Brabus’ Second-Gen KTM-Based 1300 R

[Hugh Janus]

For 2023, Brabus will build 290 examples of its 1300 R, which is based on KTM’s 1290 Super Duke R Evo. (Brabus/)

Last year German car-tuning legend Brabus officially revealed the first motorcycle wearing its badge in the form of the KTM 1290 Super Duke R Evo–derived Brabus 1300 R. It was a strictly limited-edition machine with only 154 examples made (77 in red, 77 in black) and a price tag that would secure two of the Super Dukes it was based on.

So those 154 customers might be a little dismayed to see that Brabus has unveiled a second version of the bike for 2023, almost identical to the first apart from the color options. This time around, the 1300 R “Edition 23″ will be limited to 290 examples, with 145 in Superblack and 145 in Stealth Gray, bringing the total number of 1300 Rs on the planet up from 154 to 444.

Brabus 1300 R in Stealth Gray. (Brabus/)

Like its predecessor, the 1300 R Edition 23 is based on the bones of the KTM 1290 Super Duke R Evo, sharing the Austrian bike’s 180-hp 1,301cc V-twin engine, its single-sided swingarm, its steel tube frame, and its electronically adjustable WP Apex suspension. If you only want the riding experience and aren’t concerned with appearance or exclusivity, the 1290 Super Duke R Evo will give virtually everything that the Brabus offers but for half the price.

The 1300 R uses the same electronically adjustable WP Apex suspension as the KTM 1290 Super Duke R Evo. (Brabus/)

But the same could be said for many limited-edition models. Ducati’s recent Streetfighter V4 Lamborghini sold out in two hours despite costing more than twice as much as the mechanically identical Streetfighter V4 S, and last year’s 154 Brabus 1300 Rs were snapped up in under two minutes once the online order book opened. No wonder, then, that a second production run—and a substantially larger one—has been greenlighted for 2023.

One of the biggest differences are the Brabus forged Monoblock Z wheels. (Brabus/)

Carryover parts on the Edition 23 version of the Brabus 1300 R include the Monoblock Z wheels, styled to match the design used on many Brabus cars, the carbon fiber bodywork, and the Brabus exhaust, but there are tweaks to separate the new model from its predecessor. The cowl above the Husqvarna-derived headlight is new, for instance, gaining a couple of longitudinal ribs that weren’t present on last year’s bike, while there’s more visible carbon on the headlight bracket below. The air intakes on either side are revised to show more carbon fiber, and the pillion seat cowl is taller than before.

The Husqvarna Norden single headlight is used. (Brabus/)

Look more closely and you might spot the redesigned mirrors dangling from the bar ends, and the new quilted pattern on the seat. The more visible changes are the colors, though, with Superblack replacing Signature Black and Stealth Gray instead of Magma Red as the two available options. The wheels are finished in pure black, missing the bright highlights of last year’s version.

The quilted seat appears to be Alacantara. (Brabus/)

The equipment includes a tiltable TFT dash, heated grips, CNC-machined, adjustable-position Gilles footpegs and keyless start, and the CNC-machined triple clamp is unique to the Brabus model while retaining the KTM Super Duke R’s steering geometry. There’s more CNC work on the brake and clutch levers, which are both adjustable, and on the brake and clutch reservoirs and caps.

The Brembo Stylema brakes get a MotoGP-style air duct. (Brabus/)

Like the Super Duke R Evo, the suspension is WP Apex with KTM’s Suspension Pro electronic adjustment, allowing six different damping modes including Comfort, Street, Sport, Track, Advanced, and Auto, and 10 steps of rear preload adjustment to be selected from the dash. The modes are largely self-explanatory, with Comfort the softest and Track the firmest, while Advanced allows you to choose your own level of damping front and rear from eight steps, and Auto does the work for you by detecting your riding style and adjusting the suspension to match.

Bodywork is all carbon fiber, and designed by Brabus. (Brabus/)

Performance is identical to the KTM 1290 Super Duke R Evo, with 180 hp at 9,500 rpm and 103 lb.-ft. at 8,000 rpm, and the Brabus actually weighs a fraction more than the Super Duke at 428 pounds despite all that carbon fiber. European pricing is set at 42,500 British pounds (equivalent to $45,700) in most countries. That’s about 2,000 British pounds more than last year’s version. The original Brabus 1300 R wasn’t offered in the US, and at the moment it appears the same will apply to the Edition 23 version.

The 1300 R gets Gilles rearsets. (Brabus/)
How black is it? The 1300 R in Superblack. (Brabus/)
Front and rear view. (Brabus/)
Stealth Gray and Superblack. (Brabus/)

2023 Brabus 1300 R Specs

MSRP:	£42,500
Engine:	DOHC, liquid-cooled, four-stroke 75-degree V-twin; 8 valves
Displacement:	1,301cc
Bore x Stroke:	108.0 x 71.0mm
Compression Ratio:	13.6:1
Transmission/Final Drive:	6-speed/chain
Claimed Horsepower:	180.0 hp @ 9,500 rpm
Claimed Torque:	103.0 lb.-ft. @ 8,000 rpm
Fuel System:	EFI w/ 56mm throttle bodies, ride-by-wire
Clutch:	Wet, PASC slipper; hydraulic actuation
Engine Management/Ignition:	Keihin EMS/dual-spark ignition
Frame:	Tubular chromoly steel
Front Suspension:	48mm WP Apex SAT inverted fork, electronically adjustable; 5.1 in. travel
Rear Suspension:	WP Apex SAT shock, electronically adjustable; 5.5 in. travel
Front Brake:	Brembo Stylema 4-piston Monoblock caliper, 320mm floating discs w/ Bosch ABS
Rear Brake:	2-piston floating caliper, 240mm disc w/ Bosch ABS
Wheels, Front/Rear:	Brabus Monoblock Z lightweight 9-spoke forged; 17 x 3.50 in. / 17 x 6.00 in.
Tires, Front/Rear:	120/70-17 / 200/55-17
Rake/Trail:	25.2°/4.2 in.
Wheelbase:	58.9 in.
Ground Clearance:	6.3 in.
Seat Height:	33.3 in.
Fuel Capacity:	4.2 gal.
Claimed Dry Weight:	428 lb.
Contact:	brabus.com

Source

[Pedro]

Brabus used to build special engines for Mercedes cars, fast and quality. Now they do ugly motorcycle trim 

[boboneleg]

It's for blokes with fat wallets and small willy's

[Saul]

Bought more as a show off talking point rather than something to use 

[skyrider]

will it be as good as the gpz 750 turbo