VOL. 53 ISSUE 1 JANUARY 12, 2016 P91
so less than halfway to redline
according to the good-looking
and very comprehensive Murphy
TFT dash that's ultra-legible in
sunlight, and is benchmark kit.
I'd be happy to find it on any bike
I'd be riding for the long haul.
DOWN THERE FOR DANCING
The Motus handles really well,
with an intuitive feel to the
steering that's more sport than
tourer—both the MST and MST-R
find their way through a series
of turns almost on autopilot, with
huge feedback from the front
tire via the well dialed-in Öhlins
NIX30 fork. I was particularly
between 4000 and 7000 rpm,
surfing the serious waves of
torque flowing from the motor in
recognition of the half-a-Detroit
V8 it really is. Top gear roll-on is
very good, making this a relax-
ing mile-eater in freeway travel,
but the MST's clutch has a light,
easy pull, making this a relaxing
ride in traffic.
The light, precise gearshift
has well-chosen gear ratios, and
thanks to the ultra-torquey nature
of the engine has the luxury
of an ultra-long first gear, then
three evenly spaced ones before
the overdrive fifth and sixth for
long-legged high-speed cruising.
The engine's only turning over at
3500 rpm at 85 mph in top gear,
MAKE NO
MISTAKE,
THE MOTUS
IS A VERY
SERIOUS AND
WELL-CONCEIVED
ATTEMPT TO SERVICE
A SEGMENT IN
THE MARKETPLACE
THAT'S BEEN
COMPLETELY
IGNORED UNTIL
NOW BY AMERICAN
MANUFACTURERS.
