Motus just posted a link to a bunch of photos on Facebook titled "Motus MST Release Part 2". In the very first photo, just to the right of the bike, guess what Badwebber is plainly visible behind the bike wearing his Buell mechanic's shirt?
The "douche" is the engineer and designer. He virtually NEVER wears a suit and appeared to be quite ready to get out of it by the time the investor meeting was done and the unveiling began.
The presentation was very informal with mostly investors and family in attendance. There was one owner who flew in from Colorado Springs to see the bike. He bought one sight unseen and wanted to see what he bought.
The presentation is one you might give to people who know you and don't really care if you're polished. I'd say that you'll see a very different presentation in Daytona.
I'd love to be a national spokesman for them as well as head up dealer relations. Maybe I'd get a shot at that one day.
The guy pictured with the two girls (his daughters) is Lee Conn, the President. This was the friends and family unveiling. The mayor of Birmingham was there.
There were about half a dozen Pratt & Miller guys there. In the MST-R Start Up video, they are the guys in the black shirts.
I also got to meet Lee's local riding buddy, a motorcycle cop:
He's 5'6" for comparison. Very funny guy. Rides an RC51.
I guess I am just so used to EB unveiling all of his bikes in jeans and a mechanic shirt or some other informal buell branded shirt and it makes him look like some one I would want pitching me a new motorcycle as apposed to a guy in a suit that looks like he should be selling me insurance for the bike.
(Message edited by firebolt020283 on March 10, 2011)
Jeremy, all that aside, and or included.....do you suppose the bike will be any good?
You know, fun to ride, ala Uly? And perhaps have an ability to handle or carve some corners, ala Uly? And pick the front wheel, carry the tent, get decent fuel mileage, be a good two wheeled truck as needed, tip over well, travel dirt roads as well as Interstates, and so on compared to a Uly?
I'd dare say from the pictures it is a good looking machine. From what I heard I like the sound.
You say I am biased to the Uly? Why would I not be? It has been the most fun, best at all the above bike I have owned. You know what I mean.....the Swiss Army Knife of a bike(that came with a great family I might add). I will want to replace my Uly someday with a bike that has all of this ability and perhaps more. Is this bike and company a good place to look?
I'm a little late to this thread (although I have been following the progress of Motus through Facebook and their email list), so I had a lot of reading to get caught up on.
I like the bike...and love to watch people take a dream to reality. I will be rooting for their success.
Thanks for all the pictures Jeremy. After going through all six pages...the only complaint I have is the stiff neck from looking at all the sideways shots!
Jeremy, all that aside, and or included.....do you suppose the bike will be any good?
You know, fun to ride, ala Uly? And perhaps have an ability to handle or carve some corners, ala Uly? And pick the front wheel, carry the tent, get decent fuel mileage, be a good two wheeled truck as needed, tip over well, travel dirt roads as well as Interstates, and so on compared to a Uly?
I'd dare say from the pictures it is a good looking machine. From what I heard I like the sound.
You say I am biased to the Uly? Why would I not be? It has been the most fun, best at all the above bike I have owned. You know what I mean.....the Swiss Army Knife of a bike(that came with a great family I might add). I will want to replace my Uly someday with a bike that has all of this ability and perhaps more. Is this bike and company a good place to look?
It definitely has the center of gravity weighting right. It feels light and rotates easily around the pivot point. Overall, it's a very low bike.
The only thing that won't be Buell-esque is the wheel base. The wheelbase is 58", four inches longer than the Uly and a whopping 6" longer than an S/R. On paper that seems excessive when you remember that the S/R still is the shortest wheelbase production motorcycle. It's like saying anyone shorter than John Holmes is "tiny".
The MST-01 is a touring motorcycle rather than a sport bike. That said, let's compare wheelbases:
Aprilia Tuono: 55.5" KTM Super Duke: 57.1" Triumph Speed Triple: 56.5" Honda CB1000R: 56.9" BMW K1300R: 62.4"
Now, is the MST-01 a Uly "truck". No. It can carry a good quantity, but strapping an Igloo cooler to the back would be like hauling plywood in a Corvette. I loved my Uly, but I wouldn't dream of taking this bike where I would take my Uly.
This bike is rumored to have a price tag in the high $20,000's to $30,000. Not awful, but not Iron Butt pig material. The price will come down as quantities increase. I wouldn't treat a $30,000 bike the way I would my $10,000 Uly.
The BMW K1300GT with total package, is $22,595. Goldwing is going to run you $23,200.
Harley Davidson Ultra Classic Limited is priced at $24,995. Screaming Eagle $31,995.
I posted this on advrider dot com while this site was down, but for those that don't visit that site, I thought I'd post it here as well.
I was at the unveiling at the IMS. I was 10 or 15 minutes late getting there so I missed most of the speech, but I did get a good look at the bike and even got to sit on it. I didn't get to talk to the Motus guys, but I had a nice conversation with a Pratt an Miller guy.
I will say this, it sounded great. It had a Two Brothers exhaust on it and I commented that I bet the production model wouldn't have that exhaust. The Pratt and Miller guy said he wasn't sure because Two Brothers had participated a lot in the development of the bike. I also said the production model would have adjustable handlebars and seat. The prototype I sat on had neither.
It sat very nice. Sportier than what I am used to. Depending on how adjustable the handlebars are, I might want risers on it.
The seat height seemed very low. A lady who was not very tall sat on it and was able to flat foot it. It felt very light. Sorry I don't have hard numbers for you, but those are my impressions and observations.
Oh, and one more thing. The guy would not give me a price, but I mentioned I supposed the bike would be very expensive. He told me it would be competitive with BMW and Ducati prices. I don't know which BMWs and Ducatis though.
Bottom line, I liked it as much as I can like a bike just sitting on it and listening to it run.
Here are some photos I took
This one shows a young woman flat footing the bike.
And here is one of some fat ugly guy sitting on it. I think he really liked it.
Here's a shot of the dash. It looked nice turned on, but I didn't get a shot of that.
That exhaust won't fly for production. If they want to compete with BMW then it can't sound like that or be that loud. Just my .02.
I'm also concerned about this super-low seat height. I hear that and think either cramped legs or low, craping pegs. Can anyone who sat on it comment on that?
If you've ever stood next to an LS1 motor running, it is a ground pounder. This engine sounds and feels like a miniature LS1 motor.
That's a big 10-4. Listen to an LS1 on youtube and then do it in person and you'll see the difference, I'm sure this engine does the same.
As far as touring gadgets on the Duc MS12, what is there? YOu can get 3-peice hard luggage, touring seats and a GPS, it comes with power outlets and an adjustable windscreen. All its missing is lower fairings.
I'm also concerned about this super-low seat height. I hear that and think either cramped legs or low, craping pegs. Can anyone who sat on it comment on that?
There are two seats available, standard and low. I didn't notice any discomfort in the riding position. There seemed to be plenty of leg room and I didn't notice the pegs being particularly low.
They are planning, from the discussions, to provide adjustable pegs.
What makes the seating beneficial for shorter riders is how narrow the seat is. The frame and tank are also very narrow in the rear. This allows for a very odd sensation. I could literally sit on the bike with my thighs parallel to one another.
By comparison, I would say that the riding position and leg room is most like an SS or STT except your knees are closer together.
