The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Motus MST and MST-R – Comfortable Sportbikes

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Motus MST
Motus MST

After the rush of introducing the Motus MST, Lee and Brian wanted everyone to get a better look at the bike they’ve built. During the intro last week, Lee used the term “comfortable sportbike” to describe the Motus, something that would appeal to someone who has moved beyond the desire for the ultimate hard edged track weapon, and instead, wants to ride in relative comfort while still having the power and handling of the KMV4 engine and the highly engineered frame and suspension, a combination appropriate to a motorcycle of this caliber.

Motus is entering an existing market segment with the MST and premium MST-R motorcycles. They are comfortable sportbikes designed for high performance touring with a uniquely American engine. Performance. Comfort. Range.

“When we started designing the ultimate, modern American street bike, we realized quickly that we needed a purpose built engine. We didn’t focus on maximum horsepower; we focused on heightening the rider experience at all speeds. To us, that means a lot of torque over a wide RPM range, low vibes, high efficiency and bulletproof durability. Enter the KMV4, a liquid cooled, 1650cc V4 with gasoline direct injection.”- Brian Case

Who is the target?

The MST concept will likely appeal to several groups. There is one group of sportbike riders who want an exciting riding experience, but also want to travel longer distances more comfortably. Then, there is another group of American motorcycle enthusiasts that may see a hot-rod sport tourer as an alternative to the Euro and Japanese analogues.

“We hope the MST series will appeal to several kinds of riders. Some sportbike riders are looking for more comfort without sacrificing performance. Some cruiser riders want better performance and would love to find an American alternative”- Brian Case

Where and when will they be available?

Motus motorcycles will be distributed and serviced through high quality dealerships that understand service and customer satisfaction and are receptive to new, desirable brands.

Production- development is ongoing and we will set an initial production date when we’ve completed durability testing, likely as a 2012 model

Motus MST
Motus MST

Press release follows:

“We are so proud to show the world the MST series,” said Motus president, Lee Conn. “We poured our hearts and souls into these motorcycles and hope that it shows in terms of the quality and character of the machines. The MST’s are exhilarating to ride- a very powerful experience unlike any other motorcycle I’ve ever ridden. There is usable power everywhere in rev-range, excellent feedback from the road, very responsive to inputs and….the sound of the KMV4 still gives me goose bumps every time one cranks,” said Conn.

The MST prototypes, including the base model MST and the premium MST-R, are scheduled to go into production in late 2011 but will complete extensive testing and refinement first. Along with a team of engineers, co-founders Lee Conn and Brian Case are personally riding the MST’s on an “American Sport Tour” around the US to make sure the pre-production machines are of the quality and durability they demand.

Motus MST
Motus MST

“There is just no better way to make sure the MST’s meet our standards of durability, comfort, and performance than to personally ride the machines and iterate them as we identify issues. Along the way, we are meeting with friends, supporters and high quality dealers that have inquired about carrying Motus in their area,” said Brian Case, vice president and director of design.

Motus MST
Motus MST

“We decided early on that no corners would be cut with the MST series. Motus is about precision, quality and attention to detail rather than speed to production,” said Brian Case, vice president and director of design. “We are more focused on building great bikes than rushing to meet artificial deadlines,” said Case. “Rather than hype the brand with computer renderings of a bike we hadn’t even built yet, we engineered the bikes to be functional and actually work first, and then show the world what we have done so far.”

Link: Motus

Motus MST
Motus MST
Motus MST
Motus MST

Comments

  1. Right On. I hope to find out their trip itinerary so I can meet up with them in the San Francisco Bay Area.

    -todd

  2. Not bad.

    The engine looks a bit sparse to be naked like that. Maybe if it were painted black or something, if it isn’t going to be, and possibly can’t be faired in.

    I am a bit surprised that they went with a transverse gearbox behind a longitudinal crankshaft engine. A longer distance riding bike might benefit from lower-maintenance shaft drive, rather than chain drive.

    • I would have preferred shaft drive too but that would have been very costly, limit the width of the rear wheel (we all know how “important” rear wheel width is don’t we?), and limit the flexibility of final drive ratios. Though the motor is undoubtedly smooth, I wonder how long a chain will last with that much power stretching it out all the time.

      -todd

      • My Guzzi still has a 180mm rear tire with shaft drive so it is not limited at all. Anything wider such as 190mm you can’t lean it over as much while street riding, so it seems width has nothing to do with it.

        Simplicity of engineering (aside from the transmission) and the use of light weight wheels are most likely key points to consider.

        The shaft drive argument always seems to come from the touring crowd, but have they ridden a bike with a good chain and light wheels? The trade-off of keeping the chain tension right and clean seems to be worthwhile when you can ride with much lighter wheels

  3. This is decisively the best-looking & best sounding sport tourer on the market.

    The angled, rear-to-front pic is smokin’ even with the requisite touring components. A unique hotrod that redefines Gran Sport touring

  4. Seems like those header pipes are going to throw a lot of heat at the rider’s legs and feet.

    Maybe they’ll go with the double-skinned pipes like some of the aftermarket cruisers…

    And where’s the tail pak?

    Otherwise, I like it!

  5. fantastic looking bike. Like everything about what the president said. I hope they make a stop near Atlanta, Ga

  6. This bike has been ridden and tested by the owner at T+T Motorsports in Michigan, This gentleman was very impressed and passion filled with this bike, This dealer sells Ducati, MV Agusta and Guzzi so he is not easily impressed. Nice to see Michigan is back at the front in design and engineering.

  7. Once you have designed, built and tested a prototype motorcycle you are only 10% of the way to becoming an actual motorcycle manufacturer. I applaud the efforts, but they are a long way from getting these into customers hands.

    The next step will be to attract enough capital to move this project from prototype to production, and I’m not very confident in their chances. These are sorry economic times, the motorcycle market has collapsed and doesn’t look like it’s going to recover any time soon, the motorcycle market is toxic to venture capital right now, if Erik Buell hasn’t managed to land some major funding yet, than these guys don’t have a chance. In addition, it looks like they want to manufacture this bike in the USA, also a major negative, capitalist want maximum profits as quickly as possible, which means China or India, or they don’t want any part of it.
    Sorry for the negativity, but this is the unfortunate reality we find ourselves in.

  8. Love the fact that it got built. Naked version looks mean! Something about the fairing looks disjointed with the rest of the bike. The angles and surfaces at the tank and fairing make it look like it should slide together like a cell phone or a toy.

    I realize it is a prototype, but this thing would not pass the ball bearing fit/finish test… It needs some “look at me” touches. If I didn’t know it had that engine…

    I almost think they should refine their product and offer it as a very low volume, exclusive bike like Confederate would but make that engine and transmission so that others could buy it for thier kit cars and sand rails.

    Another thing comes to mind as I stare at it. A high torque engine like this begs to be put into an adventure bike… Like a V8 in a Willy’s Jeep!

  9. I don’t know if Motus has the resources to do such a thing, or if this is indeed their way of doing it, but I think it would be cool if they could lend a few of these bikes around the country to those that will ride them year-round to gather third-party insight and spread awareness of their bike. Good luck to them.

  10. I think Motus has a real winning combination here.

    The bike is very good looking, and it is unique in styling.
    It sets its own style, and is not a Japanese looking bike, nor a European looking bike.
    It’s tastefully refined, and has a hint of muscle, which I like.
    Very good work there.

    I think the target for this release, being a sport tourer was a very good choice. It is a market that attracts a wide range of riders, and will suit the higher price category buyers which are done with the “boy racer” stage, and are interested in some vacationing and touring longer distances in style.

    While I don’t know what it will cost yet, it seems to be a very attractive alternative to the Japanese and Euro offerings in this market, in physical terms.
    For people who would like an American made alternative to the V-Twin style which are also somewhat higher priced too, this gives a nice choice. More power, smoother delivery, probably more comfortable with less vibration for high speed touring, nice looks, high technology, it has it all.

    I think these guys did a very nice job overall, and my hat is off to them.
    It seems to be pretty close to a perfect job.
    I really think this bike can succeed.

  11. wow, I didn’t realize how slim the bike was until I saw the picture from behind/above. Very slim waistline, and shows how compact that engine really is. Elegant and sophisticated by the design, but mechanically exposed and somewhat mean as well IMO. I love it and hope enough people see the potential in this to get it to market.

    Happy to see nice touches like the eccentric chain adjuster, nice dash, and sporty items like the chain drive and beautiful, light looking wheels and brakes.

  14. Well….. I, for one over-the-hill rider of what passed for “performance bikes” in the ’60’s
    (ie Norton 650ss, Triumph Bonnie….. etc etc….) would love to see a TOTALLY NAKED version of this machine with its lovely little (1650cc…..?) motor and cool trellis frame. I just don’t have the time or inclination to set off on an Ironbutt ride, and I drive my car when I need to carry tools or musical instruments or whatever would require a tail or tank bag. The back roads of Marin NEED the sound of a lightly muffled KMV4…….

    Just my op……

    Mike

  15. While the bike is designed for a market segment that I am not a member of, I find the bike too conservative for my tastes and difficult to distinguish from other offerings in that group. While I applaud the USA connection, I do not think (nor does Jack Welch, btw) that lineage is sufficient as a sales maker.

  16. beautiful project, innovative and concrete. I don’t like very much the front part, but maybe there are some limits due to the small production number, maybe are they using thermoformed for the front fairing ?
    However the project is an excellent base for various solutions

  17. I like the styling. I would add some red colored spark plug wires, or some touch of red paint, on the engine near the transmission. Seems to me to be a little too bland about half-way back. Is there a red spring / shock out back? I LOVE the trelis frame, swing arm, and the V-engine. Cobra Chrome Pipes anyone?

  18. According to their website, they’ll be at Daytona at the International Motorcycle Show this weekend.

    Maybe they’ll stop by the Redneck Riviera (It’s Spring Break, guys! LOTS of eye-candy!) on the way back to B’Ham so I can see it…

    I’m a longtime Sprint ST owner, so this bike ‘hits me where I live!’

    Why isn’t there a shot of the bike without the bags?

  19. Maybe add some heatshields over the pipes to add some visual interest, increase their size, and also protect the rider’s legs. Current pipes look unfinished for such a key element of the bike.

  20. Looks good, but one problem. If the last several years have taught us nothing else, it’s taught us that really good forks must be a sickly gold color. Red forks can’t be any good. They must be gold if they are at all adequate.

    • No, HoughMade, you’ve not been listening to John Mc Dowell. It must be red. Perhaps even completely red, if what he says is anything to go by…

  21. I was under the impression that the pipes were titanium.

    Titanium pipes are the only ones that I’ve seen that look like that when they are finished.

  23. I like it, but think it would look better with the panniers mounted lower – it could even have the pipes less upswept then the panniers could be lower still (like on the first Pan Europeans) – that would lower the c of g when loaded for touring.

    A sporty naked version could have upswept pipes plus a single round chrome headlight -put all the focus on the motor.

    I wish them all the best of luck – re manufacturing in the US, maybe the plan is like Triumphs – reach a certain size and quality first and then establish factories in other countries which have cheaper labour costs. Triumph had the luxury of being owned and launched by a rich businessman who was able not to take a profit from bike manufacture for the first ten years.

  24. Well done Motus

    It looks great and sounds amazing but I still reckon those pipes are vulnerable and if they are made of titanium, damned expensive if they get dinged. At least the carbon fibre will protect them a bit!

    Can we have the naked version next please?

  25. There is nothing wrong with manufacturing in the U.S., As a matter of fact our workforce is one of the most productive in the world. Yes, its cheaper to make junk in China or whatever, but for quality high end products its hard to beat the USA and Germany.

  26. There seems to be a lot of calls for the naked version… Will be interesting to see how things progress. I think this could look fantastic as a naked bike as well, with plenty of interesting bits to look at. My eyes go to the engine first, then exhaust, then the tubular frame and swingarm, then those beautiful wheels and brakes, and showing it all off naked definitely seems like a good idea. But I’m not sure where each would fall in terms of sales. Hopefully there is a market

  27. This should be an Indian Chief. Motus needs manufacturing/distribution, Indian needs a modern product. Triumph made their comeback starting with modern bikes, then did the retro bit once established again. They now have the best of both worlds, able to build modern and live on their past. Indian’s going nowhere (again) making a slower, heavier bike than Harley. Their 50 year break in continuity is too much to remain viable on nostalgia alone. Merge, baby, merge. The Indian Chief.

  28. This bike looks the nuts! For a big bike it does look like a comfortable ride. It reminds me of a friend of mine who tried something similar with his Hayabusa but not quite the same. lol

  29. I think it’s fantastic to see an American made sport bike of such high caliber at the forefront of today’s sport motorcycle market segment. An exciting product indeed that I hope I get the chance to ride for myself someday very soon.

  31. Something else for people wondering about pushrods to think about… the Hennessey Venom GT.

    • The Hennessey GT is pretty wicked.

      I used to think of pushrods as somehow “too simple” and antiquated I learned that overhead cams are quite old and some very exotic cars of the 1910s and 1920s had them. They are arguably less complex than a pushrod setup.

      I really like the idea of this engine in a really light little car (Lotus 7 clone?), with a transaxle in the back. In a perfect world, a turbo wouldn’t be too much to ask either.

  32. I am quite enthused about this machine. Motus is taking it’s time to get it right. I’d like to get a clue of price point. I’d hate to think that, “this is the perfect bike for me”, only to find out It’s priced out there with a new space program.
    There’s all this talk about how it sounds. How about some on the road audio/video links?

  33. Nice try. Designwise I wonder why these pipes are not swung backwards or at least follow motorblock lines.

  34. It looks like an early Buell Thunderbolt . Which is the best bang for your buck in the sport touring market right now. A near showroom version with ten thousand or less mi can
    be had for around three grand. Everyone wants to know the price. I can tell you right now
    that it will be to high for the common man to afford. Unless you wait for the finished
    product to show that it’s not going to sell like the builders had hoped. My hat is off to
    to all involved with the creation of this m/c . I’d love to have one . The engine seems to be a step in the right direction. The rest of the bike is just a copy of great design [BUELL]
    For now I’ll just blurr my eyes and dream as I throw a leg over my ST3 FE

  35. I’m just imaging a supercharger on top of that engine, lust like a blown v8 cut in half… 300 hp… and a custom fuel tank to make room for it. 🙂 We are probably going to see that some day. Surely I’m not the only one who thought of that 🙂 It would fit perfectly in an old mini with a hood scoop. 🙂

  36. How is the torque effect while stopped handled?

    This type of engine configuration has a problem when you rev the engine from a stop the bike feels like it is going to tip over. My old Honda CX650 rotates the alternator in the opposite direction and it effectively cancels the effect. On the other hand, some of the BMW boxers I have ridden feel like they are going to tip over when you give them the gas. It takes some getting used too.

    With the displacement and torque of this engine it could be a problem.

    • I was thinking of the same thing, but while the bike was leaned over. I’m not familiar with the handling of bikes with ‘in-line’ crankshafts like the MG’s, but apparently it is a consideration.

      IIRC, the Rocket III spins the transmission the opposite direction of the crankshaft…

      • Well, the engine is angled, which puts the torque moment out of line with the lateral roll-axis of the bike, partially Part of that torque moment is fore/aft because of that angle..
        That may help.
        It differs from the normal longitudinal engine layout with inline tranny and drive shaft.
        Maybe that’s enough?.

  37. “The bad news is that it’s not really a mass-market bike. According to a New York Times blog post about the bike, Case says Motus will build just “hundreds of bikes per year, not thousands.” Bad news for those of us looking for performance and comfort. I’m guessing the bikes won’t be cheap, either. Nor should they be. It’s pretty clear that demand for a truly American sportbike is small, which means small numbers and big prices—just look at Erik Buell Racing, Roher and Fischer.”

  38. Always glad when someone tries, but aside from being built in the USA, what does this bike offer that the equivalent Honda sport tourer hasn’t had for years?

    • For some of us here in the USA, the fact that Motus is designed, engineered and built in the USA means a lot and there are very few competitors in that space. The pushrod V4 built by Katech also appeals to many of us who like the traditional All American hot rod. Emotion plays a pretty big part in motorcycle purchase decisions. Beyond tech specs, Motus appeals to those other senses and emotions. Your mileage may vary.

      You live in Denmark, aside from being built in Denmark, what does that Nimbus you ride offer that isn’t readily available on other vintage 4 cylinder bikes like the Henderson or Indian?