Motus Motorcycles

[Rincewind]

Sounds awesome



http://blip.tv/file/4842837

[Sport-Touring]

[Fun Dog]

Now THAT looks like a sport tourer.  They ought to come up with their own hard bag design though.  Building a bike from the ground up and then slapping some Givi's on it is just cheap.

The bike itself is beautiful and the sound is amazing.  I think they're going to do very well and I can't wait to see one in person.

[desert_rider]

Anybody know anything about pricing?

[MK96xj]

Looks like they will be cruising around Daytona this week

[bubba zanetti]

Nice looking/sounding bike.   Turning radius of the Bismark though ....  

[falconati]

Now THAT looks like a sport tourer.  They ought to come up with their own hard bag design though.  Building a bike from the ground up and then slapping some Givi's on it is just cheap.

Disagree completely.  They're a motorcycle manufacturer, not a bag manufacturer.  Look at all the other motorcycle companies.  Most (if not all) rebadge other company's bags and do not attempt to create their own.

[pcrdude]

Now THAT looks like a sport tourer.

Only if it doesn't weigh too much.

 

[1000lbs]

Anybody know anything about pricing?

   You'd find a reason not to buy it even if it were under $8k (I'm sure its not).  

Seriously though, some pricing info would be great.  Sounds really nice in the video, and at least they went with the best looking givi bags IMHO.  Hope they can get enough orders to keep them going. How long until Leno gets one and does a garage segment on it?

[pcrdude]

   You'd find a reason not to buy it even if it were under $8k (I'm sure its not).  

Seriously though, some pricing info would be great.  Sounds really nice in the video, and at least they went with the best looking givi bags IMHO.  Hope they can get enough orders to keep them going. How long until Leno gets one and does a garage segment on it?

I think someone posted a projected price of $15K-$20K in that other thread?

[Orson]

I think someone posted a projected price of $15K-$20K in that other thread?

Here's whut the Motus guy said in a previous thread last year

Seriously? No aging sportbike riders will want a middleweight sport-tourer? Isn't that statement a little strong? I could think of at least a few scenarios where they would want one. I'll agree with your point #1 - That scenario has a lasting effect on people and they'll probably never return to riding. However, for every person who gives up riding, there's at least one more to take his spot. By next year, the US market should be growing again.

I know this thread talks a lot about the traditional definition of "middleweight sport-tourer", but maybe our bike won't fit into traditional classifications that easily. Who says a M-ST has to be a sissy bike? Why can't a bike be lightweight, sporty, comfortable, smooth, and deliver mind-numbing torque? If you think that bike already exists, that's fine, more than likely it's imported. But, give Motus a chance to prove that a bike like that can actually be designed and built in America.

And, we're not saying everyone will want one, it's a niche for sure. But a maybe few people will want them, and that doesn't mean it has to be expensive. An affordable price point for our segment is very important to us, but one can't really expect a new low-volume company to match what Honda's making for $12k-$15k right out of the gate.

And you know, I really can't think of too many factory middleweight sport-tourers running superchargers...

I enjoyed reading all these comments...lot's of good information. Thanks!

-Brian
Motus Motorcycles

[twotrackhero]

Nice Jugs Motus  

[veefer800canuck]

Looks good. Pricing is going to be an issue. Also, I hope they can meet the EPA and DOT certification standards with it.

Sounds like the mufflers will need to be refitted with something that saves less lives.

I like it, but the boffins at the regulatory agency likely won't.

[ajf]

I don't understand the chain drive.

With a longitudinal crank, power has to make a 90 degree turn somewhere, so they've lost all of the efficiency gain and most of the weight savings possible with chain drive.  The only downside to a shaft would be a small increase in unsprung weight.

It seems to me that the benefits of shaft drive far outweigh the negligible advantages of chain drive for this configuration.

Although the FJR was intended to be my last touring bike, I'd be willing to buy a Motus if it really is substantially lighter than the porky Yamaha and if it had a shaft drive.

[Orson]

Although ST.N specifically requested a shaft drive in the previous thread...

for that amount of torque, I'd be willing to make a sacrifice  

[UFO]

Sounds like a proper V4.

[Fun Dog]

Disagree completely.  They're a motorcycle manufacturer, not a bag manufacturer.  Look at all the other motorcycle companies.  Most (if not all) rebadge other company's bags and do not attempt to create their own.

Disagree completely too.

They're a self proclaimed sport touring motorcycle manufacturer.  "Sport Touring" generally means hard bags included.  If they're making the bike they ought to make their own bags too.  They obviously made their own farings.  How much of a stretch is it to design and build some unique hard bags especially for this bike?

Aprilia did it for the Futura and they're some of the nicest hard bags around.  Givi bags look so bulbous and goofy to me.  Probably functional enough, but this bike is a work of art...really deserves its own bags.  I'd still buy it, Givi's and all, but a bit of a letdown to have something that takes up the latter 3rd of the bike made by somebody else.

Kawasaki did the same thing with the new Ninja 1000.  Great looking bike...takes the cake from the field of new sport tourers...then they slap them Givi's on the back.  WTF?  DOUBLE facepalm.

[UFO]

Most manufacturers outsource their bag designs, often to givi, so I see no problem with this especially for a business probably on a shoestring budget.

[CLAY]

Sounds like a proper V4.

+1.
Wow.  The thing sounds like sex on wheels.  Awesome.  

[Hickey]

Givi V35s are good hard bags.  They look good, seal well, etc.  I'm glad they didn't waste time and incur additional expenses developing their own bags when fine alternatives already exist.  Especially considering so many OEM hard bags are not as good as the aftermarket despite the man hours wasted on them.

[tpierce (MP)]

I really, REALLY hope they do well.  I've been watching their stuff for a while now.