Compare Car Insurance Quotes for the Best Rates (2021)

• Compare car insurance quotes from at least three providers to find the best rates. 
• Everything from your age and zip code to your credit score and type of vehicle can affect your rates. 
• You can use the quote tool on this page to compare prices from leading auto insurance companies in your area. 

Affiliate disclosure: Automoblog and its partners may be compensated when you purchase the products below.

If you compare car insurance quotes from a dozen companies, you won’t see the same price twice. That’s because each provider evaluates you in a different way when setting car insurance premiums. The important thing is to compare enough quotes to see the range of premiums available to you. 

You can compare car insurance quotes as often as you like. If you don’t find a cheaper rate, then you know you have the best option with your current insurance provider. Even if you do, it could still be time to make a change. But comparison shopping auto insurance quotes from the best car insurance companies in your area is the only way to find out and know for sure.

In this article, we take a look at the best strategies for comparing car insurance quotes. We also go through some of the highest-ranking providers from our own research to give you a few recommendations.

How To Compare Car Insurance Quotes

There are a few ways you can shop car insurance quotes: in person, over the phone, or online. If you go in person, you can see a captive agent who works for one company or an independent agent who can represent multiple companies. You’ll get personal service working with an agent, but it can be a slower process to compare multiple quotes. You could also work with a broker who represents you as a buyer, but some brokers can charge fees.

Working with an agent or insurance representative over the phone is more convenient. An agent can help you choose the right level of car insurance coverage, which can be confusing to do on your own. However, it also takes some time to compare rates from multiple companies this way.

Compare Car Insurance Quotes Online

If you’re looking to compare car insurance quotes in the most efficient way, shopping online is the way to go. In about 10 to 15 minutes, you can get a free quote based on your driver profile. You can do this for multiple providers, or you can use a quote comparison tool to send your info to multiple companies at once.

All major providers offer car insurance quotes online, and after you choose which insurer to go with, you can get your ID card and other documents emailed to you or delivered in a mobile app, which makes things easy.

Compare Car Insurance Quotes in 5 Steps

Here’s what you need to do to get quotes and purchase car insurance coverage:

1. Choose your desired coverage: Decide if you want to get minimum coverage, full coverage, or something in between. If you’re financing your vehicle, your lender may require you purchase full coverage. Also, think about any extras you might need, like roadside assistance or rideshare coverage.
2. Gather your information: You’ll need to include your social security number and the birthdays, driver’s license numbers, addresses, and employment information of anyone who drives your vehicle. You’ll also provide your driving record, basic contact information, vehicle identification number (VIN), and vehicle make, model, and mileage.
3. Get quotes: With your information handy, pick your top choices for providers and go online, call, or visit an office location to get a quote.
4. Compare car insurance quotes side by side: The key to finding the best rate is to get at least three quotes and compare them side by side. Make sure to pick the same deductibles, coverage, and limits for each. Check out what extras the companies offer as well.
5. Choose the best plan: Lastly, pick the car insurance policy that offers the best prices, discounts, and extra options for your situation.

What Factors Affect Insurance Rates?

Car insurance companies use complex methods to determine how likely drivers are to file claims, so no two drivers find exactly the same prices. As you compare car insurance quotes, you’ll find different rates from each provider. The secret recipe of car insurance pricing involves a number of ingredients: 

Car insurance companies use complex methods to determine how likely drivers are to file claims, so no two drivers find exactly the same prices. As you compare car insurance quotes, you’ll find different rates from each provider. The secret recipe of car insurance pricing involves a number of ingredients: 

• Coverage options: The types of insurance you add to your auto insurance policy play a large role in your premiums. Plans that only fulfill your state’s requirements will have the lowest auto insurance rates. Additional insurance like collision coverage and comprehensive coverage will cost more.
• Coverage limits: The amount of coverage you have on your plan also drives the price of your premiums. Higher coverage limits mean higher premiums, and vice versa.
• Driving record: Your driving history is a big factor in your insurance premiums. A recent car accident or speeding ticket can cause your rates to spike. Serious offenses like a DUI can cause them to go up exponentially.
• Deductible amount: You can lower your car insurance premium by choosing a higher deductible. But that means you’ll need to pay more out of pocket in case of an accident.
• Age: Young drivers and especially teen drivers pay the most for car insurance coverage. Senior drivers also pay higher rates than middle-aged drivers.
• Credit history: People with bad credit scores will have to pay more for car insurance than those with good credit scores. 
• Vehicle information: The type of car you drive affects your rates. Larger vehicles and more expensive vehicles typically cost more to insure.
• Location: Different states have different average rates for insurance. For example, the average rate for car insurance in California is more than twice what it is in Maine. Rates vary within states too, as urban drivers often pay more than rural ones.

Ways to Keep Car Insurance Low

You can do a few things to keep the rates on your car insurance low. Maintaining a clean driving record, improving your credit score, or switching to a smaller, less expensive vehicle can all help you save.

However, one of the best ways to save when you shop for car insurance is to look for discounts. When you compare car insurance quotes, look for companies that offer discounts that apply to your individual situation. Common car insurance discounts include: 

• Multi-policy: You can often get a discount for bundling homeowners, renters, life, or other insurance products with your car insurance.
• Multi-vehicle: If you cover more than one vehicle on the same policy you can often get a discount.
• Good student: Students who maintain good grades in school can sometimes get a policy discount.
• Student away at school: Insurance companies sometimes offer a discount to students who live away from home while in school. 
• Defensive driving course: You may be eligible for a discount if you take an approved defensive driving class.
• Military: Several of the top car insurance companies offer discounts to active duty and retired military members. That discount often extends to their families.
• Good driver: Insurers will sometimes reward you for staying accident-free and avoiding any speeding tickets or other violations for a specified period of time.
• Homeowner: Some insurance companies offer discounts to those who own their homes instead of rent. 
• Vehicle safety features: If you have safety features like daytime running lights or additional airbags you can often save money on your car insurance policy. 
• New car: Some insurance companies offer discounts to new car owners.
• Low mileage: Your insurer may offer you a discount if you don’t drive many miles each month.

You can also try usage-based programs for more discounts. Usage-based programs like Progressive’s Snapshot track your driving for safety and mileage.

These programs can be useful if you have points on your license, because the discounts depend on current driving habits, not your past driver profile. However, some programs put more emphasis on driving fewer miles, so a safe driver who commutes every day might not get as good of a discount.

Compare Car Insurance Quotes by State

Location is one of the biggest factors in what insurance providers charge. Simply moving across state lines can drastically change your rate. States work closely with insurance companies to regulate prices, and states can require very different levels of coverage.

Many states only require drivers to carry bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage. Some states require personal injury protection or medical payment coverage too. New Hampshire and Virginia don’t require any insurance at all.

Why Car Insurance Is So Expensive In Some States?

While insurance costs vary between states, drivers in some states pay for more than drivers in other states. That’s usually because of state laws or legal environments.

For example, until July 1, 2020, Michigan required its drivers to have unlimited personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. This drove up prices for Michigan car insurance and made it one of the most expensive states for many years. 

Louisiana is another expensive state. Drivers are more likely to file auto injury lawsuits in Louisiana than in many other states. Louisiana’s legislation also encourages attorneys to sue companies on behalf of drivers. Insurance companies pay out more in the state for court settlements, so they charge drivers more overall. 

Other things that affect costs in a particular state include highway conditions, average commuting distances, and weather that damages vehicles. States with high levels of uninsured motorists can also have high costs, because drivers with uninsured motorist coverage pick up the tab.

The Most Expensive and Least Expensive States For Car Insurance

So, which states are expensive and which are cheap? Here are the top 10 most and least expensive states for car insurance and what drivers in the states pay on average per year, according to data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC):

Most Expensive States	Average Annual Cost	Least Expensive States	Average Annual Cost
#1 Louisiana	$1,545.82	#1 North Dakota	$686.08
#2 Michigan	$1,469.73	#2 Maine	$686.25
#3 District of Columbia	$1,429.43	#3 Iowa	$700.71
#4 Florida	$1,426.46	#4 South Dakota	$721.67
#5 New York	$1,425.00	#5 Idaho	$722.06
#6 New Jersey	$1,385.61	#6 North Carolina	$734.06
#7 Rhode Island	$1,333.12	#7 Wisconsin	$755.97
#8 Delaware	$1,291.39	#8 Wyoming	$765.81
#9 Nevada	$1,260.43	#9 Indiana	$767.72
#10 Connecticut	$1,216.55	#10 Vermont	$778.29

Compare Car Insurance Quotes from Top Providers

Whether you want basic liability coverage or full coverage with high policy limits, it’s important to compare car insurance quotes to find the best price. Insurance rates change periodically, so you should also compare rates each time your policy is up for renewal. 

Our Recommendations for Car Insurance

While it’s important to find a good price for car insurance, it’s equally as important to shop from providers that are reliable and that offer good service. After thoroughly analyzing the biggest car insurance companies, we recommend GEICO, State Farm, and Progressive for affordable and high-quality coverage. 

GEICO: Best Overall

GEICO is one of the cheapest car insurance companies, and it offers plenty of discounts to help drivers find affordable rates in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.. The company has been around since 1936 and is the second-largest car insurance provider in the U.S. GEICO’s highly rated mobile app makes it easy to view your ID card, start a claim, or pay your bill from your phone. GEICO auto insurance has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and an A++ financial rating from AM Best. 

State Farm: Best for Student Drivers

If you’re under the age of 25, it’s a good idea to look into State Farm auto insurance. That’s because the company has the best good-student discount in the industry – you can save up to 25% for having good grades. State Farm’s Steer Clear^® educational app can help drivers under 25 save up to an additional 20%. And, if you’re a good driver, you can enroll in the Drive Safe & Save^TM program to stack another discount on the pile. State Farm is the largest provider in the U.S. and has an A++ financial strength rating. 

Progressive: Best for High-Risk Drivers

In our research, we found that Progressive car insurance is the best option for drivers with a less-than-perfect record. Drivers with recent at-fault accidents tend to find cheaper rates from Progressive than from other companies. The same goes for teen drivers and drivers with poor credit. Progressive’s features include the Name Your Price^® tool, which lets you choose your desired budget and shows you auto insurance coverage within your price range. Founded in 1937, Progressive has an A- rating from the BBB and an A+ financial strength rating from AM Best. 

Which comparison site is best for car insurance?

Many reputable sites offer car insurance comparison tools, and they all accomplish the same goal, for the most part. You can use the quote comparison tool on this page to get up-to-date pricing from multiple leading providers and compare car insurance quotes for free.

How do I get the best car insurance quote?

Simply compare multiple providers when you shop to get the best car insurance quote. Besides that, make sure you provide accurate information to qualify for discounts. You can also build your credit, concentrate on driving safely, and try out a usage-based program to further lower your car insurance costs.

How do I compare car insurance plans?

To compare car insurance plans, choose the same deductibles, coverage types, and levels of coverage from different providers when you get quotes. For example, choose the same bodily injury limits for each quote. This way, you’ll see an equal comparison of rates from different companies.

Which car insurance is the best and cheapest?

After a full industry analysis, we ranked GEICO as the best and cheapest car insurance overall. The company offers 16 discounts and cheap car insurance rates for many drivers. Also in our top five picks are USAA, State Farm, Progressive, and AAA auto insurance. Remember, your own rates will vary depending on a number of factors, so you may find cheaper rates with one provider based on your unique situation.

Who offers the best car insurance coverage?

Our research team found that GEICO offers the best combination of car insurance coverage options, policy add-ons, prices, and customer and industry ratings among providers we reviewed.

What is an auto insurance premium?

An auto insurance premium is the fee you pay in exchange for car insurance coverage. Your premium depends on a number of factors about you and the vehicle you wish to cover.

Original article: Compare Car Insurance Quotes for the Best Rates (2021)

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Silver Bullet: A Shiny Yamaha XS650 by Purpose Built Moto

Like many shops, Purpose Built Moto does a lot to put food on the table. On top of their regular custom bike builds they also fabricate exhausts, do wiring work and produce bolt-on parts. But when the right client and budget come along, the Australian crew loves to pull out the stops.

Purpose Built Moto calls these projects their ‘Signature Series,’ using each one as an opportunity to push their own boundaries. This delightful Yamaha XS650 café racer is their latest Signature Series project. It’s a masterful combo of classic looks and modern performance, with a sprinkling of top-tier parts for good measure.

The 1973-model XS650 has some history too. It had been raced in the 70s and owned by the client’s grandfather, who regaled his grandkids with tales of how he thrashed people all over the streets of Melbourne on it. It changed hands a few times over the years—but PBM’s client thankfully managed to track it down.

He wheeled the Yamaha into PBM’s Gold Coast workshop with a loose brief. “He wanted an object of beauty that would create a desire to ride,” explains shop boss, Tom Gilroy. “When this motorcycle wouldn’t be on display, it would be ridden on the road and taken to the odd track day.”

Most of PBM’s Signature Series builds have had a modern edge to them, but Tom relished the opportunity to build something with a vintage bend.

“I worked at creating a timeless piece that would feel at home for any rider, young or old,” he explains. “Something that people across a family’s generations could be enamored with.”

The build started with the suspension and wheels. The XS650 hadn’t seen a track in quite some time—but it still wore the classic Marzocchi piggyback shocks it had raced with back in the day. So PBM stripped, blasted, cleaned, rebuilt and tweaked those to perform a little more like modern units.

There’s more vintage goodness up front, with a pair of 38 mm Ceriani forks, held by custom triple clamps. The wheels were stripped, and rebuilt with 18” Borrani rims. PBM kept the original rear drum brake, but swapped the front hub for a four leading shoe Robinson drum brake.

And that’s where things got interesting. “In the past, I’ve been left underwhelmed by the performance of cable operated drum brakes,” says Tom. “To address this, I wanted to build a hydraulic drum setup, but keep the traditional look of the Robinson drum.”

Through some trick fabrication work, Tom made a pair of guard plates that bolt to the Ceriani forks’ disc brake caliper mounts. Then he hid the hydraulic actuators for his custom hybrid system behind them.

Next, PBM turned their attention to the motor. The XS650 was treated to a full rebuild with a 700 cc Hoos Racing kit, a ported head, upgraded cams, and nickel plating on the outside. It also now has a hydraulic clutch, thanks to a conversion that uses a Ducati GT1000 slave cylinder.

The motor inhales via a pair of Mikuni VM34 carbs and a custom two-into-one intake. PBM fabricated the actual intake manifold, while the father and son team of Dino and Marios Nikolaidis at DNA Filters in Greece built a custom pod filter for it. Dynomite Moto tuned the system, and the XS650 now makes 52 hp at the wheel.

The intake’s complemented by a custom two-into-one-into-two stainless steel exhaust system, topped off with a pair of PBM’s own torpedo mufflers. “All polished to perfection,” says Tom, “before getting a clean and heat cycle, to ensure a nice straw gold color.”

The wiring was redone too, complete with updated ignition and charging systems, a Lithium-ion battery and PBM’s own ‘Black Box’ controller.

As for the bodywork, Tom opted to keep things simple and elegant. The stock tank fit the bill, and already had a flip-up filler cap fitted, so that stayed. Behind it is a classic handmade café racer tail section.

Tom wanted to avoid the typical rear tail loop, so the subframe was shortened and braced internally instead, with hidden tabs to mount the tailpiece.

The rest of the frame was de-tabbed and cleaned up, before being nickel plated. Keen eyes will also spot some cut-outs around the swingarm pivot point.

The bikini fairing that’s mounted up front is a custom piece too. It houses a 4.5” light from PBM’s own store, with three tiny LED running lights trailing off underneath it. Behind it is a set of stacked Daytona Velona gauges.

Other changes in the cockpit include clip-on handlebars, a Domino throttle, ISR master cylinders, wrapped grips and PBM micro switches. Lower down are mid-set foot pegs on custom brackets, with handmade cables and linkages. There’s also a removable license plate holder out back.

With so many polished and nickel plated surfaces, Tom wanted the paint to complement, rather than dominate, the build. Working with Nathan from Livin’ Loco, PBM settled on a silver base, with a teal blue riff on Yamaha’s traditional speed blocks.

“This XS650 café racer really stirred something up inside me during the build process,” says Tom. “I feel like we’ve walked new ground as a custom shop here, and I’m really keen to explore this side of things more.”

It’s stirring something up inside us as well, Tom.

Purpose Built Moto | Facebook | Instagram

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Gloves Off: Federal Moto customizes the BMW R75/6

Most customers approach a bike builder with a firm idea of what they want, armed with fat binders of photos and sketches acting as inspiration. But the most interesting builds come from people like the owner of this old Beemer—who wheeled it into Federal Moto’s workshop and said “have at it.”

And that’s quite the compliment, given the owner of the 1974-model BMW R75/6 was pretty damn attached to it. It was recently inherited from his late father, who punted the vintage boxer twin around his home town of Hannibal, Missouri for decades.

“The customer knew he wanted to customize it and keep his dad’s legacy alive,” Federal’s Mike Muller says. “While searching for a shop that could do the work, he stumbled across us and reached out”.

No doubt the decision was kicked along by Federal Moto’s reputation as a go-to builder in the Chicago area. So the owner made the five hour drive up to their West Loop workshop for a chat.

“We had a few beers and the deal was done,” Mike says. “And to help with the price he actually owns a tattoo shop in Hannibal called Two Fathoms tattoo. So to offset some costs, we traded work!”

And as for the design of the BMW itself? “He wanted the bike to be a total surprise. No direction was given on what he wanted the final bike to look like.” Mike and the team were elated. “Our dream had come true: finally a client that doesn’t want black on black on black.”

Although a relief, it’s clear why so many customers are reluctant to deviate from Federal Moto’s textbook style. While their portfolio takes in all years and marques, it’s their near-patented super clean 70s and 80s revamps that really get our hearts racing. But they wanted to do something really special for the R/75.

“The customer’s tattoos include a lot of line work and patterns and colors,” Mike says. “So I knew splashes of color and some geometric patterns would be rad.”

Federal Moto crafted a trellis subframe to match the strong angles that dominate much of Two Fathoms’ designs. At the back end, the swingarm was converted to a single-shock setup, with a Showa unit keeping the rear under control.

It’s some great fabrication and design, that shows the team really pays attention to their clients.

There’s Showa suspension at the front too, with the R75/6 sporting a pair of freshly-rebuilt and bronze anodized Kawasaki ZX6-R forks. They’re held in place by Cognito Moto’s gorgeous stem conversion kit, replete with billet triple trees and a new front wheel hub.

The wheels have been powder coated and fitted with stainless steel spokes. And stopping power has been bolstered with new discs and brake lines, and a Brembo master cylinder.

The high-end component fit-out continues with a Cognito Moto gauge bracket and risers. The mirrors, bar end turn signals, grips, mini-gauge and idiot lights all come via the teutonic gods of all things sleek and electrical: Motogadget.

The rest of the electronics weren’t spared either, with the wiring harness being rebuilt, and then run through a Motogadget mo.unit. A new stator, starter motor, Lithium-ion battery and digital ignition system ensure the R75/6 loses none of its reputation for turn-key reliability.

Mechanically, the BMW was also due for some attention. The top end was rebuilt, as well as the final drive and the carbs, which now suck air through aluminum velocity stacks with brass screens. The engine and headers were Cerakoted, and the cooling fins hand polished back to bare alloy.

Hand-rolled fenders, and an integrated LED taillight and turn signal combo, round out the lines of Federal Moto’s eighteenth complete build. The colors were laid down by NSD Paintwerks, while the suede seat was stitched together by the virtuosic Dane Utech, of the hilariously well-named PlzBSeated.

Nicknamed ‘Hannibal,’ the completed build is a perfect mix of performance, reliability, and genre-defying looks that have really allowed the team at Federal Moto to flex their design muscles.

Mike couldn’t wait to see the owner’s reaction. “When it finally came together, our Spidey senses were tingling,” he laughs. “When we drove down to deliver it to him, he immediately hopped on and disappeared down the winding Mississippi roads, and probably hasn’t stopped since.”

Federal Moto | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Don Hudson

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Speed Read EICMA Edition, November 28, 2021

The landmark moto show EICMA has returned for 2021, and there’s a palpable if cautious sense of relief in the industry. New bikes are relatively thin on the ground in Milan this year, because the no-shows include the American marques, BMW and Ducati. But there’s good stuff coming out, especially from the European manufacturers. Here, we’ve picked out four bikes that got our motors running.

Royal Enfield SG650 Concept EICMA was short on concepts this year, but Royal Enfield revealed a clue to its future design direction with the SG650. According to the brand, this machine takes the company’s ‘classic design sensibilities’ and tweaks them to show what the Royal Enfields of the future could look like.

Despite the relatively orthodox if pleasant styling, this is probably a pretty significant design—since RE is now the world’s biggest maker of ‘middleweight’ bikes. It also suggests that RE is going after the bobber market, since this is the second bobber-style concept after the KX 838 shown a couple of years ago.

Design boss Mark Wells says the goal was to build a “neo-retro interpretation that pushes the boundaries of what a Royal Enfield motorcycle could look like, but at its core, still celebrating that iconic Royal Enfield DNA.”

To our eyes, the SG650 looks good, right down to the fat tires, low stance and bare aluminum overlaid with pixelated graphics. The tank has been CNC billet machined from a solid block of alloy, and so have the wheel rims—which have integrated ABS, custom calipers and dual discs.

Aluminum is also used for the combined top yoke and headlight nacelle setup, and the wide bars are dressed with aluminum switch cubes. The other elements have a more conventional retro style, with twin rear shocks and a black leather ‘floating’ solo seat. The 650 Twin engine appears to be the familiar production item.

If the SG650 went into production, it’d be a stylish but lower-cost alternative to the Triumph Bonneville Bobber. We reckon there’s a market for it.

The MV Agusta Lucky Explorers MV Agusta’s stand was popular, and not just for showing the stunning Magni Italia. After last week’s tease, we also got to see MV’s two new ADV bikes (and engines). The ‘5.5’ [above] uses a 554cc twin with 47.6 hp, developed with the help of the Chinese company Qianjiang, which owns Benelli.

The ‘9.5’ model [below] uses a 931cc triple with 123 hp, loosely based on MV’s existing 800cc unit.

Visually, both bikes hark back to the Dakar Rally racers of three decades ago, notably the Cagiva Elefant. The styling is sharp and modern, with smart graphics and no superfluous ‘beaks.’

The machines on the MV Agusta stand at EICMA are prototypes, but close to production spec. MV has not announced pricing, but word is that they will be formally released next year.

Despite the nomenclature and looks, the 5.5 is not merely a scaled-down version of the 9.5. The dry weight for both bikes is listed at 220 kg (484 pounds), which is passable for the larger bike but a little on the hefty side for the smaller bike. This lends credence to the idea that the 5.5 is a cousin of the Benelli TRK502, a popular rival in Europe to the Honda CB500X.

The specs suggest a measure of offroad ability for both bikes though, with hefty sump guards, hand guards and disc covers. The wheelsets are F19/R17 for the 5.5 and F21/R18 for the 9.5.

It’s further proof that the ADV market is running red hot at the moment. Next year, it’ll be intriguing to see how the 9.5 stacks up against the Husqvarna Norden 901 and the Ducati DesertX. [Lucky Explorer Project]

Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello Back in September, Moto Guzzi gave us a glimpse of the new V100 Mandello sport tourer. The venerable Italian marque has now officially launched the bike, and it comes with quite a few surprises.

Most notable is the appearance of ‘adaptive aerodynamics’—the kind of innovation you’d expect to see on a high-end sportbike. Flanking the headlights on the fairing are air deflectors, which adjust according to speed and riding mode. Apparently they can reduce wind buffeting by up to 22% for the rider.

The new 1,042cc DOHC V-twin is water-cooled, has a ‘compact block’ design with four valves per cylinder, and is rated at 115 hp. Torque peaks at 77 pound-feet and 90% of that is available at a leisurely 3,500 rpm.

Buyers will get three switchable engine maps, four riding modes, four levels of traction control, and even three levels of engine braking. The electronics package also includes cruise control and cornering ABS and the rider aids are tied together with a six-axis IMU.

There will also be an up-spec version that adds semi-active Öhlins suspension, a quickshifter, heated grips and a Bluetooth connection to your smartphone.

It’s all very high-tech for a ‘traditional’ manufacturer like Moto Guzzi, and should interest fans of comfortable, long-legged sports tourers. The secondhand market for older tourers is healthy in most countries; hopefully the V100 will inspire other factories to deliver more modern options. [Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello]

The Bimota KB4 Another long-delayed production bike has just broken cover, and it’s a doozy—the gorgeous 142 hp Bimota KB4, powered by a 1043cc inline four donated by parent company Kawasaki.

First shown as a prototype a couple of years ago, the KB4 is now ready to enter production and uses the engine from the Ninja 1000SX.

Despite the size of the engine, the KB4 is unusually compact. The wheelbase is just 54.7 inches, the same as a Suzuki GSX-R750. And with a claimed curb weight of 428 pounds [194 kg], it’s only a fraction heavier than said Gixxer.

The frame is a mix of classic thin steel tubes in a trellis layout, plus billet machined aluminum. To keep the length down, the radiator is under the seat, and fan-assisted.

The suspension is state-of-the-art, with 43mm Öhlins FG Road & Track forks and an Öhlins TTX36 shock hooked up to a billet aluminum swingarm. The forged 17-inch wheels appear to be magnesium—there’s no official confirmation—and the Brembo brakes include a classic twin 320mm front disc setup.

We’re even more excited by the news of an ‘RC’ version. That stands for ‘Race Café’ apparently, which is odd because the mainstream faired version has more of a trad café vibe and the RC looks more like a ‘super naked.’ Maybe Bimota is harking back to the stripped-down HB1 of the early 70s with this one.

There’s no word on pricing yet. But with carbon fiber bodywork on the spec list, painting by hand and a promise of the ‘latest electronics,’ you can bet the KB4 won’t be cheap. We just have a feeling it’ll be worth every cent. [Bimota]

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