Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Unkept on September 01, 2018, 07:40:06 AM
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https://www.citybike.com/news-clues-rumors/motus-motorcycles-shutting-down-effective-immediately/ (https://www.citybike.com/news-clues-rumors/motus-motorcycles-shutting-down-effective-immediately/)
To all Motus customers, dealers, staff, suppliers, friends,
After an amazing ten year ride, Motus is forced to shut down operations, effective immediately.
This week, Motus' financial backers unexpectedly informed management that they will not provide sufficient capital to maintain operations and grow the business. We were surprised and disappointed, especially because we have been working so hard preparing an October 2018 product launch into a new and exciting segment as well as new features on the MST series. This is very unfortunate timing and we will work to quickly find a new path forward for Motus Motorcycles and our American V4 powertrain division.
We are very grateful to Team Motus, truly the finest group of professionals and people, who have each dedicated so much of their hearts and soul to Motus. We are also thankful to our dealers and the many customers and supporters who have cheered us on and put gas in our tanks along the way.
For Motus owners, hang on to those motorcycles. As you already know, they are heirlooms, unlike any other motorcycles ever built.
Very sincerely,
Lee Conn and Brian Case, founders
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If this bike is as good as they say it is, perhaps this is an opportunity for someone to grab the design and production from bankruptcy? You never know how these things really work.
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And another one bites the dust. It’s a sign of the times I believe. $30,000 motorcycles are really tough to sell these days. Seems like the fast movers sell between eight and 15,000.
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John Bloor put up 100,000,000 English pounds (at the time about $160,000,000 US) to restart Triumph . Guessing Polaris put a similar amount into Indian . It's all fine and wonderful to dream big, but the "investors" probably tired of losing money . Kudos for the effort .
Dusty
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A few months ago, I attended a local "Bikes & Breakfast" event. Also in attendance was a Motus. Not the first time I've seen one up close, but was the first time I've actually heard one start up and ride away. When the owner fired it up, I thought it sounded like it was going to blow up there was so much mechanical noise - like coffee can half full of ball bearings being shaken. :shocked: The guys I was talking to said that was how they normally sound. :sad: No way I'd spend my $$ on one if it they all sound like that.
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Yes, I saw that notice about Motus. I hate to hear it. Maybe they can get back on their feet.
The Motus is the most exhilarating motorcycle I ever ridden.
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And another one bites the dust. It�s a sign of the times I believe. $30,000 motorcycles are really tough to sell these days. Seems like the fast movers sell between eight and 15,000.
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I think the same, does anybody really need a $30,000 motorbike. My newest and last new bike an 03 bonny was just under 7 grand out the door. But I have never cared for 900lb. Barcaloungers. Motorbike industry is leveling off and doing ok. What is a big help is the used bike market segment is rolling along nicely.
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I think the same, does anybody really need a $30,000 motorbike. My newest and last new bike an 03 bonny was just under 7 grand out the door. But I have never cared for 900lb. Barcaloungers. Motorbike industry is leveling off and doing ok. What is a big help is the used bike market segment is rolling along nicely.
It's somewhat similar to the light aircraft market - so many good ones were built (to last) that there's a surplus of used bikes and they are tremendous value. $5K buys a lot of nice bikes, and that's what a lot of people are buying. The manufacturers have more recently learned to build bikes with planned obsolescence in mind, so once this glut is cleared out the buyer won't have the same choices or value. Act now :grin:
I test rode a Motus with great expectations and was disappointed. It was crude and unrefined. A bit of that is OK, I wasn't expecting or wanting a Honda, but it was too much for my taste.
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One of our members has a Motus and rode it to the KY Rally last year. I was a bit surprised that a motorcycle that's touted as a long distance touring machine wasn't equipped with an electronic cruise control. IMO, that accessory should be "Standard" on a bike that's expected to be ridden long distances.
It also had a chain drive which also seems out of character. That alone would have been a show-stopper for me but maybe not others.
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So will the value of "used" Motus' soar or plummet?
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I think the same, does anybody really need a $30,000 motorbike. My newest and last new bike an 03 bonny was just under 7 grand out the door. But I have never cared for 900lb. Barcaloungers. Motorbike industry is leveling off and doing ok. What is a big help is the used bike market segment is rolling along nicely.
Nobody "needs" a $7,000 motorbike, for that matter. :violent1: Who decides what a "need" is when it comes to bikes .... ? :huh:
Lannis
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Disappointing to be sure, not a big surprise, but man it's sure looks hard to break in with a new bike these days.
Reason to be thankful they still make Moto Guzzi!!!
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http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=97752.0
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A friend on here just bought one a month ago, says it's a hoot!!
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$30K+ HDs and Hondas and BMWs sell.
They could have produced a cheaper model but would have still most likely failed 'cause they didn't have the infrastructure to support the machines like the others.
Modus was a engine company trying to sell motos to promote the engine.
Bad business plan and way under capitalized. Done much differently it ,(maybe?) could have worked in a very limited way.
That engine was originally designed for aviation use but that project ran out of funding and it ended up in a moto. I've done business w/the folks that designed and produced the prototypes.
My .02c
:-)
Not in N. IL they don’t. My local HONDA dealer closed. The next closest dealer hasn’t stocked a gold wing in years! Nor have they stocked a one litre sport bike! The local Guzzi dealer can’t give them away!
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One of our members has a Motus and rode it to the KY Rally last year. I was a bit surprised that a motorcycle that's touted as a long distance touring machine wasn't equipped with an electronic cruise control. IMO, that accessory should be "Standard" on a bike that's expected to be ridden long distances.
They all have electronic cruise control. It is standard.
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My local Polaris Indian, Slingshot, Victory service center picked up Motus about a year ago. A Motus is a tough sell in that it seems to be a very small market with such an expensive motorcycle. I've never ridden one as I never cared to when they were offered. I thought it seemed like a Honda ST1300 that went into a Ducati performance shop and a Motus was the result. Yes, $25K to $30K+ H-D's sell fairly well, even in a small market like Chattanooga. But that's because they're H-D. Motus, not so much.
I certainly hope for the current owners and dealers that funding can be found to bring Motus back. But IMHO, they'll need a product with a much broader target audience to have a chance. With the same failed business plan, I don't see it happening.
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Guess I'm not surprised. As I understand it, 15 of the original 16 dealers dropped them.
That says a ton.
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That's very sad. It's a hell of a nice bike.
I was seriously considering one for my next bike.
The noise was a mechanical damping system in the flywheel.
Nothing wrong with it; it just made that noise, so as to smooth out the power pulses from that 125 lb-ft of torque.
Kind of like the dry clutch on old Ducatis; sounds funny, but it's a feature, not a bug.
PhilB
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They all have electronic cruise control. It is standard.
Thanks for picking me up Alan. Guess I missed that feature when I looked it over. Will check it out more closely if he rides it to this year's KY Rally.
Ride safe.
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That's very sad. It's a hell of a nice bike.
I was seriously considering one for my next bike.
The noise was a mechanical damping system in the flywheel.
Nothing wrong with it; it just made that noise, so as to smooth out the power pulses from that 125 lb-ft of torque.
Kind of like the dry clutch on old Ducatis; sounds funny, but it's a feature, not a bug.
PhilB
The Ducati dry clutch rattle is not a feature, it's poor engineering :grin:
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I looked and came close on a leftover '15. Chain drive and no ABS chased me off. Would love to own one--Less than $20K, A real dealer and shaft w/ ABS. Sounds like my BMW RS, which I love
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Incredible bikes that are a blast to ride, loud, aggressive with lots of torque. Met Lee Conn when they had demo rides at the local dealer, very nice guy. We talked about his dad which I haven't seen in years.
Sad to read that this happened but maybe they can re-group with a bike in a lower price range. That engine is amazing, should be in a Guzzi.
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The noise was a mechanical damping system in the flywheel.
Nothing wrong with it; it just made that noise, so as to smooth out the power pulses from that 125 lb-ft of torque.
Kind of like the dry clutch on old Ducatis; sounds funny, but it's a feature, not a bug.
PhilB
I don't care if it is "normal" or a "feature", I still wouldn't buy any motorcycle that sounded like that, much less spend $30k for it!
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Thanks for picking me up Alan. Guess I missed that feature when I looked it over. Will check it out more closely if he rides it to this year's KY Rally.
Ride safe.
No matter how close you look, you won't find it. The cruise is activated by pushing the starter button when your speed is over 40mph and there are no increase or decrease controls. Push starter button again to disengage, or it disengages automatically with clutch or brake actuation. There is absolutely no visible sign that the bike has cruise control. There is a light on the dash to indicate that it is active, but you'll never see it by just looking at a bike sitting still.
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Yes the cruse is not easy to find on the bike. I bought mine and got a five year warranty two years ago. Well I guess that is gone also.... oh well I still like the bike.
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These would be like our Guzzis but 100 times more aggregating to own, no offense intended to anyone owning one, just saying.
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Yes the cruse is not easy to find on the bike. I bought mine and got a five year warranty two years ago. Well I guess that is gone also.... oh well I still like the bike.
Yes, I bought my 2014 Victory Vision in January of 2014. Great touring bike, especially for two-up.
Bought a 2-year extended warranty ($500) 2 weeks before Polaris announced the discontinuation of the model line. They say parts and service good for this bike is still good for 10 years....but who knows?
"Moby Dick", aka "The Great White Whale" :shocked: :shocked: :shocked: :shocked: :shocked: :shocked:
(https://thumb.ibb.co/fAMxCz/DSC_0002.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fAMxCz)
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Dan: I would not be concerned. Since mechanically, the Indian and Victory are basically the same and since Polaris is a large, well funded entity, you should not have any problems. Motus on the other hand, will not continue to be a going concern in any other motorcycle guise. I expect that the parts that are out there are all that there are going to be. Hopefully many of the maintenance parts are off the rack parts and filters you can get from the auto parts store.
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Dan: I would not be concerned. Since mechanically, the Indian and Victory are basically the same and since Polaris is a large, well funded entity, you should not have any problems. Motus on the other hand, will not continue to be a going concern in any other motorcycle guise. I expect that the parts that are out there are all that there are going to be. Hopefully many of the maintenance parts are off the rack parts and filters you can get from the auto parts store.
Blu: I don't own a Victory just a guzzi but I agree that Victory owners are much better off with their bikes and an out of business company, than us guzzi owners, are as far as accessories and readily available parts at times. Don't get me wrong, I love my 1400 tourer but it can be frustrating trying to get some much needed and desired add on's.
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My Motus is the most unique, quick, comfortable, and just damn cool bike I have ever owned. The build quality is amazing, the sound incredible, and ride is beyond expectations. The bike needs little, so I'm not worried about parts. A lot of the wear items are sourced anyway.
I was in the middle of a long trip when I heard the news. Sad, for sure. I finished the 580 mile trip home in ~9 hours with 3 stops for fuel. It's all day comfortable. It also has a real-world power band- You don't need to do much to pass on 2-lane roads. Twist and go. I keep getting more impressed with the bike every day. 10k miles so far.
What don't I like? Helibars are comfortable, but not as solid as a standard 1-1/8" bar (I have that Motus option too). Wind protection is lacking a bit, windshield coverage could be better. Mirrors fold in at 90+ mph... need to look into that more. The 'growler' (what Motus calls it) is a torque damping flywheel... I hate explaining to people who have no idea what it is or why you would need one. The ram-air intakes suck up bugs at a high rate of speed...oiling the two K&N filters are more frequent than most bikes. I am searching for things I don't like and most are fairly minor.
What do I like? Thing is stupid easy to work on, doesn't need much, does SMART things- like use the same oil in the engine and trans with no valve adjustments. I can ride this thing all day, every day. I can sit in the garage with a cigar and admire the frame welds alone... Pitty that most may never get to experience a bike this good.
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Guzzi should pick it up!
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Maybe Harley can pick up the engine to put into some of their future models.
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My Motus is the most unique, quick, comfortable, and just damn cool bike I have ever owned....Pitty that most may never get to experience a bike this good.
Agreed! 90 mph throttle wheelies are not for everyone
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Maybe Harley can pick up the engine to put into some of their future models.
Those Motus motors probably have more "Made in USA" content than Harley's current V-twins ... for those that care about that sort of thing!
Lannis
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Saw one @ The Springfield Mile the other day, quite possibly the best fit and finish of any bike I have ever seen. Talked to the owner for a while, nice dude. If I ever win the lottery............ ................... .........
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These bikes are awesome, but not every motorcycle enthusiast could justify owning one. I don't think that the guys at Motus are calling it quits, necessarily. I wish them the best.
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The Ducati dry clutch rattle is not a feature, it's poor engineering :grin:
Is it somehow different than Guzzi dry clutch rattle?
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The Ducati dry clutch rattle is not a feature, it's poor Italian engineering :grin:
Fixed it!
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Is it somehow different than Guzzi dry clutch rattle?
It's much louder cause they have more plates on a Duc.
I wonder what effect this will have on Motus's big bash coming up for Barber?
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Is it somehow different than Guzzi dry clutch rattle?
Yes, the Motus clatter is a thing called the �growler�, that is a sort of torque limiter that protects the trans from too much torque.
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Yes, the Motus clatter is a thing called the �growler�, that is a sort of torque limiter that protects the trans from too much torque.
From what I've understood, their explanation and pictures, it sounds like a Dual Mass Flywheel.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual-mass_flywheel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual-mass_flywheel)
My VW had one of those. The first owner had it explode and destroyed the transmission case. :grin: The second DMF (and replacement transmission) went strong for at least another 125k~ miles.
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Dan: I would not be concerned. Since mechanically, the Indian and Victory are basically the same and since Polaris is a large, well funded entity, you should not have any problems. Motus on the other hand, will not continue to be a going concern in any other motorcycle guise. I expect that the parts that are out there are all that there are going to be. Hopefully many of the maintenance parts are off the rack parts and filters you can get from the auto parts store.
Mechanically, the two bikes are NOT the same - they are very, very different in engine, tranny, frame and suspension.
I expect Polaris will keep a reasonable supply of parts available, but they have shown they are a fairly bloody-minded company when it comes to business decisions, and it remains to be seen how they will act when their legal obligation to maintain parts is over.
As for comments on extended warranty, almost all extended warranties are not supported by the manufacturer but by third-party companies (even if sold under the manufacturer's name). Get yours out and read the fine print carefully - it may or may not have an escape clause related to the manufacturer or brand ceasing operations. No other way to know what your situation is...
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Maybe Harley can pick up the engine to put into some of their future models.
The low rev limit, self adjusting valve lash and emphasis on low end torque versus a wide rev range is similar. Compared to even a relatively lov revving (but tall geared) 8000 rpm Guzzi, the Motus is incredibly easy to over rev (or in actuality hit the rev limiter unintentionally)
I found my $4500 used ST4 to be a much better bike than a Motus for the same sport touring duty, but to each his own. Valve adjustments on the Ducati take infinitely longer!
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I wonder what effect this will have on Motus's big bash coming up for Barber?
Well, the Motus MST series with ABS was going to be announced as well as an 'expected' naked version.
Pics of the ABS version exist. Nothing but a prototype of the naked has been seen.
Factory closing probably means the bash is off... you never know. The Motus owners who were going are still planning on something.