Motus closing it's doors immediately

[aviationfred]

Sad news on an American Motorcycle Manufacturer.

https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/motus-motorcycles-ceases-operations-effective-immediately?utm_source=CJ&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=6153597&PublisherName=VigLink

During the 2017 Colorado FJ Rally. A few of us got to actually see a Motus in Ouray. We were able to speak with the owner and learned some great information about the motorcycle. This is a sad day 

Fred

[ZOA NOM]

Wow. What a bike.

[Pat Conlon]

That is a shame. I do hope they can get back into business soon with a fresh infusion of $$$.

I've seen a couple MST's and 1 MST-R here is SoCal and speaking with their owners, they gush over their bikes, as well they should on a $38k motorcycle. I like the idea of a 1600cc V-4 with push rods and hydraulic lifters...no need for changing shims. Lot's of torque there.

Reality check:

For the price of a 1 new MST-R, I could buy 3 of these:



For the price of 1 Tracer 900, I could buy 4 of these:



I love FJ's, but I really don't need 4 of them, so for the price of 1 MST-R, I could buy 1 primo FJ and have money left over for 1 of these:




Begs the question: What would you buy for $38k?

[Motofun]

Why do you want a chick car?   

[Pat Conlon]

Ever drive one? I mean really drive, as in, drive one on a track, then you would understand.

FJ's and Miatas are great value for the money.

Why do we ride dinosaurs?

[racerrad8]

Why do you want a chick car?   

My son is making his more manly...

http://www.speedhunters.com/2018/05/best-best-never-lift-half-mile/

Scroll down to chapter 4, "American Influence"

Randy - RPM

[fj1289]

Why do you want a chick car?   

My son is making his more manly...

http://www.speedhunters.com/2018/05/best-best-never-lift-half-mile/

Scroll down to chapter 4, "American Influence"

Randy - RPM

How did Ryan do?!

[Pat Conlon]

Americans are a crazy lot, no question.

Take for example: A perfectly nice little British roadster, the AC Ace with it's 2.6 liter I6 and turn it over to a crazy American, Carol Shelby....look what happened:


Fast forward 55 years...

Take a perfectly nice little Japanese roadster, the Miata, and turn it over to the crazy Americans in Colorado, look what happens:

https://www.flyinmiata.com/V8/index.php

....and then...there is the special breed, like Ryan, who is not happy with a "normal" V8 miata that has a power to weight ratio of 4.5 pounds per rwhp.
650 hp in a 1800 lb. Miata, what's that, around 2.7 lbs per hp?
To put that into perspective, take a 400 lb super bike that puts out 200 hp...that's 2 lbs per hp.
Young Ryan needs a wing on the back of that car. Get that power to the ground.
Ryan loves wings, he told me so himself.....

[racerrad8]

I believe 167 was all he could get on the weekend. As he began turning up the boost the charge pipe kept blowing off the throttle body.

He is going to go to a V clamp at the throttle body since every other connection is already.

Here is a video of him gapping a Z06 vette even after the pipe blew off. I think that run was like 145ish.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiR5r-WlTPE/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=wmr7rvz53vwo

No wings or front bumper/valance and still stuck to the road...a wing will only add drag and slow it down...

It is down for now, the rear subframe has failed and will need to be a fabricated.  The stock unit he modified to fit the mustang differential is not sturdy enough to handle the power.

Randy - RPM

[ZOA NOM]

Miatas can kiss my ass. They're like gnats on the track.

[FJmonkey]

Miatas can kiss my ass. They're like gnats on the track.

You mean that a bunch of 911s buzzing around the track is not? Running for cover now.....

[Pat Conlon]

No, no Markus...Porsche's most definitely don't buzz around the track, they howl.
The wail from their finely tuned flat 6 while in the kookaloo zone, is music. They sound really really bitchen, and haul ass.
I know what Rick means.
Spending your money for track time, then trying to turn a fast lap while having to deal with (drive around) slower Miata's is a pain.

I wish I could afford a track Porsche.

[ZOA NOM]

Miatas can kiss my ass. They're like gnats on the track.

You mean that a bunch of 911s buzzing around the track is not? Running for cover now.....

Not even in the same league. Miatas show up by the hundreds and sound like an angry beehive, and drive like they're all in a NASCAR race.

[HydroDog]

This thread turned sideways.

My Yamaha could purchase the Motus motor rites and build a new FJR since the new Transcontinental will end up in the toilet.

[Bill_Rockoff]

I've heard Spec Miata racing described as "Ben Hur meets 101 Dalmations." They definitely do better on smaller tighter tracks than on big open sweepers.

My brief hankering for a big Jaguar is subsiding, and the new 7,500 rpm Miata looks like a good fit for 95% of my driving in the forseeable future. I'm still kicking myself for not being in the right spot financially to pick up my friend's dad's '88 Targa with 100,000 miles for $27,500, and I'm mad at everyone I know who *could* afford it but didn't buy it.

Shame about Motus. I wish those bikes looked as beautiful as they deserved to look, I think that's a big part of the problem. (Except, I cannot explain all the BMW R/GS bikes or those Harleys with the fairings that look like a rhinoceros.) I firmly believe that a $38,000 motorcycle that sounded like a Motus, rode like a Motus, sport-toured like a Motus, and looked like an MV Agusta would have sold a lot better.

I kick myself for never going over there when I worked in Birmingham.

I'd love to see those guys and Erik Buell build something.