MOTUS: New Sport Tourer built in Alabama

Being a Guzzi rider, I completely understand the build/sell a few hundred motorcycles plan that MOTUS seems to have.

There are people out there who are willing to have something different, and those people are willing to take on the added effort to own the motorcycle.

The closest Guzzi dealer to me is 120 miles distant. None of my Guzzis have ever been there for service.

"Needing a dealer" doesn't compute with me, though I know many people "need" to have a dealer within a half hour drive or they won't own that machine.

Miss the point? This is a business we're talking about, marketing and consumers are the point. Some of you lose touch with reality and think that you can just open up a bike factory with your friends then have fun playing around making neat looking bikes and all will be well. That's not the case people. It cost money to run a show like this so you have to make money somehow otherwise you'll lose everything that's invested and have to answer to some very angry people. Just think about making that phone call...

This is the real world and in it business is hard work. Opening a new company is a huge gamble with a very high failure rate. Especially when your selling expensive toys that people don't need in a very small market.

Then you all say "People will buy them" but none of those people will be you. You just hope people buy one so that you can chew their ear when they stop at gas station with it. How many countless threads are on this forum with people talking up some new bike and how great it will be and then nobody actually buys one. I bet I can find a Norton thread on here were not a single poster has his name on the waiting list. That's because it's easy for people to talk big but when it come's to risking their own money on an unproven product the takers are few if any.

You really want to prove your confidence in Motus then I invite you to take a risk with them. Call them up and write them an investment check. Put a deposit down on for this new bike. Show them you believe in their efforts with more than just talk. Go ahead and put some wind in the sails of this new company.

But until then your verbal support will have no more merit than any piece of typical bar stool banter I've heard over the years.

I don't believe they need my help, buyers are out there.

you'll never get it.

I can only imagine what the Motus would be like based on my own experience owning and riding motorcycles. What I see from the specs is a machine that has the power/torque of the BMW K1600 but weighs ~200lbs less and with a much shorter wheelbase. The weight & dimensions of the Motus are pretty close to my current ride which is a Multistrada1200. The Mutly has ~135Hp/85Tq and is an absolute joy to ride, I can hardly imagine what that bike would be like with 160Hp/130tq available at a more relaxed rpm. The multi I own has the selectable power modes and traction control but no ABS or active suspension. I wouldn't miss the power modes and I don't feel that lack of ABS is a show stopper either.

A low production, hand-built exotic, with an American style motor, what's not to like. I could see myself on one, even at $30k. I would certainly consider it if and when I decide to pull the trigger on a new touring bike, I hope it will be available so that I have the choice.

cheers,
melby

motus really low 400 lbs dry ? if so that is impressive

You're assuming that Motus doesn't have a business plan, but you have no idea what it is.

Wet weight = 530# (http://www.motusmotorcycles.com/mst-01.html)

ok so within 40 or 50 lbs of a multi w/ at least 15 more horsepower with an inherently smoother v4, now i want

Originally Posted by Carter Pewterschmidt
For one dealer support. Lack of which is reason why some customers will stray away from brands like Moto Guzzi and MV Agusta. These are already well established brands with a good customer following and a proven product, but some people don't want to take there bike 200 miles to get it serviced. This affects sales. Now you want to sell a bike with no proven reliability with an even more dismal support network.

Then he mentions resale value. You think such a thing is not important to consumers?

Crap, I just bought a Guzzi. I'm doomed.

And 200 lbs(!) lighter than an st1300....

Cakeeater

ps: pics on the website look good, except for the topcase. Man, that thing got hit with the ugly stick.

Of course they have a business plan. You don't get investors to give you millions of dollars without one. You're right that I have no idea what it is, but I'm curious to know. I bet it looked good if it got them the money to go forward, but even with the best of plans the odds of success are still against you. Such investments are a gamble just like any Casino game, but I don't like them odds...

As I said before, some of you are very headstrong about this operations success, but none of you are willing to put your money where your mouth is. You all just assume that someone else will buy what they're selling so you don't need to help. This mentality makes you look like the people who drive by a stranded car and think that someone else will help them. If that's the case then fine, but then you shouldn't be the ones talking. Motus isn't going to get by on the smoke your blowing.

if you don't know what their business plan entails stop telling us how slim their chances are.

I was in, up to $25k. Didn't care how far the dealer was away... as and I own two guzzis.

You also assume there were investers. Where did you get this from? What if the owners fronted most of the cash? Would that change your tune? The concept of this bike is not for you. Move along.

The concept, and the price, of this bike is not for very many. Not likely enough to keep a business going. People are talking about this thing like a fairy tale. Will it be a great bike? Probably. Will it be a whole lot of fun to ride, and listen to? Most likely. Will it sell at the price they are asking for it? Not likely. Fairy tales are fantasies. They don't exist in reality. And Motus is going to have to deal with reality. Businesses with a far better chance of success than Motus fail on a regular basis in this economy.

You could always get spares and at times a complete bike from them. I always saw them as a modern day HRD Vincent ... limited production and at a price most couldn't/can't quite swing.

They are having another go 'round ... http://heskethmotorcycles.co.uk/



... what was that ? ... ah yes , the Motus. I for one wish them all the best ... with or without a center stand



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Jerry and MOTUS actually have a lot in common. Both attract an infinitesimally small audience while serving to irritate and infuriate large groups of motorcycle riders.

I was suprised to find that Hesketh still existed at all. Nothing on that website, except the homepage, would open in my browser.

I was thinking how Hesketh attempted to start a new motorcycle company at the high end of the market with a complete design. Unlike Bimota for example which makes high priced exotica using engines from other companies. Considering that the Motus engine was developed by a seperate company, Bimota might actually be a better comparison.

And that was the best Jerry post I have read.

The guy in the above pic' is lord hesketh.



Link/source , http://www.realclassic.co.uk/newsfiles/news06090600.html


And a bit of history as to where hesketh stands now and who owns them , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broom_Development_Engineering





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