Motor sounds great, but no traction control or ABS rules it out...

Duane

 

PanEuropean sounds similar. A niche market bike at best that is short of basic equipment.

 

Seems homemade with really good components.

 

Wonder why they couldn't add the newest Bosch ABS, lean and traction control. Is it really that bike specific in implementation?

 

I wouldn't care for the engine heat and the wind management.
And the price for the higher model is outrageous.

 

I also think that ABS and traction control is a prerequisite for any modern bike with more than about 75 hp. I guess the price is an interesting point of discussion. For the price of a new 1600, you can buy a C14 and an Africa Twin. For anyone that likes the Connie the price of the 1600 is outrageous. When I bought my '12 K1600GT in January of 2012, my other choice was a VFR1200R and a CBR1000R which would have cost me less for the two bikes than I paid for the 1600GT.

And, the last time I was browsing the floor at the BMW dealer, the price on a GTL was north of $30K. As I said in my OP, add the BST wheels and rebuildable Ohlins to the price of a 1600, and you're right there with the price of the higher model MSTR.

I've had some experience in buying expensive things from small factories that give hand made loving attention to their machines. It's just a different experience. If it's done properly, you are less of a customer/consumer to the company and treated more as a member of a family and in some ways, even a business partner - especially as an early adopter. If that's something that enhances your ownership experience, then the MSTR compared to a GTLE is not an unreasonable amount of money. Seriously, it's only about $8K more and that's way less than the spread between the 1600 and a Connie. Geez, even a Goldwing decked out is north of $30K now that that's at least a decade old technology.

 

Don't let the nay sayers discourage you from buying one. Go get it and report back to us here on the forum. Life's too short to sit and wonder "what if".

 

I've been following the development of Motus for a few years now. The engine is really the heart of this bike, in essence it's half a small block V-8 although they don't like that description, but thats what it is pushrods and all. The bike is the only American Made Sport Tourer, but the problem is the price, unless, and until they come down to low 20's and add ABS, the bike will remain a Niche bike. The company won't turn a profit, and eventually fold if they don't compete directly with BMW, Yamaha FJR, and the Connie. Competing includes price Motus. I myself haven't seen one on the Street, sooner or later it will be an episode on Jay Leno's Garage, but it will never be much more than that at 30K

 

200 pounds lighter is ok if you weigh 175 pounds and you ride solo all the time. The bike from the pictures looks small to me and when I envision two up... There's no way.

Theres about a dozen more issues I've got with it but that's too much to go into..

 

Don't disagree with any of that. I always come at these things from the place I bought my 1600GT. I wanted a bike that will take me 1,000 miles to a twisty road through the hills and then let me act like a hooligan when I get there. Always solo.

Don't mind me. I'm just stirring the pot here > I'm really pretty devoted to off-road adventures these days but if/when I come back to the big touring bike market in a few years, I'll be excited to see where things have gone and as a native son of Alabama myself, I hope this home grown company and their bike is still around. 180 hp, 126 ft. lbs, less than 600 lbs - dang! That sorta trumps all the other disadvantages for choices in my garage which right now includes a new GS and a new Super Duke. Go big or go home says I.

 

I like it very much but it does NOT have all the amenities of the K1600 and to GunnerT's point, its missing important stuff. There are some sound recordings on the website. Incredible!!

 

If you want a lighter bike with HP to spare that has bags attachéd, look at the XR. It has all of the electronics that the Motus is missing. Does the Motus have a top case? An audio system? Adaptive headlights?

 

Max BMW is selling GTL's for 27,490.00, and thats the list not actual sale price. Motus pricing isn't even on their website, or if it is it's well hidden, but other sites provide a Motus "entry" price of 30,975.00. Won't be seeing many of these cruising around. Jay Leno, Maybe Billy Joel will pick one up, but they won't be selling like hot cakes.

 

My friend and I both rode one. It's a neat bike, but obviously way overpriced if you take away the subjective "cool" factor. It would make a very appealing $18,000 bike, but many people would still not want one for long distance touring because of the no ABS and chain drive (I'm not as bullish as traction control even though all of my bikes have it).

Also, I originally bought my 1600 to do two up duty and the Motus would be a step backwards for my wife-just not enough space.

I really think the bike it would compare heads up to is a Multistrada. And it's $10,000 cheaper.

I really applaud the guys who did the Motus. I really want them to succeed. And if I had big money stashed away I'd buy one. But I don't.

 

My local BMW dealer is also the Motus dealer for this area (for the state?). I saw a Motus for the first time in person when I was there yesterday. Wow. A beautiful machine, and I'm sure it performs exactly as described.

The Motus has already been featured on Jay Leno's garage. He was very impressed with it and he described why in some detail, etc.

There's no way it could replace a full-on two-up touring bike, regardless of brand. The Motus' back seat is much too small for a "mature" passenger. But as others have said: given unlimited funds yes, I'd buy one. It just wouldn't be my two-up touring choice.

I hope they do well. Choices are good!

 

I have to add to my post above. I am actually in the Rockies right now with my riding buddy who also rode the Motus with me. I mentioned this thread to him. He said he thinks the Motus is more of a cruiser and that he thinks it's natural competitor is a Harley. He did not like the vibration and was not impressed by the handling. As to the last part, we live in Houston and we had to use some freeway interchanges to simulate "handling".

I really don't agree with him, but it shows how two different people can ride an identical bike, him literally following right behind me, can see a bike so differently.

 

Here's a link to Jay Leno's Garage about the Motus. What I also like is how you can buy their crate engine for other fun applications.

 

One **** of a go-cart. I built one once back in my late teens out of a CB350 engine. I was very lucky to survive my teens.

 

I like it! Sounds like a Ducati and looks very modern. Great power and a comfortable riding position. With the fully adjustable Ohlins suspension front and rear, and the Brembo brakes along with 180 HP it's going to satisfy. Personally I don't care about the lack of ABS or traction control - the last 13 bikes I've owned didn't have those features either. Looks like it would be a lot of fun and you certainly would never get tired of that motor.

 

Yeah, when I was a kid we built a go-cart. Not sure about the prowess of the motor we used but I think we skimped on the steering linkage and of course, the brakes. The linkage pin came out and I lost steering. I ran into a pole and fractured my pelvis. I think that was the most pain I ever experienced. I learned it isn't all about the quality of the engine.

Then there was the time we had all that gunpowder....

And the time we tried to run electricity to the tree house....

And the BB gun fight....

Hockey game on thin ice.....

Rope swing and the underwater stump...

 

So you are the reason every other paragraph of the owners manual is a warning!

 

One of those "hey, hold my beer and watch this!" moments.......

 

We had a Motus at our track day yesterday. That thing sounded like it had gravel in the engine. The owner said it was just the dry clutch. As far as day to day riding, I'll stick with the K1600. It is smooth as butter, and I would not be constantly wondering if the engine was going to blow a push rod from all the noise it makes at idle.

The first bike to pass by on this video is the Motus.

https://youtu.be/VhCB3RBrssM

 

A number of bikes sound awful at idle. My BMW S1000R is one of them and it's a well know issue. In fact, ride your 1600 around the block without a helmet and earplugs on and it doesn't sound so great.

 

I have a shirt that says "It's a Ducati, it's supposed to sound like that."

And another that says "Loud Clutches Save Lives".

 

Rode a Motus back in April. Nice bike,good power very good brakes BUT I still wouldn't trade my K16 for it. The buliders told us it was a great touring bike. They claim they rode it from the Utah the salt flats back home to Alabama in two days. I bet they were beat when they got home.

 

Is this the member formerly known as Tomb?

 

Makes me wonder.... Why does BMW call it a K1600 when it should be a K1650? Rounding down 49cc vs. rounding up 1cc

 

1600 sounds more solid................and at that level does 50 cc make such a difference? For some Harleys maybe. Always a big hype when the increase displacement by a couple c.i...........