Bimota has never really been in the business of making motorcycles for everybody. Since its birth in 1973, the Italian marque has made a name for itself doing things the unnecessarily complicated way: take a proven engine from somebody else's parts bin, build an outrageously sophisticated chassis around it, drape the whole thing in Italian bodywork, and then make only a handful of them.
The result was less "motorcycle manufacturer" and more "bespoke engineering house with a motorcycle problem." Bimota's back catalog is littered with machines that were exotic even by superbike standards, from the Tesi's hub-center steering to limited-run monsters like the SB8K and the various Final Edition versions that have become collector bait.
And as many opinions it may divide, the company is unquestionably an integral part of the motorcycle industry, having carved a unique reputation for itself. And while the Rimini-based boutique manufacturer continued producing its gloriously over-engineered, Italian-exotic motorcycles during the last 10 years, getting one into an American garage was a considerably more complicated proposition than walking into a dealership and handing over a check.
Not anymore. Bimota is returning to the US after a near-10-year hiatus. The move follows Kawasaki's acquisition of a 49.9% stake in the company back in 2019, with Bimota reappointing North Carolina-based importer Bimota Spirit as its official US dealer.
Though there are a few who’d question why the Raleigh-based importer has been chosen as the sole dealer. You'd think they'd have at least one other dealer in California, considering it has the highest ridership in the whole country, with Florida following in second with only half as many registered motorcycles as Cali.
Then again, it’s still better than nothing. This is a company whose motorcycles have historically been as much about rarity and engineering theater as they have been about outright performance. Some of its limited-production machines have since become serious collector pieces, with recent examples of Tesi models changing hands in America for tens of thousands of dollars.
Speaking of which, Bimota has also officially announced which of its motorcycles we can expect to see at its dealership. Available as of now are limited-production units of the new KB998 Rimini and the Tesi H2. The likes of the Tesi H2 TERA, KB4, and KB4RC are expected to arrive thereafter, by late 2026.
The first of these, the KB998 Rimini, is perhaps the most important bike in Bimota's American comeback because it is effectively the road-going version of the machine Bimota developed for WorldSBK. It gets Kawasaki's 998cc inline-four, producing 197 hp (200 PS) at 13,600 rpm and 81.9 lb-ft (111 Nm) at 11,700 rpm.
But the interesting stuff is in its chassis: a chromoly trellis frame with machined aluminum plates, premium suspension, and Bimota's distinctive engineering. It weighs 207 kg (456 lb) ready to ride and is being produced in a strictly limited run of 500 units globally for homologation, making this as much a collector's piece as a superbike.
Next up, the Tesi H2 comes with carbon-fiber bodywork and the incredible 998cc supercharged inline-four from Kawasaki, producing around 231 hp (231 PS) at 11,500 rpm and 104.5 lb-ft (141.7 Nm) at 11,000 rpm. This one got a lot of attention upon release, thanks to its hub-center steering as opposed to a conventional telescopic fork.
Elsewhere, you get Öhlins suspension, Brembo brakes, and extensive machined-aluminum components that complete the package. Again, this one is limited in production to just 250 units globally.
The three upcoming motorcycles are just as exclusive. The Tesi H2 TERA takes that same supercharged Kawasaki powertrain and drops it into something considerably more unusual: Bimota's first crossover/adventure-flavored motorcycle. The KB4 is a neo-retro sportbike featuring the Ninja 1000SX’s 1,043cc inline-four in a dramatically compact Bimota chassis. And last but not least, the KB4RC is a naked bike built on that same inline-four platform.
But here’s the thing: Despite their Kawasaki powerplants, none of these bikes is simply a Kawasaki with mere Italian bodywork. In true Bimota fashion, Kawasaki only supplies the proven mechanical heart, while Bimota brings the weird stuff.
The sort of weird stuff involving carbon fiber, exotic suspension layouts, hand-finished components, and very limited production numbers. In an industry increasingly obsessed with economies of scale, Bimota's whole appeal is that it has never seemed particularly interested in them.
While the bikes will be assembled by hand at Bimota’s workshop in Rimini, Italy, the Kawasaki engines, of course, will be manufactured in Japan and imported to Italy.
The timing of this news that is particularly interesting because the Bimota of today is rather different from the fragile, boutique operation Americans may remember. Kawasaki's involvement has fundamentally changed the equation.
The Japanese giant's involvement takes care of engines, technology, production support, and global infrastructure, while Bimota gets to concentrate on what it has always been exceptionally good at: building ridiculously exotic motorcycles around proven mechanical foundations. The partnership has already spilled onto the racetrack, with Bimota returning to WorldSBK under the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team banner.
Who’s excited?
Source: Bimota via Motorcycle.com
