The first new Bimota models to be sold in Australia for years were unveiled in Sydney last week (December 15).
The covers came off a KB4 and two TESI H2 models (the Tricolor and the Carbon), at Procycles St Peters NSW, which is the only Australian dealer to currently represent the famous 50-year-old Italian handmade motorcycle manufacturer.
Kawasaki owns 49.9 percent of Bimota, and the Aussie launch comes four years since the Japanese firm agreed to share components and access to its worldwide dealer network with the Italians.
Bimota and Kawasaki representatives took a small group of attendees through the origins, designs and specifications of the bikes, starting with the KB4.
The KB4’s 1043cc inline four-cylinder engine comes straight from the Ninja 1000SX, but in the KB4 the aluminium swingarm is mounted directly to the it. Highlights (apart from its retro good looks) include a short wheelbase (1390mm), claimed kerb weight of 194kg and fully adjustable front and rear Öhlins suspension, combined with all the Kawasaki electronics you’d expect in a premium package. Claimed maximum power is 104.5kW at 10,000rpm and maximum torque is 111Nm at 8000rpm.
The 998cc inline four-cylinder supercharged engine that powers the TESI H2 is of course from the formidable Ninja H2. This famous powerplant produces maximum power of 170kW at 11,500rpm and maximum torque of 141.7Nm at 11,000rpm. With a claimed kerb weight of 214kg, that’s a serious power-to-weigh ratio. The aluminium rear swingarm and carbon/aluminium front arms bolt directly to the engine, and combine with hub-centre-steering system (a bit of a Bimota specialty over the years), carbon-fibre bodywork, fully adjustable front and rear Öhlins suspension and, again, a full suite of electronic rider aids.
Kawasaki was the first manufacturer to supply new engines directly to Bimota, back in the 70s and 80s, resulting in the KB1, KB2 and KB3 – the latter was the last Bimota with a Kawasaki engine (in 1986) until the KB4 broke cover at the 2019 EICMA show.
All Bimotas are hand-built to order. The KB4 is priced at $55,000 plus on-road costs, while the TESI H2 is $85,000 plus on-road costs.
