Yup. And legions of marketing wonks backed by corporate millions to remind and inform of "zee korrect schtyle" if your taste begins to falter and stray. Witness: 80% of riders happy to choose a ride in the the same manner their wife buys a skirt.
I really like this bike. I like the look of it, the idea of it and the engineering behind it. If they can bring it in around the $20,000 mark I'm in.
Tough crowd. I think it looks great! If those are his claim to fame, then OK. The M1 is the only decent looking bike in the group IMO. Styling is subjective though.
Well... not everyone is as enlightened as you are. In any case, I don't know what you are getting all bent out of shape about. I think everyone wants these guys to succeed and greatly admire their effort (including the HFL guys). I don't think it is ugly at all - actually, it seems elegant and understated. My point was simply that it seems a bit too understated. New bike, new exciting tech, first American company making a non cruiser in ages, blah blah... you'd want the styling to be a bit more aggressive and personal, especially if you are hoping to compete in the price space these guys are most likely going to go for. If it were me running the company, I'd rather be polarizing than anonymous, especially when I am a new marquee without any kind of prestige or racing history. Put this next to a Sprint GT and show them to someone who is not on top of all things motorcycling and, well, they will likely not think one is more special than the other. Put it next to a Multistrada 1200 (just an example, pick something else if you like) and there is no chance they will not be moved by the Ducati's design. They might hate it, or they'll love it, but chances are they will not be indifferent to it. My gut feeling is that a lot of people will be indifferent to the design of the current Motus - its current styling does not get my blood rushing. It looks functional and well proportioned, but it is lacking in inspiration, in pizazz. Even a splash of color here and there would help a lot - right now it's all gray and more gray. Maybe production bikes will sport a more lively livery. I could very well be wrong, and maybe their next model will be much more aggressive since they are going for a naked roadster rather than a tourer, and maybe the thing will ride so awesomely well nothing else will matter.
I like it. I like the organic lines. It'll look good in red! An American Sport-Touring motorcycle with a torque-monster V4! I'd love one of these for the type of riding I do! ( I would like some beefy crash bars to protect the exhaust, though ). Oh, and the Givis? I'd prefer them over proprietary bags any day. More versatility.
Not really, when BMW recently tried the vertical headlight arrangement as the face of the 1200ST, and by all accounts it was an excellent sport touring bike, its polarizing styling eventually doomed it and the bike was discontinued. I hope the Motus succeeds, but some of us find its styling bland and apparently so does a moto styling expert writing for HFL. Ultimately, its retail price will be a key factor in its success. Time will tell.
I hope the Motus succeeds, but some of us find its styling bland and apparently so does a moto styling expert writing for HFL. Ultimately, its retail price will be a key factor in its success. Time will tell.[/QUOTE] A couple items to consider: Lots of enthusiasts are keen to 'buy American' and I want to see the Motus in something other than silver. Look at the new Pikes Peak MS Ducati. I'm guessing the Motus they show at Daytona will not be silver. Bruce
You see bland, I see understated, which is far superior to the various abominations rolling out of other factories these days. The only thing denting my enthusiasm for the Motus is the (assumed) likelihood that it will be priced beyond my means.
While I don't think the styling is groundbreaking, I do think silver is a lot of the problem. I'd like to see it in more exciting colors. Having said that, the styling certainly wouldn't stop me from buying it. But then again, I've owned an R1200 RT and a yellow 1150 GS I'm most concerned about how the design of the fairing affects airflow, again referencing my purchase of multiple BMWs over the years (including the butt ugly 1200) because no one handles air management like BMW. So I'm really hoping that the styling - while not groundbreaking - is effective at its primary job of keeping the rider in a non turbulent, relatively quiet bubble, while keeping engine heat channeled away. In fact, I'm seriously interested in test riding and possibly purchasing this bike, provided it hits the market significantly below the 30k + price point I'm afraid it is going to debut at.
I've always loved naked bikes, I love to see the motor showcased, after all, what are our motorcycles except a motor and a couple of wheels. I think that's what I like about this bike. It's a sport touring bike with a fairing, BUT the motor is displayed in all it's glory. I've even been put off the last few years with naked bikes, mainly because you can't even see the bloody motor anymore. Look at the last few years of Buell, I almost bought a Ulysses and no Lornce I don't buy based on looks, but the more I looked at it I couldn't get over that for a naked bike, where tf is the motor? You mentioned the Multistrada. I like the look of the old one a lot better than the 1200. Again, at least with the 1100 you can see the motor showcased in that Ducati frame. But that's just me and that's why I like this bike, very little plastic to get in the way of staring at some nice engineering. Says something about the design of the bike as well with no water pumps, hoses etc. cluttering up the look.
Ducati styling is typical Italian..... completely over the top. When they nail it holy shit its beautiful i.e. F-40 Diablo 1098/1198/848 Diavel (admittedly a taste thing, but I'm Italian also) ect. Otherwise, expect some degree of nuty Italianness.....we aren't a breed for half measures. I think blacked out in mattes or in bright ass red that the Motus would be pretty sexy. I like the lines of the bikes, and I've already stated...repeatedly....that the DI V-4 gives me wood every time I hear it. I'm all for it, but holding my final verdict till I see pricing.
I'm thinking if they black out the frame and (most/all) of the motor, dress up the header and pipes (thicker tubing or a shroud to give more visual thickness), it'll do a lot to get rid of that unfinished look. Not much they can do about the exposed spark plug connectors, but black on black would blend them better. Dark colors will also look better on those rounded lines than silver..this bike would look much hotter in red, black or dark gray, etc. And a bright MOTUS logo on the valve covers would help a bit too, just like the prototype pictures we saw earlier.
The colors definitely are detracting, but I like it a lot. If the price isn't insane and its reliable, I'd be thrilled to own one!
Now, on top of the styling debate we're going to focus on this! At least they are going to use only Shell synthetic oil because clearly it's the best... /joke But seriously, watch their latest YouTube video. Take a look at the bar mounts in the prototypes in the background. Do I smell convertibars? I sure hope so. Didn't know the light was KTM inspired. Would it look good upside-down? That would erase the phantom "M" from the front end, though. The spec sheet (http://www.motusmotorcycles.com/PDF/motus_mst_proto.pdf) states the shield is adjustable, but it's not clear from the pics. My only styling point: the two main foci of these guys are drivetrain performance and comfort. Follows from those functions. Which explains the use of some tried-but-true off-the-shelf parts. Can't fault anyone for that. And for the record I like everything about the styling, including the v35s, which it may have appeared that I criticized earlier. Hope they put good blinker fluid in there...
Good analogy, Gadget Boy, but is it so clear styling killed the 1200ST? I liked the concept when it came out, and for my needs it would have been a much better fit than the Monster I bought instead. But here in Oz it was just about as costly as the RT by the time you added bags; had no electronic cruise even as an option, even though the RT had it std here on an identical motor; seemed to have a peculiar, half-committed ride position with the 'bars too low and the 'pegs too high and far forward; had a narrow seat with sharp edges - again a half-committed cross between sport and touring; had small, oval dials on a cluster borrowed from the GS; had mirrors bolted to the handlebars where they affect steering, rather than on the fairing; and finally fuel capacity at about 20 litres meant range was okay but nothing special. I can see why people like them now, but I'm not convinced styling was the main sticking point for sales at the time. Or to put it another way, with optional cruise, better instruments, a natural rider posture, really good seating and a few more litres in the tank, plus dropping a few pounds perhaps, they might still be stealing sales from RTs. Quote from a review of the day: And from another review:
Want to see with a dark frame and carbon fiber panels? http://www.motusmotorcycles.com/PDF/motus_mst_proto.pdf