This weekend in Austin, Texas, Brian Case, the Co-founder, Design Director of MOTUS Motorcycles, is presenting at the “Handbuilt Show” a very special supercharged Motus. A short 4-week project, it started with a stock Motus MSTR Sport Tourer stripped away as much as Brian could. Then a supercharger from Procharger was added and the engine was fitted with a 4-2-1 Tri-Y stainless exhaust with a titanium Akrapovic GP slip-on. The blower required a custom designed bracket and pulley drive system mounted to the left side of the Motus MV4 engine, and driven off of to the Motus alternator pulley. The stock Motus ECU also made an easy job of tuning the system, which already has PC-based programming features to recognize supercharging.
Brian assured me that these mods were actually very easy to do, proving that the MV4 may be well suited for custom built applications. I remind you that the Motus motor is a 1650cc liquid-cooled pushrod V4, supercharged with dished pistons for a 9.5:1 compression ratio.
Motus revealed the prototype engine in 2010, the first prototype bikes in 2011, did on-road testing throughout 2012 and 2013, and entered production in 2014.
The first run of Motus bikes is supposed to be shipped to U.S. dealerships in 2015. Motus Motorcycles is based in Birmingham, Alabama.
Brian, this thing has got to sound wicked! You’ve got to send Cyril a video real soon, especially without any background music.
I wonder if thats the same supercharger JT Nesbitt used on the Motus in his Bienville Legacy salt flats bike ?
Although I have never ridden a Motus, when the engine is mounted so that the crank runs longitudinally in the frame (as it does on old BMW boxers and Moto Guzzis, where this is done for cylinder cooling, and now, these Motus bikes), the torque of the motor tends to crank the entire bike over to one side as the throttle is dialed up. This can make handling ‘interesting’, especially when powering out of a curve.
This is why on most every modern, high horsepower or high torque bike (including Harleys and other similar V twins and newer BMW’s), the engine is mounted so that the crank is ninety degrees from this position, thus eliminating this nasty twisting of the bike from the engine’s torque.
I have to assume that Motus bikes, especially this blown bike, with its v-4 mounted so that the crank is running lengthwise in the frame, must have such an exaggerated torque effect as to make spirited riding less than pleasant. Perhaps it is yet another bike that is meant more to be oggled than to be ridden.
Makes me appreciate my now 30+ year old Honda V65 Sabre even more.
Interesting comment BD .. although its more opinion than fact . The fact being … your opinions on the matter are very incorrect and are more propagated myth than reality . Ride a modern BMW , MotoGuzzi , Honda Goldwing/Valkyrie .. or simply read ( all ) the reviews on the Motus where nary a mention of any torque ‘ steer ‘ is mentioned and you’ll know why . All bets being … this hot rodded Motus .. like everything else Mr Case is currently involved with … is well engineered … sorted out and completely ridable
Finally … suffice it to say . If torque ‘ steer ‘ were a problem with the Motus motor you can be guaranteed JT Nesbitt wouldn’t be heading to the salt flats with a 300 + hp version in his Bienville Legacy
And err .. nice older bike and all but … errr …welcome to the 21st century 😉
I’d certainly ride it. Although I might add that tank really detracts from the overall look for me. But then, as I always like to acknowledge, it wasn’t built for me, was it?
Now to add to what BD said :Yes, I think you’re a little offon your comments there as well. ESPECIALLY since you go on the mention your old V65 Sabre. I used to ride that one quite a bit, including having owned and ridden two V65 Magnas, in the US and Germany.
So I’m curious, you don’t find the shaft drive on that bike incredibly torquey? Especially when “powering out of a curve” as you say. The torque has a real nasty habit of making the rear of that bike rise up dramatically with any blipping of the throttle around curves. So either you don’t find THAT annoying, or the laws of physics cease to exist underneath your particular Sabre. Just sayin…
I think it’s a very neat bike, and I would love to ride it… bet it’s fun!
I like it! Looks like a very rideable custom, and it gives us a hint of the versatility of this platform should the company be able to survive and grow beyond 300 units a year. I’m pulling for them!
I’m no scientist but I know when I had a modified 124 S&S bike when you cracked the throttle with the bike on the side stand it would squat pretty hard ! So much so that if you weren’t holding the handle bars it probably would have fell over on bounce back.
As if this powerplant doesn’t have plenty of punch in it normally aspirated form! 😉 I hope to get an opportunity to ride one of these at some point, and see the possibility of many variations using this platform. I remember back in the mid/late 90’s when S&S Cycle was sending out questionnaires to its dealers, asking for ideas on new products, and every time I responded with the idea of a V4 design similar to that of the Yamaha VMax which would fit into a stock chassis. I always wonder where that would’ve gone with S&S Cycle having the strong reputation they have…
I love that thing and Motus should make a version available in that form, like a standard. They don’t even need the supercharger, looks great
@BD – I ride a modern (2004) Guzzi v11 Sport. The torque fears you mention are not accurate except at idle, which adds a cool factor.
Dont confuse drive shaft jacking with the orientation of this motor. BMW, Guzzi, Honda, Kawi, Triumph, etc. all have figured out how to build a swingarm & related geometry to quell that jack affect.
Also keep in mind:
– the Motus final drive is chain, so i bet that 90 in the box helps
– The Triumph mega 3 cylinder (rocket 3) has a longitudinal crank, shaft drive, & the same neighborhood torque as the above bike
The Motus bike performs exactly as advertised. We did the EPA testing on it and put 15,000 km on the bike and it ran flawlessly. It is one of the best engineered bikes we have ever tested. The non turbo is extremely powerful and quick, the brakes will stop it and the seating position excellent. This is just our opinion we are not experts. Lastly the two guys running the company are good guys to deal with.
SAW THE BIKE IN PERSON MET THE ENGINEERS AND OWNERS…COOL BIKE AND COOL PEOPLE ALL AROUND…