Bimota has found in GETthe electronic division of Athenaa new technological ally for one of the most advanced projects in its history. The Italian company is working together with the Rimini manufacturer on the electronic management of the active aerodynamics of the KB998 Riminia superbike born with the competition in the spotlight and developed as a basis for the return of Bimota to the Superbike World Championship.
The collaboration focuses on one of the most striking elements of this exclusive superbike: “its variable aerodynamic spoilers“It is not simply about some winglets conventional systems designed to generate aerodynamic load, but rather a system capable of modifying its operation depending on what the motorcycle is doing at any given moment. And that’s where electronics come into play.
A specific control unit to control the ailerons
As we are telling you, the work developed by GET focuses on a specific electronic control unit capable of communicating with the electronic architecture of the KB998 Rimini and manage the aerodynamic appendages dynamically. In practice, the control unit receives information from the different sensors installed on the motorcycle. And, based on this data, the system determines which strategy it should apply and adjusts the position of the ailerons to adapt the aerodynamic load to each situation.
Among the parameters you can take into account are variables such as speed and acceleration, along with other data related to the dynamic behavior of the motorcycle. As we can see, the objective is for aerodynamics to stop being a static element and become an active part of the motorcycle’s dynamics.
Aerodynamics designed for every moment
Bimota herself describes the winglets variables of the KB998 Rimini as a revolutionary element within motorcycle production. According to the brand, the system is designed to provide the necessary amount of downforce in different phases of driving, from braking and corner entry to adjustments during cornering and direction changes.
It is also intended to help control front wheel lift when accelerating hard.
This explains the importance of the work done by GET.
It is not enough to design ailerons capable of moving. The real difficulty is in ensuring that its operation is perfectly coordinated with the rest of the motorcycle’s systems. A superbike 200 hp generates enormous forces during braking and acceleration. In these conditions, any modification in the aerodynamic load can have consequences on the behavior of the front and rear axle. Therefore, electronics must act with precision and speed.
In fact, the philosophy is similar to that which has been imposed in other areas of “motorsport”: use a large amount of information to adapt the behavior of the machine in real time. KB998 Riminithat philosophy is transferred to aerodynamics.
The chassis, electronics and aerodynamics work together in this Bimota
The collaboration between Bimota and GET It is not simply adding a control unit to an aileron system. The real challenge is integrating the system into a much more complex electronic and mechanical architecture. The KB998 Rimini It is a particularly sophisticated motorcycle. Its chassis combines a high-strength steel main frame with machined aluminum plates, while the body uses numerous parts made of carbon fiber. Bimota has also resorted to suspensions Showa high-performance components and machined aluminum components to achieve a combination of rigidity, lightness and circuit-oriented precision.
The result you are looking for Bimota It is a much closer interaction between three elements: chassis, electronics and aerodynamics. And the trend seems clear. The superbikes More advanced cars no longer depend solely on engine power or the effectiveness of their suspensions. The ability to process information and modify the behavior of the motorcycle in real time is becoming another of the great technological battlefields.
200 HP and direct WorldSBK DNA
The KB998 Rimini is not a superbike conventional with a spectacular body. As we mentioned before, the model is closely related to the project of Bimota in the World Superbike Championship and was developed as a homologation basis for the competition. In fact, production is limited to 500 units, the number necessary to meet the championship’s homologation requirements.
Under its spectacular carbon body is a 998 cc inline four-cylinder engine, derived from the technology used by Kawasaki on their competition superbikes. In the street version it declares 200 hp at 13,600 rpm and 111 Nm of maximum torque at 11,700 rpm. These are figures that place the KB998 Rimini directly in the territory of the superbikes more exclusive, but in this case accompanied by a fully developed cycle part under the philosophy of Bimota. All this makes active aerodynamics another piece of a set designed to work on the circuit.
A technology that already had a close relationship with competition
The association between Bimota and GET nor does it start completely from scratch. Both companies had already collaborated in the development of electronic solutions for the off-road world, including the Bimota BX450 Enduro. Now that experience is transferred to a completely different scenario: high-performance sports motorcycles.
The change of scenery is important for GET. The company has built a good part of its reputation in the field of electronics applied to competition and off-roadbut the project KB998 Rimini It represents an opportunity to fully enter a field where electronics acquires increasing complexity. Active aerodynamics management is probably one of the best examples of where this evolution is headed.
The ultimate goal is for the motorcycle to be able to take advantage of its aerodynamic resources in a much more intelligent way: more load when necessary, less when it can impair behavior, and a transition coordinated with what is happening between the tires and the asphalt. So, the KB998 Rimini It thus becomes a technological showcase for Bimotabut also in a laboratory on two wheels to GET.
The engineer Pierluigi Marconiproject manager KB998 Riminihas commented: «The complexity of a system such as active aerodynamics requires an extremely high level of integration, GET has demonstrated great competence and flexibility, contributing decisively to the creation of an innovative solution.»
