ROAD NEWS
BIMOTA KB998 RIMINI CUSTOMER BIKES
Yes , the Kawasaki-Bimota WSBK partnership comes with a delicious side dish … To homologate its superbike , there will be 125 road-going versions produced each year for two years , followed by a further 250 the following year to reach the required 500 units . With the price of the beautiful creature capped by WSBK FIM rules at € 44,000 ( your wallet will ache if you look at the exchange rate ; a whopping $ 88,230 NZD ) it is hardly your every day commuter but , for what it is , even that ouchy number suddenly doesn ’ t seem that bad after all . The road version comes with self-adjusting aerodynamic ‘ wings ’ as to have them on the race version , it must be standard equipment on the road versions as well . While other manufacturers are working on such trick bits , Bimota is first off the rank with such wizardry for the street .
With such limited numbers and lashings of WSBK-exclusive finery , the Bimota 998 Rimini is guaranteed to become an instant collector ’ s must-have . No doubt that appeal will skyrocket if the bikes perform as well in the WSBK season as they have in pre-season testing . The new team has already piqued the intense scrutiny of the others in the paddock and has seen an acceleration of development across the field to make sure the new kid doesn ’ t bolt when the lights go out in Race One .
22 KIWI RIDER