Cycle World October feature
CW First Ride: Motus MST-R America's V-four sport-tourer
"The V-Four's 75-degree crankpin offset produces an uneven firing order, creating a sound that can only be described as a pair of Ducati Twins coupled together. In other words, it sounds sweet!"
"Knowing that the Motus's pushrod, two-valve-per-cylinder powerplant has a lot of Chevrolet racing technology in its genes put thoughts of muscle-car-like torque in my head, and the MST-R lived up to those expectations."
Motorcyclist October cover story
First Ride: 2012 Motus MST-R America's Sport-Tourer
"Handling is remarkably good for a prototype, with neutral, intuitive steering manners and quick reflexes that make it feel more like a sportbike than the typical long-and-low, luggage-laden sport-tourer."
"An exceptionally sporty sport-tourer with a strong, soulful, uniquely American character."
Hot Rod September issue features Motus engine
Here's a High-Tech, All-American Engine with Hot Rod Roots.
By Bill McGuire
"One thing about working for HOT ROD is that, eventually, you get to break every rule. Here's the violation for this month: HOT ROD doesn't do motorcycles. Oops. Our excuse for stretching the editorial envelope this time around is that the Motus-Katech V4 has four-wheel genes. We figure the story is worthy because it's a V-type, pushrod engine in the hot rodding tradition but with bleeding-edge technology—including direct fuel injection. The Birmingham Motorcycle Co., of the Alabama city of the same name, is currently developing a premium, sport-touring bike called the Motus."
All About Bikes June issue features Motus
A NEW AMERICAN SPORTBIKE
By Dan Evon. Photos by Neale Bayly.
"What do you want in a motorcycle? It's a simple question that has a thousand different answers. Some people want a motorcycle that is comfortable enough to ride all day and all night. Some want a bike that will make their heart jump into their throat every time they roll back the throttie. Some want both."
Motorcyclist June 2011 issue features Motus
Up to Speed: America'a Newest Motorcycle Maker Reveals its First Bike
"A bevel-gear arrangement transfers power from the longitudinal crankshaft to the six speed transmission, which incorporates a conventional, multi-plate motorcycle clutch. The powertrain is unexpectedly compact, fitting easily within a 58-inch wheelbase. The seat is 31.5 inches high and surprisingly narrow at the front, so even short riders can reach the ground with two flat feet. With the cylinders canted forward 15 degrees and the low mounted transmission, leg room is generous."
Cycle World June 2011 issue features Motus
Roundup: American Sport-Tourer
"You met the Motus MST on these pages early last year (Roundup, April, 2010). At that time, it was a motor mockup, a styling sketch and some nicely rendered CAD drawings. But Motus principals Lee Conn and Brian Case rolled out the running prototype this past spring."
RIDER June 2011 issue features Motus
Kickstarts: Motus MST Revealed
"Photos of the MST show the KMV4 mounted longitudinally in a trellis-style frame. Not surprisingly, the MST has a more conventional appearance than its concept sketch, with a smaller fairing that allows an unencumbered view of the engine, a sporty windscreen, and saddlebags made by Givi. The KMV4 engine is said to deliver abundant torque throughout the rev range with a unique combination of sound, feel, smoothness and efficiency. The transmission, chassis and bodywork are purpose- built for high performance, durability, comfort and long range."
Auto Week - April 2011 issue features Motus
A World's First For Detroit
New American Bike Builder Taps Michigan Racing-Engineering Firepower
"THREE YEARS AGO, Motus Motorcycles, an Alabama-based start-up, commissioned first Katech, then later Pratt & Miller, both in the Detroit area, to conduct engineering and prototype work on a new sport tourer with the world's first direct-injection four-stroke bike engine. The engine came alive last summer, a ridable prototype was completed in late 2010, and the Motus MST is now slated to begin production by the end of this year, pending internal validation testing and EPA certification."
Asphalt & Rubber
Motus MST – Here Comes America’s Sport-Tourer
By Jensen Beeler
March 8, 2011
"After much waiting, Motus Motorcycles finally launched its MST sport-tourer to the public today. Unveiled at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Motus’s hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, the American motorcycle manufacturer will head to Florida for the Progressive International Motorcycle Show on Thursday, March 10th for a more public showing."
Motorcycle Daily
MD First Look: Motus MST Sport-Tourer
By Gabe Ets-Hokin
March 8, 2011
"When I hear the phrase “new American motorcycle,” I usually roll my eyes and groan—how many chrome-laden, raked-out customs does the world really need? But when I saw pictures of the new Motus MST I knew there would be no eye-rolling here—unless it was from the ecstasy of being punched back in my seat by the 161 horsepower and 122 ft.-lbs. of torque promised by its unique V-Four powerplant."
The Kneeslider
Motus MST Rolls Out from Behind the Curtains
By Paul Crowe
March 4, 2011
"Pencil sketches are good, CAD drawings an important step and 3D renders show what a project should look like, but there's nothing like throwing your leg over a real motorcycle to see if all of the talk has amounted to anything, and that's exactly what I had the chance to do yesterday as Motus rolled out their all new Motus MST at Pratt and Miller Engineering giving the world its first look at what Lee Conn and Brian Case are bringing to life."
The New York Times Wheels
Motus Motorcycles: Sport-Touring, American Style
By Lindsay Brooke
March 4, 2011
"So you want to start a motorcycle company? Better do your homework first, because the list of those who have succeeded in recent years is short indeed.
Among American brands trying to cheat the odds, only Minnesota-based Victory Motorcycles has managed to really make a mark. But Victory’s product range — all heavyweight cruisers and touring bikes with V-twin engines — doesn’t stray far from Milwaukee tradition in terms of style and performance.
Enter Lee Conn and Brian Case, co-founders of Motus Motorcycles, based in Birmingham, Ala. Their business model is essentially a rebuttal to the stereotype of the traditional American motorcycle."
PRESS RELEASE:
Motus Motorcycles unveils MST series of American sportbikes
Birmingham, AL- March 4, 2011
Against the backdrop of the world’s most extensive motorcycle collection, Motus unveiled the stunning MST series of comfortable sportbikes, powered by the first gasoline direct injected V4 engine. The MST’s were designed by Motus, and built by one of the world’s most sophisticated engineering firms to help reshape the American motorcycle market with a machine that focuses squarely on performance, comfort and range.
The Motus MST’s were developed quietly and revealed privately first at the facility of Motus’s partner Pratt & Miller Engineering in New Hudson, Michigan and then at Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in the hometown of Motus, Birmingham, Alabama. Next, Motus heads to BikeWeek in Daytona Beach, Florida, for a public launch at the Progressive International Motorcycle Show on Thursday, March 10th at 2:00 pm and various private showings with press and supporters.
Race Engine Technology May 2010 features KMV4
RET Editor Ian Bamsey introduces the Motus V4, a fascinating spin-off from the Corvette Le Mans program that embraces direct injection
"Initially naturally aspirated with a turbo version to follow, on the face of it the Motus KMV4 is a scaled down version of the Corvette GT1 direct-injection Small Block V8, albeit having only four cylinders."
"Katech owner Fritz Kayl has designed the Motus KMV4 from the ground up, with input from various specialists as appropriate. For example, the crankshaft was designed by Jim Sracic at Oxford Brookes University in the UK under the direction of Geoff Goddard - who, we should remember, has a multi-Indy winning engine to his credit."
Inc magazine May 2010 names Motus "breakout" company
"Welcome to the Innovation Depot, a 140,000-square-foot facility housed in a former Sears store. A partnership with the local University of Alabama campus, the depot is one of the largest incubators in the Southeast. Who gets in: Start-ups in biotech, IT, and engineering. Breakout company: Motus Motorcycles released a prototype for the world's first direct-injected, liquid-cooled V-4 motorcycle engine last year."
Motus featured in Vietnam automotive magazine
"Mang đặc trưng của dòng xe lai sport-touring, trang bị động cơ V4 dung tích 1.645cc, Motus ST 01 kết hợp giữa thiết kế đường trường ổn định cùng sức kéo mạnh mẽ với sự nhịp nhàng đặc trưng cho động cơ đa xi-lanh. Tuy nhiên chiếc xe còn nhiều thứ đặc sắc hơn thế."
Cycle World April 2010 issue features Motus
Meet the Motus: American-made V-Four sport-tourer breaks cover
"Multiple cams and four valves per cylinder aren't necessary to making stump-pulling torque. All you need is adequate displacement, a high compression ratio and two valves per cylinder operated by time-proven pushrods and rocker arms, just as in every classic American car V-Eight."
"The design choices Motus made tell us this is a sport-tourer, with the emphasis on "sport"..."
Motus Motorcycles Completes World's First Direct Injected V4 Engine
January 19, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Jan. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Motus Motorcycles has been working secretly with Katech Engines to develop the world's first direct-injected V4 engine. Named the KMV4, the engine is an advanced, high performance powertrain designed for Motus MST motorcycles. Now undergoing extensive durability testing, the KMV4 is also the first American V4 ever built for a production vehicle.
Cycle World Exclusive First Look: Motus Motorcycles MST-01 1650cc Sport Tourer
By Kevin Cameron
January 15, 2010
"Hard times bring change. Currency shifts are making Japanese goods less attractive, European goods more so. How about American-made goods? Maybe it's time for a new motorcycle enterprise. Here comes Motus (Latin for "motion"), designed in Birmingham, Alabama, with Made in USA all over it."
Motorcyclist magazine features Motus concept
January 4, 2010
"Engineered in Michigan, designed and built in Alabama, featuring an all-new, 1650cc V4 engine, the 2011 Motus MST sport-tourer could put America back on the map as a builder of high-performance, sport-oriented motorcycles."
Motus Motorcycles partners with Pratt & Miller Engineering to develop a revolutionary sport touring motorcycle
September 14, 2009
Pratt & Miller Engineering’s 20 year history of success in motorsports was a determining factor in this partnership with Motus Motorcycles. Pratt & Miller Engineering has won numerous championships in the American Le Mans Series, Rolex Grand-Am series, NASCAR and six 24 hours of Le Mans victories in the GT1 category. In addition to motorsports, Pratt and Miller Engineering has played a prominent role in automotive, commercial, aerospace, and defense projects such as unmanned vehicles and the new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.