Motus - American V-Four Sport Tourer?

[Travman]

Basically. 

Good luck, but it is never going to work without some outside-of-the-box thinking.  Any Ducati frame is too narrow for a longitudly mounted V4.

[Speedbag]

I'm a mechanical engineer. With no current extracurricular project.  

And who said anything about an OEM frame.  

[Travman]

I'm a mechanical engineer. With no current extracurricular project.  

And who said anything about an OEM frame.  

Awesome. Hope to see it happen. 

[Monsterlover]

I'd love to build a Locost 7 around something like that.

Or a go cart.

[Speedbag]

Awesome. Hope to see it happen.  

Me too.

It will depend largely on what they want for a powerplant....

Or a go cart.

Something along the lines of a Polaris RZR also comes to mind.

[Monsterlover]

Yes.

That.

[Travman]

2013 Motus MST â€" 165hp, $30,975, Fall Production

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/bikes/2013-motus-mst-r/

[DucHead]

Darn, too rich for my blood.   

[sugarcrook]

Darn, too rich for my blood.   

+1, by at least $10-12k.

[ducatiz]

yep.  priced themselves out of market.

[Dirty Duc]

At 31k, why are heated grips and heated seat not standard?!

[TAftonomos]

At 31k, why are heated grips and heated seat not standard?!

That, and think of all the money they are loosing out by not having at least one dealership in CA? 

I havn't ridden the MST, but I'd be hard pressed to think it's worth 10K above the multi 1200s.....

[Massinova]

I was pumped up about Motus, but after seeing the prices for what you get, I've come to the realization that its made for a niche market ...a sportbike for the Boss Hoss clientele.

[mitt]

price seems about right IMO.  Small volume, high end parts (look at the freaking forks, calipers, and rotors).

I don't think boss hoss is the right market.  More like a sport tourer for guys who can afford a 1098R, mv agusta F4, sedeci, or more in their garage. I have a friend who I could see buying this in heartbeat for something no one else in Iowa has.

mitt

[hillbillypolack]

price seems about right IMO.  Small volume, high end parts (look at the freaking forks, calipers, and rotors).

I don't think boss hoss is the right market.  More like a sport tourer for guys who can afford a 1098R, mv agusta F4, sedeci, or more in their garage. I have a friend who I could see buying this in heartbeat for something no one else in Iowa has.

mitt

Whatevs.

30K will get you one HELLUVA well appointed bike.  A Ducati MS1200 with full Ohlins, dyno tuning, luggage, nationwide dealer network and tested engine is STILL 5-6k less than a Motus.

Yeah, I 'get' the exclusivity.  For an F4 which you might track 4-14x per year.  Or a Sedici which needs to be ridden with educated hands and an ample wallet.  But a 30k upright sportbike entered into a market that's already full of outstanding upright sportbikes isn't a winning strategy regardless of engine configuration or exclusivity.  It's also a 'first year' design meaning that the rider is a beta test site for any bugs being worked out.

KTM SM or ADV, Triumph Tiger and Explorer, Ducati MTS, BMW GS, and even the GTS, Yamaha Super Tenere are all really good bikes.  It's a crowded market, and all these have multiple dealers.

I want Motus to succeed I really do.  But this isn't a sensible way to sell bikes.  There should have been some earlier consideration on price, R&D expenses or purchasing.  Time will tell a better story.