2027 KTM 1390 Super Duke R EVO Preview

The Beast gets a big-screen brain and sharper Brembo bite

Summary: KTM’s 2027 1390 Super Duke R EVO keeps its 1,350cc LC8 V-twin and WP semi-active suspension, then adds an 8.8-inch touchscreen TFT with offline navigation, new switchgear, revised ride modes and Brembo HyPure calipers. U.S. MSRP is unchanged at $22,149 plus $800 freight.

We’re in Milan for EICMA, and KTM rolled its flagship naked bike onto the stand in Hall 22 looking just as angry as ever. The 2027 KTM 1390 Super Duke R EVO, or “The Beast” in KTM-speak, doesn’t get a new engine or a new frame. What it gets is arguably the stuff you touch every single ride: a far bigger touchscreen dash, new handlebar controls, a reworked ride mode system and Brembo’s latest front calipers.

KTM North America’s media team sent us the U.S. press kit and highlights sheet following the show, and the message is clear. In KTM’s words, “The result isn’t a reinvention of THE BEAST.” It’s an evolution of the parts that matter.

What’s New for the 2027 1390 Super Duke R EVO

Here’s the short list, straight from KTM’s 2027 press materials:

• New 8.8-inch TFT touchscreen: A landscape-format bonded-glass display replaces the 2026 model’s 5-inch TFT. KTM’s press kit and website call it 8.8 inches, while the U.S. highlights sheet lists it as 8.88 inches.
• Offline Map Navigation: Map data is stored on the dash itself, so turn-by-turn guidance doesn’t depend on a live phone data connection.
• New switchgear: A redesigned switch cube lets riders control functions from the bars or by touching the screen.
• Latest-generation ride modes: The ride mode concept now matches KTM’s newest Super Duke platform, with more emphasis on personalization. The highlights sheet adds Sport ABS and Supermoto+ ABS modes.
• Brembo HyPure front calipers: These replace the Brembo Stylema monoblocs on the 2026 model.
• Michelin Power GP2 tires: KTM lists these as new for 2027. The 2026 model came on Michelin Power GP rubber.
• Two new colorways: Orange and Black, with the Black version getting a fully blacked-out frame.

What doesn’t change is the 1,350cc LC8 V-twin, the chrome-moly trellis frame, the WP Apex semi-active suspension and, importantly, the conventional six-speed manual gearbox with a clutch lever. KTM makes a point of noting that the Super Duke R EVO keeps its manual transmission, unlike other EVO models in the range that use KTM’s Automated Manual Transmission. Translation: The Beast still wants you to work the clutch.

An 8.8-Inch Touchscreen Takes Center Stage

The headline change is the dash. The 2026 Super Duke R EVO used a 5-inch bonded-glass TFT. For 2027, KTM fits a landscape touchscreen it lists at 8.8 inches, the same size KTM fits to the 2027 1390 Super Duke GT. KTM says the bonded glass improves readability while adding scratch and glare resistance, and a slimmed-down menu structure means fewer button presses to get to the settings you actually use.

The highlights sheet also mentions a split-screen mode, a new connectivity unit and a USB-C charging port. Whether a touchscreen plays nice with winter gloves is something we’ll find out when we ride one.

The bigger screen also makes room for real navigation. KTM’s Offline Map Navigation stores maps directly on the dashboard, and riders can download individual regions, countries or cities. The system offers Route Planning, Active Guidance and a Map View, along with a curvy-road routing option. We know which route we’re picking.

Ride Modes, Rethought

KTM says the goal isn’t to change the bike’s character, but to give the rider more control over how that character is delivered.

KTM’s U.S. website lists up to four standard ride modes. Street is the default, with full power, traction control and limited front wheel lift. Sport sharpens throttle response and allows some wheel slip, Rain cuts power to 128 hp (130 PS) and maximizes traction control, and one Custom mode lets you build your own setup. The optional Performance and Track modes add a 10-level spin adjuster, and Track mode brings a telemetry screen, a lap timer and five-level anti-wheelie adjustment.

The rest of the electronics suite carries over and is still comprehensive. That includes Bosch cornering ABS, lean-sensitive Motorcycle Traction Control (MTC) run by a six-axis IMU, cruise control and KTM Race On keyless ignition. The highlights sheet also lists optional five-level engine brake control.

Brembo HyPure Calipers Up Front

When you’ve got this much shove, stopping matters. For 2027, KTM swaps the previous Brembo Stylema calipers for Brembo’s latest four-piston HyPure monoblocs. KTM’s U.S. spec sheet calls them “Brembo HyPure Sport Monobloc” calipers. They’re radially mounted and bite dual 12.6-inch (320mm) floating discs, with a Brembo MCS radial master cylinder that allows ratio and lever-distance adjustment. KTM says they cut weight and improve braking performance. Out back, a Brembo twin-piston caliper and 9.4-inch (240mm) disc handle rear braking.

KTM hasn’t published a weight saving for the new calipers, and the bike’s claimed weight is 467 lb (212 kg) fully fueled, same as 2026. That’s the number we care about, because that’s what you’ll be pushing around the garage.

The LC8 V-Twin Carries Over

No complaints here. The 1,350cc (82.4 cu. in.) 75-degree LC8 V-twin carries over with its 4.33 x 2.80-inch (110 x 71mm) bore and stroke, DOHC heads and KTM’s CamShift variable valve timing. Fuel arrives via Keihin fuel injection with a 2.4-inch (60mm) throttle body. A PASC slipper clutch with hydraulic actuation and a six-speed gearbox send power to a 525 X-ring chain.

KTM’s official spec sheet lists 187 hp (190 PS) and 107 lb-ft (145 Nm). KTM’s own marketing copy rounds it to “190 hp,” so expect to see both numbers floating around the internet. Either way, it’s still enough to rearrange your internal organs on corner exit. The engine meets Euro 5+ standards, and KTM lists CO2 emissions at 139 g/km.

WP Semi-Active Chassis Carries Over

The chassis that makes the EVO an EVO stays put. Up front is a 1.9-inch (48mm) WP Apex USD semi-active fork with 4.9 inches (125mm) of travel, and in back is a WP Apex semi-active linkage shock with 5.5 inches (140mm) of travel. KTM calls this its third-generation Semi-Active Technology (SAT). It uses stroke sensors and the IMU to adjust damping in real time, and adds automatic electronic preload that accounts for rider, passenger and load.

Standard suspension modes are Auto, Comfort, Street, Sport and Rain. The optional Suspension Pro package adds Track and Pro modes, plus Anti-Dive and a Factory Start feature for launches. (KTM’s highlights sheet says “Tack” mode. We’re pretty sure that’s a typo and not a new mode for gluing the bike to the pavement.)

The frame is a powder-coated chrome-moly steel trellis that uses the engine as a stressed member, paired with a cast-aluminum and composite subframe. Steering geometry is 24.7 degrees of rake (KTM lists a 65.3-degree steering head angle) with 4.0 inches (101mm) of trail, and the wheelbase is 58.7 inches (1,491mm). Seat height is a tall-ish 32.8 inches (834mm), and the tank holds 4.6 gallons (17.5L). The 17-inch cast wheels measure 3.50 inches wide up front and 6.00 inches wide out back, with 120/70ZR17 and 200/55ZR17 Michelin Power GP2 tires.

Option Packs and Accessories

As with the 2026 bike, a lot of the good stuff lives in software options. KTM’s U.S. site says the Track Pack unlocks Track mode and its data-focused display. The Tech Pack includes everything in the Track Pack and adds Motor Slip Regulation (MSR), Quickshifter+, Suspension Pro, an adaptive brake light and engine brake control. Every shift and brake control is adjustable, and a reverse shift pattern is available.

KTM also offers PowerParts accessories designed for the 2027 model. U.S. option pack prices weren’t included in this release.

Price and U.S. Availability

Here’s the good news. KTM USA lists the 2027 1390 Super Duke R EVO at a base MSRP of $22,149 plus $800 freight, or $22,949 before dealer fees, tax and registration. That’s the same base price as the 2026 model, which means the bigger screen, navigation and new brakes come at no extra cost. Some U.S. dealers already list 2027 units, though KTM hasn’t published a specific U.S. arrival date.

Your money also buys KTM’s Premium Manufacturer’s Warranty, which KTM says covers up to four years when the bike is serviced on schedule at an authorized dealer. KTM USA’s current naked lineup lists the EVO, not the base 1390 Super Duke R with manually adjustable suspension, so the semi-active version is the Super Duke Americans can buy.

If you want the latest from KTM’s naked lineup, check out our 2026 KTM 990 Duke R First Ride and our KTM 990 Duke R vs. Yamaha MT-09 SP Shootout. For more LC8 V-twin muscle, read our 2026 KTM 1390 Super Adventure R Street Review. All of our KTM coverage lives on our KTM page.

Our Take

KTM didn’t need to touch the engine, and it didn’t. The 2027 updates target the areas where the 1390 Super Duke R EVO felt behind its newer siblings: the dash, the switches and the menus. Adding all that without raising the price is a smart move. We’ll reserve final judgment for when we can ride it, but on paper, The Beast just got easier to live with without getting any less beastly.

Stay tuned to our EICMA motorcycle show coverage for more 2027 reveals from Milan, including the 2027 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade and the 2027 Suzuki SV-7S. You can also catch up on what we expected from the show in our 2026 EICMA Preview.

2027 KTM 1390 Super Duke R EVO Specs

Specs are from KTM’s 2027 U.S. press kit, highlights sheet and the KTM USA technical specifications page. Imperial conversions are ours where KTM didn’t list them.

2027 KTM 1390 Super Duke R EVO FAQ

What’s new on the 2027 KTM 1390 Super Duke R EVO?

The big updates are an 8.8-inch touchscreen TFT with offline navigation, new switchgear, revised ride modes with Sport and Supermoto+ ABS, Brembo HyPure front calipers, Michelin Power GP2 tires and two new colorways.

How much horsepower does the 2027 1390 Super Duke R EVO make?

KTM’s spec sheet lists 187 hp (190 PS) and 107 lb-ft (145 Nm) from the 1,350cc LC8 V-twin. KTM’s marketing copy rounds it to 190 hp.

How much does the 2027 KTM 1390 Super Duke R EVO cost?

KTM USA lists it at $22,149 plus $800 freight, the same base MSRP as the 2026 model.

Does the 2027 Super Duke R EVO have an automatic transmission?

No. It keeps a conventional six-speed manual gearbox with a slipper clutch. KTM’s AMT is used on other EVO models, not this one.

How much does it weigh?

KTM lists 467 lb (212 kg) fully fueled.

Was the 2027 1390 Super Duke R EVO shown at EICMA?

Yes. KTM displayed it at its EICMA 2026 stand in Milan’s Hall 22.