Motus merged threadfest

[dilligaf]

I am going to kick back and watch what son in law and daughter do.l  Bet you I will be takeing one for a ride before the summer is out.  ;D
Matt

[jackson]

I wish Motus well but it's a pretty small, niche group that will/can spend that much money for an adult toy when there are so many less expensive, quality alternatives available.  Maybe they know something that we don't know............... .but I'll be damned if i know what it is................. ..yet. Good luck to Motus.

[Mountain Bob]

... Maybe they know something that we don't know............... .but I'll be damned if i know what it is..

I suspect that "something" lies somewhere between "There are a LOT of VERY rich people in the U.S."
and "A fool and his money are soon parted." 

--mb

[AJ Huff]

Seems likeif you can afford a Lexus SUV or an AMG with the word Kompressor on it, you can afford a Motus. Plenty of them around here.

-AJ

[jackson]

Seems likeif you can afford a Lexus SUV or an AMG with the word Kompressor on it, you can afford a Motus. Plenty of them around here.

-AJ

Yeah, but it's not affordability that I'm referring to.  I think that many people who can afford a bike like Motus (and who want a new motorcycle) will make a "value judgement" and after looking at the competition (at much lower pricing), will many times opt for the lower priced bike.  Being ABLE to afford something is one thing and comparative analysis is another.  I just hope that the great folks at Riders Hill don't get stuck with inventory that they wind up selling at a loss to eventually get them off the floor.

[AJ Huff]

Picture from today (not taken by me) of a $60K toy in front of a local restaurant here in Blairsville.



I think in this area, Motus will sell well.  :)

-AJ

[AJ Huff]

Interesting bike in the background.  ;)

-AJ

[kevdog3019]

Since this is the same forum that was bitterly criticising Piaggio and predicting MG's demise not that long ago, I'd say the future is bright for Motus. :^)

That's because they wanted a new engine and thought that was going to be the holy grail to Guzzi's success moving forward. Luckily they chose the right path of updating the old mill and coming out with some nice throw-back models.  They are also much more "right" out of the box.  I do wish Motus as much success.  I will have to stick to my two cylinder Guzzi's.
-Kevin 

[rocker59]

Seems likeif you can afford a Lexus SUV or an AMG with the word Kompressor on it, you can afford a Motus. Plenty of them around here.

-AJ

Neither "LEXUS", nor "AMG" will be on the tank of the "MOTUS".

The name of the new motorcycle carries no value/panache/credibility.

[AJ Huff]

Neither "LEXUS", nor "AMG" will be on the tank of the "MOTUS".

The name of the new motorcycle carries no value/panache/credibility.

People fly private jets here for the weekend. My point is they have the money. This is the kind of stuff they buy.

-AJ

[rocker59]

And my point is that they buy (nice, expensive) things with names that thier friends recognize.

"MOTUS" means nothing.  It has no name recognition with thier friends.

[AJ Huff]

I don't believe that is true, but we will see.

-AJ

[Wayne Orwig]

I just hope that the great folks at Riders Hill don't get stuck with inventory that they wind up selling at a loss to eventually get them off the floor.

I'm sure that they aren't going to have them stacked up on the showroom floor. When they get a deposit from you, they will place the order.

They do still have a Griso SE collecting dust....hint hint DILLIW

[kevdog3019]

AJ... people don't always spend money to just spend money.  There are a lot of people with money that are very savvy about their spending, as well as selective. That's why a lot of them HAVE money. You'll have to tell us how they come out in that market.
-Kevin

[rocker59]

I don't believe that is true, but we will see.

-AJ

I'd love for them to do well.

However, the name sucks and the pricepoint is at least $10,000 above where the MOTUS enthusiasts were hoping it would be.

I still predict about 100 streetbikes, then they're done.

Maybe they'll sell engines for use in other areas.  Auto racing, Aero, whatever.  Personally, I think that's a big part of thier strategy.

Or, maybe thier plan is to sell thier motorcycle to a bigger player.  Polaris/Victory/Indian, maybe?

Who knows?

[AJ Huff]

AJ... people don't always spend money to just spend money.  There are a lot of people with money that are very savvy about their spending, as well as selective. That's why a lot of them HAVE money. You'll have to tell us how they come out in that market.
-Kevin

Yeah, I know. I'm not 12.

-AJ

[Mountain Bob]

AJ... people don't always spend money to just spend money.  There are a lot of people with money that are very savvy about their spending, as well as selective. That's why a lot of them HAVE money. You'll have to tell us how they come out in that market.
-Kevin

Alas, Kev -- there's always that second generation, and their next generation.  Don't forget that there are a lot of people with a lot of money who didn't do anything to earn or produce that money, other than being born.  Somehow we get our fair share of them 'round here; I know a local guy in his 30's who was born into the 4th generation of Old Industrial Money in the northeastern U.S.  This "kid" (he's about 16, maturity-wise) has never had a job, has a "base" income of more than $300K per year ("base" = how much I get if I don't call Daddy and ask for more, which of course I do, regularly), spends more than 100 days a year skiiing, and buys whatever he darned well pleases.  Those folks will buy anything that will impress their friends, and anything that catches their flickering attention. 

There's a lot of that in this land of ours -- offspring of the "self-made man" who have never learned (or needed to learn) that somebody put in some effort and years amassing the fortune.  They don't have any notion of the value of money, and have minimal sense about how to conserve it.  I guess it ain't a bad gig if you're born into it and don't know another viewpoint, but there's something so sad (and yes, annoying) about so many of those cluless, purposeless guys that I can't much stand to be around them, even the pleasant ones who act reasonably decent. 

They there are the Mark Cuban sort of folks -- or our part-time local resident, John Elway -- who worked hard for what they got, have a true boatload of money (in Elway's case, that'd be a Cigarette Boat) that puts the price of a MOTUS down in the "petty cash" zone of their budget. 

I'd still bet my whole monthly $1.87 "disposable income" that the MOTUS bikes won't survive in the long run:  it's a nice-looking, solid sort of bike, but has nothing about it to call out to most guys with bucks to burn.  Lexus built a reputation for quality-luxury across a lengthy market run.  Porsche, Mercedes, Ferrari, etc. all worked for their fame across years of racing and savvy marketing of their state-of-their-art products.  When you're trying to sell a "solid" product at twice the market price of an arguably just-as-solid competitor, you're trying to sell that Kompressor-sedan with a Maybach or Bentley pricetag.  You may get a few buyers, but I'm not thinking you're going to take over anybody's market share. 

Just my $2.63 worth . . . 

--mb

[kevdog3019]

Alas, Kev -- there's always that second generation, and their next generation.  Don't forget that there are a lot of people with a lot of money who didn't do anything to earn or produce that money, other than being born.  Somehow we get our fair share of them 'round here; I know a local guy in his 30's who was born into the 4th generation of Old Industrial Money in the northeastern U.S.  This "kid" (he's about 16, maturity-wise) has never had a job, has a "base" income of more than $300K per year ("base" = how much I get if I don't call Daddy and ask for more, which of course I do, regularly), spends more than 100 days a year skiiing, and buys whatever he darned well pleases.  Those folks will buy anything that will impress their friends, and anything that catches their flickering attention. 

There's a lot of that in this land of ours -- offspring of the "self-made man" who have never learned (or needed to learn) that somebody put in some effort and years amassing the fortune.  They don't have any notion of the value of money, and have minimal sense about how to conserve it.  I guess it ain't a bad gig if you're born into it and don't know another viewpoint, but there's something so sad (and yes, annoying) about so many of those cluless, purposeless guys that I can't much stand to be around them, even the pleasant ones who act reasonably decent. 

They there are the Mark Cuban sort of folks -- or our part-time local resident, John Elway -- who worked hard for what they got, have a true boatload of money (in Elway's case, that'd be a Cigarette Boat) that puts the price of a MOTUS down in the "petty cash" zone of their budget. 

I'd still bet my whole monthly $1.87 "disposable income" that the MOTUS bikes won't survive in the long run:  it's a nice-looking, solid sort of bike, but has nothing about it to call out to most guys with bucks to burn.  Lexus built a reputation for quality-luxury across a lengthy market run.  Porsche, Mercedes, Ferrari, etc. all worked for their fame across years of racing and savvy marketing of their state-of-their-art products.  When you're trying to sell a "solid" product at twice the market price of an arguably just-as-solid competitor, you're trying to sell that Kompressor-sedan with a Maybach or Bentley pricetag.  You may get a few buyers, but I'm not thinking you're going to take over anybody's market share. 

Just my $2.63 worth . . . 

--mb

Totally agree with you!  ;-T  I'm thinking this bike won't catch the eye of most Mark Cuban types.  It aint no West Coast Choppers or whatever they're called.  Rolling art has a better chance than a practical rider like everyone else makes.
-Kevin

[kevdog3019]

Nothing going since March?  Anybody heard anything?  Last I know they came out with REALLY high prices.  I was afraid they were finished before they started.  Is this the case? 
-Kevin

[radlefty]

Good question. I go on their Facebook page once in a while. They don't have any information on release dates. I checked their website and all I can find is late 2012. The last "news" story they have is from March. I really like the looks and design of the bikes, but at $31,000 for the base model and $37,000 for the touring model, I'll never be able to do anything but dream of owning one. Wasn't Rider's Hill going to be a distributor?

[AJ Huff]

Placards up at Riders Hill saying coming soon.

-AJ

[Jim Rich]

Shame they are so expensive, they look like awesome bikes.

[fatbob]

Just one thing confounds me, why in hell would you take a perfect longitudinal crankshaft engine & trans and turn 90 degrees to a chain drive?

[rboe]

Todays chain is a very good product. Easy to service, you can change the rear drive ratio by playing with the sprockets and you don't have to worry about rear drives burning up. :)

[fotoguzzi]

Just one thing confounds me, why in hell would you take a perfect longitudinal crankshaft engine & trans and turn 90 degrees to a chain drive?

I was thinking the same thing..

I've never worried about rear drives burning up, really? that's Beemer isn't it? if drive ratio is set for western US I'd have no need to change it so give me a shaft..

[kirb]

Motus has been a little quiet since the price was announced. They have moved to a larger facility and are working on EPA stuff.

They lost a lot of interested parties when the prices were announced. I still am signed up for updates.

[Arizona Wayne]

Todays chain is a very good product.

What a crock !  I have 1 MC with an an o-ring chain and it's WAY overrrated in my experience.  :P  Your still lucky to go 20K miles before it and it's sprockets need replacement for $200.  Even tho I lube my chain periodically if I get 20K miles out of it all I'm lucky.  I have chain, belt and shaft drive vehicles. BS me once, shame on you.........  ::)  Or is 20k miles longevity OK with you ?

[skippy]

What a crock !  I have 1 MC with an an o-ring chain and it's WAY overrrated in my experience.  :P  Your still lucky to go 20K miles before it and it's sprockets need replacement for $200.  Even tho I lube my chain periodically if I get 20K miles out of it all I'm lucky.  I have chain, belt and shaft drive vehicles. BS me once, shame on you.........  ::)  Or is 20k miles longevity OK with you ?

Amen Brother! It's shaft drive or nothing for me. At least on the bike(s) I would use for everyday/long distance stuff. A chain or belt drive would be alright on a bike I kept in the stable just for novelty or the occasional ride, but at 31 big ones! I would need a shaft!
Skippy

[rboe]

Back in the day 10K was a long time for a chain. Today 20K+ is the norm if taken care of. Then you buy new chain and sprockets and you have a whole new drive train.

So a chain IS a very good product. But you have choices; shaft, belt or chain. Your money your choice, I really don't care which one you choose.

[Muzz]

After about 1/4 million miles on chains it's shaft drive for me now. ;-T