American motorcycle manufacturer Motus has run into hard times. I’m sad to see this happen, I liked their unique V4 deign, which did make a decent amount of power. The motorcycle market is one hell of a volatile and difficult place to find lasting success.

America makes some of the best cars on this planet. Sports cars, muscle cars, our country has produced some absolutely iconic machines but when it comes to motorcycles we just can’t seem to compete with Japan and Europe. We make cruisers and struggle with that. If someone wants to buy a sporty American made moto to keep their Mustang, Camaro, Corvette etc company in the garage their choices are inferior to the offerings of Japan and Europe. I hope one day that changes but with the way the powersport market is trending I don’t see things changing anytime soon.




An American motorcycle sweetheart bites the dust

Whether you like the products or not, it's always a little sad to learn that a motorcycle shop has gone under. As of September 1, Alabama native Motus Motorcycles has now been added to the list of extinct species.



The company had built a decent fanbase through the years, a little bit because of its all-American roots, mostly for its "Corvette engine"—or half of one, the American V4. Its MST and MST-R tourers had all the flare of a European tourer with a very American heart. Motus' V4 was pretty much a downsized Corvette GT1 engine with the same 90-degree setup. The latest iteration of the 1,650cc V4 produced 180hp and 126 lb-ft of torque.


Back in 2010, the company claimed it had built the very first direct injection V4 engine that would make its way into the then-new MST tourer. When the MST's evil sister, the Motus MST-R launched in 2014, it set a speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats, becoming the fastest production motorcycle in the world.

OF AMERICAN: We Sit Down with President and Co-Founder Motus Motorcycles, Lee Conn

Both the MST and MST-R made their way into reviewers' and buyers' hearts. Last week, however, Motus' luck ran out. Its financial backers announced they would no longer provide sufficient financing to allow the company to continue its activities. The call was unexpected, considering the team had been working on the launch of a new product for the fall.

The release read: "We were surprised and disappointed, especially because we have been working so hard preparing an October 2018 product launch into a new and exciting segment as well as new features on the MST series. This is very unfortunate timing and we will work to quickly find a new path forward for Motus Motorcycles and our American V4 powertrain division."

MOTORCYCLE HISTORY: Sneak Peak: Motus MST-R

Does this mean there is hope for the company to find new money to pursue its activities? We're not sure at this point. Quite frankly, the company's current model is a pill that's a little hard to swallow: as sexy as the V4 and the idea of a hand-built bike are, the audience for $30,000 motorcycles isn't a big one. Not even Ducati busts the 30k threshold with the Multistrada. One thing is sure, any potential buyer that waited just a little too long to make the move has missed out—at least until the company finds a new plan, which we kind of hope it does.

Link to above article

I saw that. Damn shame, one of them was on my "if only" list.

About 3x my budget on the best day I ever lived tho.

Sorry to learn of this but thanks for posting Stick. Really not surprising though.

Toured their little factory in 2014 and came away with "Cool motor and I like what they're trying to do but I don't see how they're going to make it?"

Thought then (and still do) Harley should buy them, that motor screams Americana and HD needed a new motor.

Ridewv, You are absolutely correct. HD does need a new motor and this V4 is a unique and interesting step in a different direction from what is on the market currently. The cost is a major issue but there are ways to lower cost.

Ducati moved away from their beloved V/L twin and built one of the most excellent and exciting machines to roll out of their factory in decades.

I wonder if HD or Polaris will ever embrace something other than v twins?

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:

I wonder if HD or Polaris will ever embrace something other than v twins?

I have to think so, at least for price competitive models, because V motors are generally more expensive to build than in-lines.

But for top line HD bikes that V-4 could be special..... 1/2 a small block V8 making loads of torque and HP, water cooled but the exposed heads are so...... well visible (just like my Guzzi )
As you know Harley has developed a new liquid cooled V-twin for a whole new class of motorcycles... then there's Livewire, electric no doubt is the future.

Always thought Polaris Indian should look back at their heritage and have a longitudinal in-line 4 cylinder in their line-up.

The main hurdle an American manufacturer is going to face is production costs.

I hope as 3d printing evolves that maybe the next Henry Ford or William S Harley & Arthur Davidson can utilize a new technology to revolutionize production as we know it.

The bar is set INCREDIBLY high. The technology, manufacturing and the sheer level of performance in the sportbike world makes it hard for any newcomer to be able to compete. But hey if BMW can one day decide to build a sportbike and manage to put the world on notice maybe it’s possible. They basically ripped off the Suzuki GSX-R engine architecture and made some tweaks here and there and showcased what zee Germans are capable of.

It would be so cool if an American were able to do something similar. BMW did have the advantage of years of design, manufacturing, and racing experience as well as a huge infrastructure already in place.

Playing to the small block V8 fans by creating a similar engine could work with the Uber traditional HD fans.

I have to admit I have never heard of this brand. BUT after reading the posts I am intrigued by this setup. Hell at $30,000 that's a nice 4x4 Chevy 1/2 ton quad cab.

It'll never be "inexpensive" to manufacture in the US but are production costs higher here than Japan? Or Germany? I doubt it so we can be competitive.

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
Playing to the small block V8 fans by creating a similar engine could work with the Uber traditional HD fans.

Exactly... American tradition but with modern high performance. Only thing is Motus's longitudinal engine (BMW R, Guzzi, Honda CX 500/650) lends itself to shaft drive which Motus originally had in mind but in the interest of cost and simplicity added a bevel gear to use chain and sprockets.

Never heard of it but I could see how sales would be very very limited entering the Supersport market at that price.

That is sad.

I had been looking at Motus for years, an loved the idea of an American sport touring bike that had a 4 in it. I just could not get past the 30K entry. I thought about liquidating both the Buell and the Honda VFR, but that would only have put a dent in a Motus, and frankly, the bike was simply not 3x as good as the VFR1200 so I did not pull the trigger. May be I will be able to scavenge one now for reasonable money, and start a collection of cool vehicles from dead marques - the Buell 1125R, maybe find a Pontiac G8 GT 6MT,.....

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
Ridewv, You are absolutely correct. HD does need a new motor and this V4 is a unique and interesting step in a different direction from what is on the market currently. The cost is a major issue but there are ways to lower cost.

Ducati moved away from their beloved V/L twin and built one of the most excellent and exciting machines to roll out of their factory in decades.

I wonder if HD or Polaris will ever embrace something other than v twins?

Ask and ye shall receive

Link for those wanting more pictures and stuff to read

HD has a new engine, the new middleweight platform is scheduled to roll out in 2020. 4 new motorcycles using a completely new modular engine that spans 500 to 1250 cc including a 975 cc Model called the Streetfighter.

The new engine is a 60 degree twin, with overhead cams, integrated gearbox, its not your granddaddys greybeard bike...



I like the new Pan America adventure-touring bike, aimed at the KTM market, 1250 cc new engine, pretty interesting,



As to the old engine HD touring heavy cruisers, they remain in that mold for a reason, lots of people like and want that style.

BTW, the current vtwin is now oil or water cooled, 4 valves per cylinder the Milwaukee 8, out since 16 it's into its 3rd year of production, runs smoother, cooler, with more power and a bit more compact. Prior to that the twin cam had a nice run from 1999 to 2015, with good results, good power, and plenty of innovations along the way.

Before that the Evolution, single cam two valve Vtwin that basically saved the company. The transition between AMF shovelheads and the twin cam...

Just saying because it looks similar doesn't mean the internals and tech in the HD big cruiser lineup is antiquated, I assure you it's not.

30+ grand for a motorcycle from a small company with limited dealer network may have had something to do with their demise. Plus there are several bikes from both European and Japanese manufactures that provide equal or better performance for several thousand dollars less.

See, they say its the cost - and it could be, but I met a fellow who's done very well for himself selling restored motorcycles, at that price, and higher.

I think its more "why buy them, instead of the hot BMW, or Kawasaki or Ducati?"

part may be dealer locations and parts availability, Initially the Polaris Victory bikes suffered from lack of service locations, even though a lot of people ride local, if you took a Victory on a trip the odds that you'd be able to find a dealer to fix your bike were few and far between...

One of my buddies works for EBR Motorcycles. He got cut then called back when they were on the brink. (Still on the brink)

But they make some great looking bikes.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
part may be dealer locations and parts availability, Initially the Polaris Victory bikes suffered from lack of service locations, even though a lot of people ride local, if you took a Victory on a trip the odds that you'd be able to find a dealer to fix your bike were few and far between...

Thats a good point and one big reason I ride Yamaha and Honda most of the time these days. Years ago I bought a new KTM and the parts system sucked. On a one year old bike it broke a part that took more than two months to get the part. I will not buy a KTM again after that.

$30 grand would have been acceptable to a lot of riders in Motus’ target demographic if the bike had ABS. Hopefully, an investor will rescue the company.

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:
then there's Livewire, electric no doubt is the future.

Zero Motorcycles is putting out some electric bikes, too.
I'm learning more about those, from the supplier viewpoint.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: vthoky,