.
Apart from equipping the KB4 with a new exhaust system, the Italian marque has also fitted it with Brembo brakes comprising dual 320 mm front discs with 4-piston calipers and a 220 mm rear disc wth 2-piston calipers.
