Motus merged threadfest

[Big Block Jon]

They need to double-wall those freakin' pipes, they just look too spindly.

[rocker59]

$31k and $37k!!! :o Plus they've dropped one of the most hyped features, the direct injection. All I can say is good luck to them... 

They're going to need it... 

[kevdog3019]

You don't think Germans or any other company recoups their development costs? Sorry but any company that doesn't will soon go out of business. The only difference with a small company or startup is that you have to spread those costs over a much smaller number of units. This is the big hurdle and why so many new motorcycle or car companies don't make it. They just don't have enough money to get past the small production phase where prices have to be high just to get back a fraction of what it costs to do all the development and testing. How many millions do you think Motus has spent and how many bikes can they sell?

I would bet that even if they sell a lot more bikes than expected, they won't make a dime in profit for several years. If they can sell enough to pay back the investors that paid for all the pre-sale costs, then perhaps they can put some of that money into increasing production and bringing the cost down. alternatively, they can look for a fat cat that is willing to give them a truck load of money and not expect any return for a long time.

I won't be one of the folks buying a bike at this price but I hope there are enough of them to get the company established. I like the concept and like that it's made in the U.S.

I really hope they can do it.  I understand recouping your R & D costs, etc..  If their production numbers have to be that small that's one thing, but if there's a way to get more capital, raise production, and sell them at a cheaper price point, that's where I'd be.  It seems like they did their homework on this bike also.  If it doesn't sell with this first outing, then what?  How do you then convince investors to get on board?  If they only feel they need to sell a few to get more folks involved in one facet or another, then they may do just fine with those few sold.  No doubt they will sell a few so time will tell what their strategy is. 

[radlefty]

I wonder if it's just the forum. The demographics here being primarily old crotchety tightwads. Maybe over on the Goldwing forums they are saying what a great second bike this would make and that it's not too unreasonably priced. 

 ~;

-AJ

Nope. I spend some time over at www.sport-touring.net  and the consensus is the same. Great concept, great bike, way overpriced.

[SteveRivet]

I'd like to see MOTUS succeed.  I think the bike looks awesome, should work great, I love Sport Tourers, and I'd love to see an American manufacturer at a decent volume level do something other than the usual cruiser-  Harley and Victory already do that very well thank you very much. 

Maybe part of the problem with the price is that sport tourers are by definition bikes that get used....and used.....and used.  Choppers can sit under glass as rolling art, and you see it it to a lesser extent with cafe, scramblers, etc; consequentlt the boutique companies can get away charging the massive premium for rolling art, but it's a harder sell in the S-T marker where you have some extraordinarily capable bikes for 10-15K less, and when you get one it's heading out on the line.

-Steve 

[IceBlue]

From this link: http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/bikes/2013-motus-mst-r/

"With the Motus MST priced at $30,975 and the Motus MST-R getting a price tag of $36,975, our earlier reports of a $30,000 price tag appear to be spot on as well. A “comfortable sportbike” as the American company is calling it, the Motus MST will initially be available at seven premium dealerships nationwide, though sadly none of them are west of the Rockies.

Plus taxes and PDI! ......

I like it - Guzzi should license the mill, although drop the chain.
It's even a small block  ;D

However - it will never make it here - the price would hit close to 100.000$ all taxes included  :o  ...but it would turn some heads for sure.
Bikes ARE sold here between 1 and 200.000$ - but it would have to be bikes like this - custom orders by celebs like this one for the Danish Crown Prince with monograms and the works.
(He's the equivalent of a Navy Seal in this country, which symbolically has been shown on the bike.)

http://www.bt.dk/royale/her-er-kronprins-frederiks-nye-kvaern
http://www.speciallakering.dk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84&Itemid=89

[AJ Huff]

A year ago I wrote to Motus and suggested they contact my local Guzzi dealer as a potential dealer for the new Motus bikes. I'm not saying they listened to me but Motus announced that Riders's Hill in Dahlonega will be/is an official Motus dealer!

Won't it be awesome if they put one in their rental fleet?

-AJ

[desmoguzzi]

It would be more awesome if they swung a deal to get Motus represented at all Guzzi dealers. The bikes don't have to be there, just customers interested in a V-twin that handles and is unique.

By V-twin you mean Guzzis?
Motus is V4
Sorry if I misunderstood.

[Bill929]

With starting prices of $30,975 (MST) and $36,975 (MST-R), Motus ownership is going to be a pretty exclusive club:

http://www.ultimatemotorcycling.com/2012/motus-motorcycles-2012-production-plans

[AJ Huff]

Yeah but plenty of people in this area with that kind of money to burn. I think they will do well in this area.

-AJ

[Wayne Orwig]

Anthony told me about this a couple of weeks back. From the conversation, I suspect they will order one for you. But you aren't going to find 10 of them in the floor plan.

[Lannis]

Anthony told me about this a couple of weeks back. From the conversation, I suspect they will order one for you. But you aren't going to find 10 of them in the floor plan.

Chain drive.   There are a lot of people with prejudices that are dead against chain drive, just on principle.   I'm not one of them, having spent more time with drive shafts and dry clutches spread around on my shop floor than I have chains and sprockets, but some will say "Chain Drive?  PAH!  Wouldn't buy it if it were $299.95".

I notice that they advertise a 20,000 mile chain and a life-of-the-bike rear sprocket .....

Lannis

[Dilliw]

Anthony told me about this a couple of weeks back. From the conversation, I suspect they will order one for you. But you aren't going to find 10 of them in the floor plan.

Yeh but AJ is right, just think how many people they could attract with a few of them in their rental fleet.  Bet they would stay booked up.

[AJ Huff]

One of each in the demo fleet and they'd be golden I think. Wouldn't need a floor model.

-AJ

[AJ Huff]

According to their Facebook Page the president of Motus will be at Rider's Hill tomorrow with a few bikes in tow if you are in the area and want to check them out.

-AJ

[kevdog3019]

Funny how they quieted down after they announced prices on their bikes. They were doing so well before that time with their marketing. If you get to talk to him, ask him how sales are going?  I think they screwed the pooch.
Just my feeling. Not much interest in them anymore after they announced prices.
Kevin 

[AJ Huff]

I won't be able to make it  :(  Rider's Hill says they won't be receiving any inventory for a few months but I expect them to sell well once they are inventory.

-AJ

[leafman60]

Yeah, the Motus is a super-expensive indulgence for someone interested in having something very unusual.

I wish them the best but they have a steep hill to climb that is littered by the bones of past such efforts.

I saw one of these bikes at Daytona Bike Week and it looked kinda crude to me.  Maybe they've finessed it by now.

[JJ]

According to their Facebook Page the president of Motus will be at Rider's Hill tomorrow with a few bikes in tow if you are in the area and want to check them out.

-AJ

Someone please take and post some photos if you go down there. :)  Thanks in advance. 8) ;-T

[Wayne Orwig]

Just a bad camera phone photo.

I didn't waste any more electrons on it. Not my cup of tea so to speak.

[guzzisteve]

I seen them and talked. Real different . Surprised me to find out they are Guzzi folks. Production bikes will be way more refined.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I seen them and talked. Real different . Surprised me to find out they are Guzzi folks. Production bikes will be way more refined.

The president of Motus's dad is a Guzzi guy, as I was typing this, his name went away..  ::) getting old is not for sissys.. he had the Guzzi balloon at the Land speed record runs back in the day..

[guzzisteve]

Was it Lame Goose racing, and Sidney Conn.

[rocker59]

  I expect them to sell well once they are inventory.

-AJ

Define "sell well".

[QCGoose]

Hopefully enough to help fund a variety of more affordable production models. Hey, ya never know; there are a loooot of wealthy people out there who might snatch these early models up, and I can't think of anything cooler in the motorcycling world than a successful American motorcycle company that produces something other than the typical cliche, cookie-cutter cruiser and chopper. Buell was on their way there, especially with the Rotax-powered 1125 models that showed so much promise and potential, until Harley pulled the rug right out from under them.

It's all a guess right now, so we'll just have to wait and see. I hope like hell that they succeed.

[kevdog3019]

Not a surprise at all that they are Guzzi guys. Thought that from the time I saw the first engine prototype. No doubt here. That's what I like about it, a 4-banger Guzzi essentially. Price just makes me cringe though. Doesn't have to be this way. They start lower, sell a decent number, gets them out there in the marketplace, gets more rumblings, helps in the way of dealerships and investors (more units sold= more interest) and they keep rolling. THEN they raise their prices when they can justify it!!!!  Now it's too late. Can't go backward. Sorry to sound so negative with them, but I did love this concept and what they seemed to concern themselves with.  They were about listening to what the folks wanted and that's cool. But is this price what folks wanted?  NO WAY!  American greed came through at the end. silly decision.
Kevin

[Lannis]

But is this price what folks wanted?  NO WAY!  American greed came through at the end. silly decision.
Kevin

Might have been the ONLY decision.   They've probably put $20,000,000 into this effort so far, with NO return, and the bikes are probably costing them $40,000 apiece to make.    They probably consider the $30,000 MSRP as a "loss leader", "flog them out cheap" price considering.

Lannis

[tazio]

Caught this fat guy trying the Motus out for size @ Barber's last year. ::) Photo's sure put the pounds on!!! ;D

...No relation...  Michael Miller ;-T

[QCGoose]

Might have been the ONLY decision.   They've probably put $20,000,000 into this effort so far, with NO return, and the bikes are probably costing them $40,000 apiece to make.    They probably consider the $30,000 MSRP as a "loss leader", "flog them out cheap" price considering.

Lannis

That's what I reckon...

With the money invested, they might be losing money with each bike. Who knows.

[kevdog3019]

C'mon guys. There's two ways of getting your money back. You can do it short-term or you can do it long-term. Did you pay your house off in a year?  In order to pull it off long-term you need to satisfy certain conditions. If their conditions are set so short that they are having to sell at this price-point, they didn't think it through or need to do some talking. If they are losing money at this price-point like you say they might be, they are sunk. they have to sell a boat-load of bikes of bikes and I can't see it happening. There are more folks that buy what the masses buy than the few that want something so unique. Few ain't gonna cut it. They have to get a REAL following with this thing. It takes a lot of sales to make a following. They can't survive with a small niche. Most companies start with a small product that's affordable and build slowly building a name and reputation as they go.  These guys started the opposite way. No name, no reputation, and high-end. I wish them the best and I'll eat crow if they survive more than 2 years.
Kevin