This Brabus 1400 R Motorcycle Is a Bespoke KTM, and It's Absolutely Wild

A few days ago we caught a glimpse of it, and now it’s finally here. The Brabus 1400 R Signature Edition has officially dropped at EICMA, and it’s as wild as everyone hoped. Built on the new KTM 1390 Super Duke R Evo, this is Brabus taking its motorcycle game into uncharted territory.

The styling alone deserves a standing ovation. Forget the softer, more sculpted shapes of the old 1300 R. The 1400 R is all sharp edges and shadows. The new “Midnight Veil” finish is almost hypnotic, a deep black with faint blue undertones that shimmer when light hits the carbon panels. The front end ditches the old round headlight for twin LED projectors framed by a custom carbon mask and signature daytime running lights inspired by Brabus cars. It’s not pretty. And it’s not supposed to be.

The Widestar carbon bodywork stretches out with broad side spoilers, a sculpted fuel tank cover with Dinamica pads, and a belly pan that ties the entire silhouette together. The exposed-structure carbon fiber gives the 1400 R the kind of presence that makes you stop mid-sentence. The details are obsessive: CNC-machined triple clamps, billet reservoirs, custom footrests, and a handcrafted leather and Dinamica seat embossed with Brabus logos. Every component looks like it was designed for a concept bike and somehow ended up in production.

Powering all that aggression is the 1,350 cc LC8 V-twin from KTM, tuned to produce 190 horsepower and 107 pound-feet of torque. It can hit 60 miles per hour in just over three seconds and top out around 168 miles per hour. The intake system feeds air through a reworked ram-air setup that lives inside the carbon nose, while the custom dual underseat exhaust lets the bike announce its arrival before you even see it. It’s the kind of sound that rattles windows and commands respect.

Handling is handled by WP’s APEX Semi-Active Technology suspension, the same next-generation system found on KTM’s latest Super Duke R Evo. It offers six damping modes and three automatic preload settings, shifting from comfort cruiser to track weapon with a button press. There’s also a WP PRO steering damper for when that 200-section rear tire decides to fight back.

Stopping power comes courtesy of Brembo’s new Hypure monoblock system. Up front you get 320-millimeter wave rotors, while the rear uses a 240-millimeter disc. The setup offers surgical precision whether you’re trail braking into a hairpin or panic-stopping after realizing how fast you’re actually going. Bosch cornering ABS and Supermoto ABS make sure you stay shiny side up.

Electronics are as deep as you’d expect from something wearing a Brabus badge. There are five ride modes: Street, Sport, Rain, Performance, and Track. Street gives you smooth throttle response and all the safety nets. Sport turns things up for backroad fun. Rain dials back the aggression for slick conditions. Performance and Track unlock full power with fine-tuned control over traction, throttle, damping, and wheelie settings. A bi-directional quickshifter and hydraulic slipper clutch come standard.

The cockpit is an event. The full-color TFT display gets exclusive Brabus graphics and a custom startup animation that feels more like booting up a weapon system than a motorcycle. The CNC-milled levers and reservoirs feel cold and precise, while the leather and microfiber seat offers a level of craftsmanship you’d expect from a luxury car.

Only 100 units of the Brabus 1400 R Signature Edition will ever exist. Each one gets a numbered badge, a presentation mat, an indoor cover, and a leather key case. Seriously, this thing’s equal parts art, performance, and insanity.