Motus?

[Cobalt]

Crap - just saw the prices. I hope enough people buy them at that price to cover the r&d, so the price drops to where us normal folk can get one.

Regarding Motus - Won't happen. they're always going to be a premium-priced, small-volume niche market player; at least as long as they last. Sadly what they need is an infusion of money and the mindset to say "we're going to take a loss for 3 years worth of sales at a ridiculously low price to get them into the market."

I want one in the worst damned way; I just can't (and won't) afford it.  

[Sport-Touring]

[Rincewind]

Martin Motorsports in SEPA is the most Northern dealer in the Northeast.  

[R Doug]

Things have been quiet on the EBR front too (regarding production bikes, new models). I would really like to see both brands survive. Variety is good.

Funny you should ask.  

Hero MotoCorp has bought a 49.2% stake in Erik Buell Racing for $25 million. Hero MotoCorp is India’s largest two-wheel manufacturer, and for a year now has partnered with Erik Buell Racing for technical development, as well as sponsoring the American company’s AMA Pro Road Racing team for the past two seasons.

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/hero-motocorp-buys-minority-share-erik-buell-racing/

[mugwump58]

Hmm, is Hero at all linked to Mahindra?

[FantasticJapaneseRocket]

Another bike I can't afford.

A motorcycle shouldn't cost more than a decent car.

[FantasticJapaneseRocket]

It is nice but not exceptional bike . I don`t see them surviving long term . For 35 grand you can buy zx14/k13/etc. and  liter bike .

or you could buy 3 different bikes and almost have it all.

[poffpaul]

or you could buy 3 different bikes and almost have it all.

+1

With that much money I'd have a veritable stable of bikes. But she is pretty, I'll admit that.

[2DFlyer]

Sadly what they need is an infusion of money and the mindset to say "we're going to take a loss for 3 years worth of sales at a ridiculously low price to get them into the market."

I wonder if Elon Musk is interested in bikes?

[Kraz]

Finally an update....  Looks like a launch is scheduled for Laguna Seca.

http://motusmotorcycles.com/?utm_source=Motus+Updates&utm_campaign=9ed043f7bc-Laguna+2013+Video+and+Blog+Launch&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_677a147c40-9ed043f7bc-391251262

The Motus is coming. It's been a long adventure from concept to prototype to testing/development to production machines - but we are almost there. As we work to finish testing of the newest American motorcycles — the MST and MST-R — we've pulled down our old site and created this blog to let you see behind the scenes in the final stages of development. We'll talk about the people behind Motus, our design philosophy, upcoming events, technical specs and maybe even some of our favorite rides. In the coming weeks, we'll unveil the production motorcycles and the new American V4, launch our new website and begin rolling motorcycles out to our dealers across the country. We invite you to come back often and join the conversation.
ABOUT MOTUS

Motus manufactures high-performance, American V4 sport-touring motorcycles that combine heart-racing performance with uncompromising comfort. Powered by the mighty MV4 and MV4-R Baby Block engines, the MST's are a reinvention of the traditional sport-tourer. Comfortable American sportbikes with accommodations for touring. Motus represents uncompromising attention to detail and a commitment to building machines that offer motorcyclists the best possible riding experience.
- See more at: http://motusmotorcycles.com/?utm_source=Motus+Updates&utm_campaign=9ed043f7bc-Laguna+2013+Video+and+Blog+Launch&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_677a147c40-9ed043f7bc-391251262#sthash.5R5KKwe1.dpuf

[HipGnosis]

Did they really say

Comfortable American sportbikes

?
There's so many things wrong with that combination of words...

[bomber]

A motorcycle shouldn't cost more than a decent car.

Oh, I dunno . . . .there have often been premium-priced bikes around . . . .Crockers didn't come cheaply, nor Broughs, nor Silks nor that brit-bike with the big stokin vtwin built in the 80s Heskeths. . . . ..

[tnt]

$30K plus          

[sfalexi]

I looked at the motus website and it looks like a damned good bike.  I will say, they did well in thinking it out and putting some very desireable items right into the model.

I really REALLY hope that it becomes more affordable in the future.  I'm the average joe that can't afford a bike at that price.  But it IS a bike I would want.

[Orson]

I got to sit on a Motus and fire up the engine.

As others have mentioned, it does have that lucious Guzzi sound  

I may plan a ride to the dealer near Atlanta for a test ride  

[Dan K]

I just got a phone call from Motus in Grand Rapids, Michigan (near Clay) offering me a test ride.

WIsh I had the time - maybe next summer when I'm already in SW Michigan...

Still damn expensive, but wow.

- Dan

[Blue is Best]

At this point I know that it can't get under 20 big but if it could I would be camping out at the sales door.

[coho]

Orson,
I'm happy to store your RS for you while you Motus about.
And, heck - I'm feeling magnanimous - I will even keep an "eye" on the Motus whenever you feel like RSing.

[Orson]

Well, I took a ride down to the Motus dealer just outside Atlanta. They had a Motus R available for a test ride.

The R bike is the one with extra power and suspension goodies. It was fitted with Heli-bar risers and a Sergeant seat. They said that flatter, sportier handle bars were available. The dials seemed a bit, busy and a bit hard to read although, it might get easier once you're familiar with the layout. The engine of course, sounded like a Guzzi on steroids.

The dealer lined me up with a short test route that included some tight curves as well as some faster sweepers. Although in short distance, it let me get a good sampling of the bike's traits.

The bike clicked into gear with a bit of an agricultural feel. Not terrible but, not terribly smooth either. Once underway, the bike handled with a light feel. Nothing bad to report there. The brakes felt nice and strong. Unfortunately, I didn't feel at home on the Sergeant seat. I felt as if I was perched on the front lip an ordinary seat. I forgot to ask if seat height was adjustable. The wind screen is rather tall and I detected a tad more turbulence than the lower screen on my RS. Wasn't terrible. I think I prefer a bit more wind pressure to alleviate pressure on my wrists.

The engine lived up to expectations with big gobs of torque, just like a Guzzi. Excellent. Perfect for riding "the Pace". To be honest, despite the eye-popping torque figures, the bike really didn't feel that much more powerful than my 86 hp Guzzi. I seemed to have a problem with fueling on my test bike. As I tried to ease onto the gas after an apex, I was met by a big surge in torque that would drive me to the outside of a curve and force me to back off momentarily. I didn't raise the issue with the salesman as, I didn't want to seem critical. Maybe can be fixed with a different map?

Anyhoo...

The Good: Guzzi characteristics. Always good for touring. Nice, light handling.

The Bad: Didn't gel with the Sargeant seat. Fueling seemed off. Slightly agricultural transmission. No shaft drive. High cost.

All in all, considering the $32,000 asking price, I'm afraid that, despite all it's Guzzi-ness, the Motus may not be enough drive me off my current RS1200. With a better seat and better fueling, the decision would become more difficult.

[coho]

Dammit.