2016 MOTUS MST & MST-R
FIRST RIDE
P90
Once in motion you don't have
to combat the sideways sway
on the Motus that you usually
get with any lengthways crank,
like on a BMW Boxer or Guzzi.
Okay, blip the throttle in neutral,
and the Motus will indeed rock
from side to side—but only until
you select a gear. Then, just
hold the clutch lever in, even
sitting at rest, and the swaying
stops—and on the move it's also
completely indecipherable. The
torque rotation of the lengthways
crank is completely cancelled
out by the perpendicular gear-
box design—very clever, same
as the lack of any undue vibra-
tion from the V4 engine devoid
of balance shafts until you start
nearing the MST's 8200 rpm
rev limiter, when there are a few
tingles through the footrests
above 7000 rpm. So that really
isn't an issue, since it pays to
use the bottom four ratios in the
six-speed transmission (fifth and
sixth are overdrives, for relaxed
high-speed cruising) to live in the
KMV4's muscular happy zone
Long days in the
saddle are what
Motus is hoping
for their new
customers.
