Author |
Message |
Hughlysses
| Posted on Sunday, April 26, 2015 - 07:46 am: |
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Apparently Motus motorcycles are finally in production. Here's a first ride report from Rider magazine. http://www.motusmotorcycles.com/files/RRMAY15.pdf? utm_source=Motus+Updates&utm_campaign=a446436b91-R IDER+rides+Motus%2C+Made+in+AL%2C+Lone+Star+2&utm_ medium=email&utm_term=0_677a147c40-a446436b91-2253 81437 |
Steveford
| Posted on Sunday, April 26, 2015 - 01:26 pm: |
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If I were a rich man... Those bikes look really good. |
Zac4mac
| Posted on Sunday, April 26, 2015 - 01:27 pm: |
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Not a bad read. Had to throw a dig at Buell tho.. "...the 6-speed transmission with chain final drive, which P&M designed to bolt onto the Katech-built motor. “We would have been selling these bikes three years ago if we’d bought an off- the-shelf engine and transmission package from Rotax, or a V-twin S&S motor like everyone else,” says Case". |
Hootowl
| Posted on Sunday, April 26, 2015 - 02:14 pm: |
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Don't see how that's a dig at Buell. What was a dig, was the reference to beating Buell at land speed racing. Air cooled two cylinder 1200 cc vs water cooled 4 cylibder 1650 cc. Shouldn't even be in the same class. The only thing they have in common are pushrods. |
Court
| Posted on Sunday, April 26, 2015 - 03:06 pm: |
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>>>>They hope to be building up to 1,000 bikes annually within three years. >>>>The aim is to construct 250 bikes this year, building up to 1,000 bikes annually within three years, especially once the company begins exporting some- time in 2016, says Conn. All the 20-plus Motus dealers so far recruited in the USA will have to offer test rides That's the same statement from 3 years ago when I attended their "kick off" sales event . . . . I still have a box of Motus tickets, my hat and my Motus Club membership card. We'll keep monitoring. Impressive that these guys have been around for 7 years, not sold a single bike yet continue to forge ahead. Someone . . .somewhere (assuming they've done all the government testing) has some DEEP pockets. |
Hughlysses
| Posted on Sunday, April 26, 2015 - 03:55 pm: |
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Impressive that these guys have been around for 7 years, not sold a single bike yet continue to forge ahead. Court, according to the article, quote:The first American four-cylinder street bike in the 70 years since World War II has now reached production, and the initial examples of the V-4 Motus MST and higher-performance MST-R sport tourers have been delivered to the first of the more than 270 customers who’ve placed deposits with the start-up company based in Birmingham, Alabama.
So, it at least sounds like they've actually sold and delivered some number of motorcycles at this point. It would be really interesting to know exactly how many. Come to think of it, that statement could be literally interpreted to mean 1 MST and 1 MST-R. (Message edited by Hughlysses on April 26, 2015) |
Ferris_von_bueller
| Posted on Sunday, April 26, 2015 - 05:24 pm: |
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Well, there is a dealer network. |
Court
| Posted on Sunday, April 26, 2015 - 05:26 pm: |
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Okay ..... Good...... I'm eager to be corrected But . . . . .a perusal of the dealers websites within 800 miles of me doesn't shine much light. I'm used to being called names for my skepticism. But...... I'm sure that I'm just ill informed. Is it a good or bad sign that none of these happy new owners have posted a word on the internet? I'm sure I'm just missing it all ...... |
Teeps
| Posted on Sunday, April 26, 2015 - 07:25 pm: |
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Well good on them. I hope they live long and prosper! Why they didn't use a shaft final drive is beyond comprehension. And, at $30k Plus; I'll never be an owner anyway. |
Zac4mac
| Posted on Sunday, April 26, 2015 - 07:53 pm: |
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The Rotax referral was directly aimed at Buell. My RS is a couple of orders of magnitude above a Motus that costs $10k more... Z |
Hootowl
| Posted on Sunday, April 26, 2015 - 08:00 pm: |
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Why do you think so? Buell didn't use an off the shelf Rotax engine. It didn't exist before the Buell-Rotax collaboration. It is like nothing else they make. It was designed by Buell and assembled specifically for them, mostly from parts from outside suppliers. I'm just not seeing the insult. There are bikes out there with off the shelf Rotax engines, but Buells are not among them. |
Pwnzor
| Posted on Sunday, April 26, 2015 - 08:57 pm: |
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Much ado about nothing. |
Griffmeister
| Posted on Sunday, April 26, 2015 - 09:34 pm: |
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Impressive that these guys have been around for 7 years, not sold a single bike yet continue to forge ahead. Haven't they been selling engines? Seems to me Motus had a display at this years IMS with a Motus engine equipped formula type car as well as sales literature for different options. Almost made motorcycles sound secondary. |
Hybridmomentspass
| Posted on Sunday, April 26, 2015 - 09:46 pm: |
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at least they lasted 7 years i kid i kid |
Figorvonbuellingham
| Posted on Sunday, April 26, 2015 - 10:23 pm: |
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Funny thing is that engine looks a lot like a v-4 engine we had in detassling machines and clippers we used to detassle corn. I used to operate on when I was 16. Looks very similar to me. This was 33 years ago though. To me it has an 80's - ish appearance. The price tag is ridiculous. Definitely not on my list. (Message edited by figorvonbuellingham on April 26, 2015) |
Tpoppa
| Posted on Monday, April 27, 2015 - 12:45 am: |
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The price tag is ridiculous what did the 1190RS cost? I like to ride that back to back with my VFR1200, which has quite impressive handling for a big ST. (Message edited by tpoppa on April 27, 2015) |
Court
| Posted on Monday, April 27, 2015 - 02:52 am: |
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The 1190RS cost $39,900. It's an outstanding, proven on track and streets, motorcycle. It had one salient advantage ...... You could actually buy one. Quoting Steve Jobs ....... "Real geniuses ship ......" |
Fast1075
| Posted on Monday, April 27, 2015 - 05:30 am: |
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The Motus engine is a variant based on a late gen smallblock chevy. |
Hootowl
| Posted on Monday, April 27, 2015 - 09:04 am: |
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"engine we had in detassling machines" Is that a device for returning HDs to stock condition? |
Figorvonbuellingham
| Posted on Monday, April 27, 2015 - 10:08 am: |
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Lol..... To be honest it would be much more appealing if they had used the front four cylinders off the duramax. (Message edited by figorvonbuellingham on April 27, 2015) |
Pwnzor
| Posted on Monday, April 27, 2015 - 10:33 am: |
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Personally, my wife and I both think the bike is ugly. $30k should buy me something pretty, and that aint it. |
Rick_a
| Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 - 01:07 am: |
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I like it, though it's not my kinda bike. I'd like to see them make it. |