But will KTM’s problems hamper the project?
A growing number of motorcycle manufacturers have discovered in recent years that there’s a surprisingly strong demand for limited-edition bikes carrying the sort of price tags that make them unattainable for the vast majority of customers. KTM is among them and its tie-in with German tuning firm Brabus has already spawned three production runs of the Brabus 1300 R based on the 1290 Super Duke R.
The debut of the 1390 Super Duke R, complete with the 1350cc, 140kW, variable valve timed version of the company’s LC8 V-twin engine, opens the door to a new generation of hyper-expensive Brabus machine, and a year ago we were given a clue to it when the company filed a trio of trademark applications using the name ‘Brabus 1400 R.’
Now there’s more solid evidence of the bike, which appears in a new set of emissions filings with the Environmental Protection Agency in the USA. These list the Brabus 1400 R under the same emissions as the 1390 Super Duke R, confirming that, like its predecessor, the 1400 R will be a largely cosmetic makeover of the mass-market KTM, opening the door to a hugely inflated profit margin. The earlier 1300 R cost twice as much as the 1290 Super Duke R despite identical performance and equipment levels, but even so the initial run of 154 examples – 77 black, 77 red – was allocated within minutes of the orderbooks opening in 2022, leading to a larger, second run of 290 bikes for 2023 and then a final 50 ‘Masterpiece Edition’ machines after that.
Brabus’s trademark filing suggest a similar plan this time around, with three different names appearing – the ‘1400 R Signature,’ ‘1400 R Rocket,’ and ‘1400 R Tailor Made’ – each likely to get their own limited run of machines over the production life of the bike to ensure a consistent demand.
Brabus hinted at the new model at a presentation last year, when a machine dubbed ‘Brabus 1XXX R’ was teased in dark images of a bike featuring fluorescent pinstripes and distinctive three-spoke wheels. Lightening the pictures reveals that the engine was hidden from view, but the overall shape is the expected KTM-like silhouette, and elements including Brembo brakes and WP forks can be seen, matching the parts used on the 1390 Super Duke R.
While last year’s teaser and trademark filing, allied to the new 1400 R emissions certification in the USA – which wasn’t previously offered the 1300 R – are clear pointers to the project becoming close to reality, they don’t account for KTM’s recent financial troubles, which saw the firm entering self-administration late last year and still seeking substantial investment to the tune of €800 million by 23rd May this year to pay creditors and get production, temporarily halted, back on line. How the problem will impact KTM’s deal with Brabus and the production of the 1400 R has yet to be seen, but it will be no surprise of the model is delayed until KTM is over its current rough patch.
