Aston Martin now has a motorcycle too: the AMB 002 weighs just 190 kg

The AMB 002 Roadster continues the partnership between the two British brands, but takes it in a new direction. The AMB 001, unveiled in 2019, and the 2022 AMB 001 Pro were track-only machines. The new AMB 002 can be registered and used on public roads. The first customers are expected to receive their bikes in the third quarter of 2027.

According to Aston Martin, the companies designed the AMB 002 from the ground up, with no components carried over from earlier models. Brough Superior is responsible for the motorcycle’s engineering, engine production and final assembly in Toulouse, France, while Aston Martin’s design team shaped its exterior.

1,083cc V2 delivers 96 kW and 110 Nm

At the heart of the AMB 002 is an all-new liquid-cooled four-stroke 1,083cc V2 petrol engine. It produces 96 kW and 110 Nm.

Aston Martin and Brough Superior deliberately tuned the engine for road riding. Rather than pursuing the highest possible peak power, the engineers focused on strong low- and mid-range pull and linear response.

That sets the AMB 002 apart quite decisively from its predecessor. The AMB 001 Pro produced 165 kW and weighed 175 kg, meaning the new road bike falls well short of the track model in outright power and power-to-weight ratio.

In the AMB 002, 96 kW has to move 190 kg. That equates to approximately 0.51 kW/kg. The AMB 001 Pro reached around 0.94 kW/kg.

So the AMB 002 is not simply an AMB 001 Pro fitted with indicators and a number plate. It is a motorcycle designed for a different purpose.

The five-kilogram titanium frame is a technical treat

The most interesting detail is not the engine, but the frame.

Brough Superior machines the load-bearing titanium backbone structure from a solid billet. The finished frame weighs just 5 kg and helps achieve an exact 50:50 weight distribution.

It is neither a cheap nor a quick way to build a motorcycle. Such a construction would be rather absurd in mass production, but for a 300-unit collector model, production cost is part of the exotic appeal.

Brough Superior also uses CNC machining from solid metal billets to manufacture the engine cases. The aim is to remove material where it is not structurally required and achieve the lightest, stiffest possible structure.

The fuel tank and body panels are made from carbon fibre. Together with the titanium frame, this helps keep the centre of gravity low and the bike’s kerb weight at 190 kg.

That is a respectable figure for an exclusive roadster with a 1,083cc engine. Still, there is no need to mystify the number. Modern litre-class supersport motorcycles can also remain close to the 200 kg mark while offering well over 140 kW.

No telescopic fork

The front end is even more interesting. Instead of a conventional telescopic fork, the AMB 002 uses Brough Superior’s dual-wishbone Fior front suspension.

The principle behind the design is better separation of steering and suspension forces. The geometry of a conventional telescopic fork changes under braking, as the fork compresses and the motorcycle’s nose dives. The Fior system limits this effect and maintains more stable front-end geometry under braking.

The AMB 002 solution was developed from the system used on the AMB 001 Pro. The manufacturer promises more precise handling, greater stability in fast corners and less dive under braking.

The arrangement becomes particularly interesting when braking into a corner. While a telescopic fork must simultaneously cope with braking force, suspension movement and steering, the Fior design can separate these functions more effectively by design.

In theory, this means a calmer front wheel and more predictable geometry for the rider. In practice, the AMB 002 must prove whether the exotic solution adds as much on ordinary roads as its machining costs the manufacturer.

Aston Martin cars are reflected in the details

Aston Martin’s role is most apparent in the design. The carbon-fibre fuel tank and side panels form a very compact whole, while crescent-shaped openings help direct airflow and cool the engine. The mirrors sit on slender supports to avoid visual heaviness at the front.

There are more details that reference the cars. Aston Martin’s traditional side air vent, or side-strake, runs through the AMB 002’s side panel and frames the headlight. The ribbed finish of the two oval exhaust silencers recalls the exhaust treatments of the Vanquish, DB12 S and DBX S. The rear lights use the same visual motif that Aston Martin applies to the Vulcan, Valkyrie and Valhalla.

Even the starting process is intended to evoke an expensive Aston Martin rather than a conventional motorcycle. The AMB 002 gets keyless operation, an illuminated start button and a hand-finished leather saddle.

It is all a little flamboyant, but for a 300-unit Aston Martin motorcycle, restraint would probably be the greater design flaw.

The AMB 002 must compete in collections rather than on track

Aston Martin has not yet announced a price. There is, however, no reason to expect a cheap motorcycle.

The AMB 002’s predecessors have already shown the positioning of the partnership. They were not intended for the Ducati Panigale or BMW M 1000 RR buyer comparing power, lap times and price in a specification table. Aston Martin and Brough Superior are primarily selling rarity, materials, design and craftsmanship here.

Production of the AMB 002 is limited to 300 units, with Brough Superior building every bike by hand.

In that sense, 96 kW is a secondary figure. A modern Ducati or BMW superbike offers more power and probably a better lap time too. An AMB 002 buyer does not have to be unaware of that; they simply are unlikely to care very much.

The AMB 002’s most direct competition instead comes from other ultra-expensive limited-production bikes and collaboration projects between carmakers and motorcycle brands. In this world, a CNC-machined titanium frame can be as important as a tenth of a second in acceleration.

Europe is the AMB 002’s natural home

Unlike some of Aston Martin’s exotic special projects, the AMB 002 is particularly relevant for Europe. Brough Superior engineers and builds the bike in Toulouse, and the model’s big news is precisely its road legality.

That means the AMB 002 is no longer merely a collector’s item to be used in a garage or at a track day. At least in principle, the owner can do what motorcycles were invented for: open the garage door in the morning and ride away.

This is also where the lower power output makes sense. The AMB 001 Pro’s combination of 165 kW and 175 kg is impressive on track, but fairly academic on public roads. The AMB 002’s 96 kW, 110 Nm and strong mid-range pull should be considerably more usable in real-world traffic.

The 190 kg weight also helps. Brough Superior has not built a luxurious two-wheeled GT, but a relatively light roadster with an upright riding position.