KTM Super Duke EVO-Based 2022 Brabus 1300 R Leaks Ahead of Official Reveal

KTM is teasing a collaboration with German tuning house Brabus, with a new naked bike based on the 1290 Super Duke EVO. According to the teasers, 2022 Brabus 1300 R is due to be announced on Feb. 11, but the bike briefly popped up on KTM’s official website. Those pages were quickly taken down, but not before we were able to get our paws on the official details and images.

Brabus, for those who are unfamiliar, is a high-performance automotive tuner, probably best known for its work on Mercedes-Benz cars. With the 1300 R, Brabus moves into the motorcycle space, with its take on the Super Duke EVO. Brabus gave the 1300 R a number of handcrafted components, plus nine-spoke forged wheels. New carbon fiber air intakes and a circular headlight give the Super Duke a new look, though the 1300 R’s front does give us a bit of a Ducati Diavel vibe.

In addition to the intakes, Brabus equipped the 1300 R with a headlight shroud and tail all made from carbon fiber. The fuel tank also gets carbon fiber trim, though it offers the same 4.2-gallon capacity as the Super Duke EVO.

The engine appears to be unchanged, with the 1301cc V-Twin claiming the same 180 hp and 103 lb-ft. as the Super Duke EVO, even with the two carbon intake snorkels replacing the Super Duke’s single ram air intake positioned in the headlight. The PASC slipper clutch and PANKL transmission from the Super Duke EVO also remain on the 1300 R. Brabus also equipped the bike with matt black ceramic-coated twin silencers designed to optimize back pressure.

The trellis frame remains unchanged from the Super Duke, though the Brabus trades the KTM orange for black. The lightweight composite subframe is also similar, but the Brabus gets a thicker custom heated seat. The thicker seat helps contribute to the taller saddle height, measuring 33.2 inches compared to the Super Duke EVO’s 32.9 inches.

The 1300 R shares a similar adjustable handlebar with the Super Duke EVO, but it receives new CNC-milled fully adjustable hand levers. The switchgear is unchanged, including the controls for navigating settings on the five-inch TFT display.

The electronics package is similar to what is offered on the EVO. The Brabus 1300 R offers five ride modes, Rain, Street, Sport, Track, and Performance, each offering different levels of throttle control, traction control, stability control, motor slip regulation, and anti-wheelie function. A quickshifter and cruise control come standard, as does ABS including a Supermoto ABS mode.

The Brabus 1300 R is equipped with a WP APEX 48 fork with electronically-controlled damping. The triple tree was specifically designed for the 1300 R, with KTM claiming precise handling and feel under hard braking. The WP APEX rear shock is also electronically-adjusted.

Brembo provides the Stylema four-piston monoblock calipers. The front brakes also receive a carbon fiber cooling duct similar to the one used on the Super Duke RR.

The 2022 Brabus 1300R will be offered in Magma Red or Signature Black. Only 77 units of each color will be produced, a nod to Brabus being formed in 1977.

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