Second special Super Duke 1290 R from the KTM/Brabus tie up goes on sale
We’re still not 100 per cent sure where this partnership sprung from – but it is pretty impressive. Austrian bike makers KTM released a special bike with Brabus tuning parts last year, and now they’ve released a new version for 2023.
Brabus is better known for its work with Mercedes-Benz, and it’s produced some amazing stuff for the big German car maker over the past few decades: big wheels, exhausts, bodykits and the rest.
So it was pretty surprising to see the KTM Brabus 1300 edition last year. Based on the Mattighofen firm’s Super Duke 1290 R, the Brabus edition added a load of posh kit, and looked super-trick.
For 2023, it’s more of the same really. The Brabus 1300 Edition 23 is limited to just 290 bikes, 145 in a stealth grey colour scheme, 145 in black, and is priced at a hefty £37k – but for that you get a pretty sweet factory special. It rolls on forged Brabus Monoblock Z nine-spoke Platinum Black wheels, on WP APEX semi-active suspension front and rear.
Brabus also supplies the slip-on double-can exhaust pipe, and the custom heated seat. There’s a black finished steel tube trellis frame, rather than the usual orange, and it’s decked out with slick carbon fibre panels.
The lightweight material features on the air intake stubs, headlight surround, belly pan and tail unit, as well as heel guards, radiator surround and engine case protectors.
Brabus has also produced slick CNC-machined alloy parts for the top and bottom yokes, levers, rearsets and pedals, plus the master cylinder deservoirs. A quick-turn throttle livens up the power delivery (not that the standard bike is a slug…) and there’s a weight-saving lithium ion battery.
The basic performance is the same as standard: 180bhp from the 1,301cc 75° V-twin LC8 motor and 194kg dry mass. You also get the same Brembo Stylema brakes as the Super Duke, and the electronics package is the same high-end setup too.
There’s an up/down shifter, TFT colour dash with one-off Brabus startup animation, five integrated riding modes including rain, street, sport, track and performance.
These all integrate the suspension, traction, wheelie and slip control functions, and can be fully customised as well.
There’s an IMU-assisted cornering ABS and traction control setup, with a Supermoto ABS setting that allows stoppies and rear skids, while also de-activating the cornering function of the ABS, for even more fine control – experts only though you’d imagine…
The Brabus 1300 R is also packed with everyday functions like cruise control and heated grips, plus a Bluetooth smartphone link setup.
More info: https://www.ktm.com/en-gb/brabus-1300-r-edition-23.html
Brabus 1300 R 23 Edition tech features:
BRABUS Sign of excellence with limited-edition number
BRABUS Monoblock Z lightweight 9-spoke “Platinum Black” forged wheels
BRABUS slip-on double-pipe exhaust • BRABUS custom-made heated seat
BRABUS start-up animation
BRABUS colour scheme for the dashboard
UNIQUE black frame
BRABUS carbon fibre air ducts
BRABUS carbon fibre headlight mask
BRABUS carbon fibre belly pan
BRABUS CNC-machined triple clamp
BRABUS CNC-machined adjustable front brake and clutch lever
BRABUS CNC-machined adjustable foot pegs
BRABUS CNC-machined reservoirs and oil tank caps
BRABUS pillion seat cover
BRABUS handlebar end mirrors
Carbon fibre undertray with short number plate holder
LED turn indicators with integrated brake lights
WP APEX semi-active suspension
WP PRO COMPONENTS (WP APEX PRO 7117) steering damper
5 riding modes (STREET – SPORT – RAIN – PERFORMANCE – TRACK)
Quick turn throttle twist grip
Heated grips
Lightweight Li-Ion battery
Various carbon fibre parts