MOTUS: New Sport Tourer to be built in Alabama

[bross]

Originally Posted by apessino

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'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.

[Tripped1]

Originally Posted by Against The Wind

Ducati's styling is flashy... I wouldn't say it's trashy.

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.

[Croak]

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.

[Hank.SD]

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!

[Starwarrior]

Originally Posted by Donster

I think it's stunning. The only thing it needs is ABS (somebody had to say it).

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...

[Moronic]

Originally Posted by Gadget Boy

... 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.

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:

The pure touring BMW R1200RT, on which this design is based, is a consummate motorcycle. It handles delightfully and benefits from the added protection afforded by a full fairing. The ST is more aggressive looking, but the difference is skin deep. It is a compromise on the pure touring pedigree of the RT that lacks the adrenaline-kick to be truly exciting.

And from another review:

To me it appears that the ST is simply a case of BMW ticking boxes off. It has a big tourer in the RT, a sports bike in the forth coming R1200S (which BMW claim will rival Ducatis in performance) and a big-trailie with the GS and needed to tick the Sports tourer box, which it has done in the cheapest possible way. The problem is that the sports tourer class is so competitive simply bodging a bike together isn’t good enough.

[DAKEZ]

Originally Posted by Tripped1

Its as close as you are going to get to super sport performance as you are going to get without buying a super-sport.

K1300S





Are there any pictures of the Motus without those BUTT UGLY GIVI bags?

[Croak]

Want to see with a dark frame and carbon fiber panels?

http://www.motusmotorcycles.com/PDF/motus_mst_proto.pdf

[CBR-ELEVENTY-TEN]

I love the engine, chassis, riding position and concept. I just can't get over the looks. I know beauty lies in the eye of the beholder but I really think they've got the styling wrong. To me, it looks dated, like a Triumph Trophy. I think they've done something really special with the engine etc. but they've missed an opportunity to do likewise with the looks. They could have been really brave and attempted to redefine what's already out there and lead from the front.

[Lornce]

Originally Posted by apessino

Well... not everyone is as enlightened as you are.

Maybe not?

Originally Posted by apessino

I could very well be wrong... and maybe the thing will ride so awesomely well nothing else will matter.

Now we're getting somewhere.

Couple of years ago some of us watched painfully as the finest handling bike ever brought to market was quashed because the buying public thought their ass looked better on a more visible brand.

Unfortunately, market pressure doesn't determine or even reflect the virtue of a well considered design.

[Marvin_ADV]

Originally Posted by Lornce

Maybe not?



Now we're getting somewhere.

Couple of years ago some of us watched painfully as the finest handling bike ever brought to market was quashed because the buying public thought their ass looked better on a more visible brand.

Unfortunately, market pressure doesn't determine or even reflect the virtue of a well considered design.

Just curious, which bike are you referring to?

[RedRocket]

Originally Posted by Gadget Boy

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.

It hasn't been a problem for 9 million GSXR's.

[Grainbelt]

Originally Posted by RedRocket

It hasn't been a problem for 9 million GSXR's.

[bk brkr baker]

Originally Posted by Marvin_ADV

Just curious, which bike are you referring to?

Starts with Bu

Ends with ell

[Revan]

Originally Posted by bk brkr baker

Starts with Bu

Ends with ell

Yup...

-----------

Hell For Leather has posted a vid of Motus at Bike Week.

I don't know about anyone else.....but, man, I think that engine sounds awesome.

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/20...01-at-daytona/





Revan.