One of Italy’s Most Striking Moto Brands Unleashes an Approachable Kawasaki-Powered Stunner

Team Green’s four-pot Ninja benefits from the Bimota treatment in the form of exotic looks and desirable upgrades.

Close-up of a red, white, and black Bimota motorcycle front fairing and front wheel with carbon fiber details.

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By Gray Van Dyke

Published March 18, 2026

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Updated March 19, 2026

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In the world of small-displacement performance, the Kawasaki ZX-4RR is a uniquely compelling motorcycle. Namely because its soundtrack comes from a quartet of tiny cylinders rather than a larger pair like most rivals in the class.

Beyond making for an interesting talking point among other motorcyclists, this means the small-displacement sportbike is a true screamer out on the road. Peak torque for the little four-pot doesn’t come until 11,000 rpm, and redline is found somewhere in the stratosphere, wound out all the way at 16,000 rpm.

Red, white, and black Bimota sport motorcycle on a rear stand in front of brick arches. — The Bimota KB399 arrives as an exotic, Italian take on the Kawasaki ZX-4RR.

Still, as captivating as the pint-sized Ninja may already be on account of its engine, Italy has nevertheless managed to do Kawasaki one better.

An Italian take on the ZX-4RR

It’s called the KB399, and it comes courtesy of the two-wheeled performance wizards at Bimota. As a partial Kawasaki subsidiary, the Rimini-based outfit has taken advantage of Team Green’s engines for a while now in everything from the supercharged Tesi H2 to the graceful KB4.

Close-up of a motorcycle handlebar with a digital dashboard, silver triple clamp, and control switches. — While the bike retains Kawasaki electronics, Bimota makes sure to instill its special touch where it can.

However, as the new model is based on the ZX-4RR, it’s considerably more approachable. Whereas output for the aforementioned literbikes comes to 231 horsepower and 142 horsepower, respectively, the new KB399 puts down a much more manageable 79 horsepower.

Beyond making for a slight increase over the Euro-spec Ninja (or, rather, a significant one if you’re dealing with the detuned 56-horsepower version here in the United States), Bimota’s treatment brings the exotic styling you’d expect of the brand.

As such, while the bike might share the same frame as its Kawasaki counterpart, it’s now painted in a bright red, and the bodywork benefits from an Italian, aerodynamic-focused overhaul.

Red, white, and black Bimota sport motorcycle on a blue maintenance lift in a workshop with organized drawers in the background. — The bodywork brings the most obvious change, as the reshaped front fairing and bright livery make for a bold look.

From the reshaped front fairing and the set of jutting winglets to the new turn signals and eye-catching livery, it’s a good look on the Ninja. Sure, it might not be quite as dramatic as some of Bimota’s other projects, but it nevertheless makes for an upgrade to the ZX-4RR’s appearance.

The essence of brand performance

That’s not all. Bimota has made some other important changes around the bike to unlock the full potential of its Kawasaki engine.

Close-up of a red, white, and black Bimota motorcycle engine and frame with Kawasaki and Motul branding. — Beneath the bodywork, Kawasaki’s 399cc inline-four still sits comfortably in its factory frame, albeit one that’s now painted red.

Underneath, suspension duties are handled by a set of 41mm Showa SFF-BP forks up front and a Showa BFRC-lite shock at the rear. The KB399 also benefits from an upgrade in stopping power, as Bimota has fitted a set of twin Brembo Stylema radial calipers.

By far the most impactful addition, however, has to be the bespoke Akrapovič silencer. Along with contributing to an overall power increase, it’s sure to turn the four-pot Ninja into an absolute symphony of noise.

Now, assuming that’s not enough to satisfy your tastes, Bimota is also offering a KB399 ES (Edizione Speciale). In addition to carbon fiber fairings and an Öhlins STX46 rear shock, it brings clip-on handlebars and a whole host of billet goodies in gear pedals, footpegs and mounting stays.

Red, white, and black Bimota sport motorcycle on a white stand in a showroom with red and black wall panels. — As the smallest-displacement road-going Bimota in some time, the KB399 makes the brand’s pedigree much more accessible.

In any event, when you consider that the KB399 retains proven Kawasaki electronics like three-mode traction control, selectable power, integrated riding modes and a quickshifter as standard, the result is a sportbike that bridges the gap between factory special and exotic custom.

Availability and pricing

Bimota will be offering limited order windows for the KB399 and KB399 ES linked to each month’s production, the first of which closes on April 3, 2026. Prices start at £10,999 and £14,699, respectively, with first deliveries due later this fall.

While that’s a good chunk of change for a 399cc sportbike, it is far more accessible than some of the brand’s other offerings. If you find yourself in the US, be sure to check with one of the few Bimota dealerships, as there may be a chance this one can make its way stateside.

Red, white, and black Bimota sport motorcycle parked on a cobblestone surface near brick steps.

2026 Bimota KB399

As Italy’s premier exotic motorcycle brand, Bimota routinely turns out two-wheeled art, and the KB399 is no exception. Based on the Kawasaki ZX-4RR, it pairs striking, reshaped bodywork with trick billet parts and desirable upgrades. Accordingly, power for the little 399cc inline-four comes to 79 ponies, and you’ll find high-dollar performance improvements like Brembo Stylema calipers and an Öhlins STX rear shock peppered throughout. While it’s easily one of Bimota’s most accessible (and affordable) bikes to date, the sonorous little four-pot is sure to sound a treat funneled through that Akrapović exhaust.

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About the Author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When he’s not chasing the latest industry news, he’s probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.

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