Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/625324
2016 MOTUS MST & MST-R FIRST RIDE P92 impressed by the Progressive Suspension rear shock on the MST, which while adjustable only for preload and rebound damping compared to the MST- R's all-singing more expensive Öhlins TTX36 shock, delivered better damping over rough sur- faces and a superior ride quality to the stiffer sprung shock from the Swedish suspension sultans. The variable rate spring helped the Progressive shock live up to its maker's name, with better compliance over real world road surfaces. OK, the Öhlins may be better for sport riding—but while the MST-R has an extra top end performance kick, and its flat- ter Rizoma bar gives a sportier stance at the helm, I much preferred riding the less costly MST. The R-model is a sportbike that you can fit luggage to, but the MST is a true sport tourer, and a very enjoyable real-world all-arounder of a motorcycle. In fact, that says it all about the Motus package—the bikes aren't cheap, but except for the soon to be mandatory ABS (which Lee Conn says they're working on, and will introduce in 2016) they're very fully spec'd, plus the MST and MST-R have a unique engine design, invigorat- ing performance, are extremely comfortable for long journeys, and are well finished judging by the build quality of the well- used pair I was riding. 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. The bikes were obviously developed by people who ride big distanc- es themselves and know what they want – and that's some- thing far more sporting than a Harley-Davidson Electra Glide or a Victory Vision. Imagine you won the lottery and had the financial resources to develop your own sport touring motorcy- cle from the ground up. Would it be so very much different than the Motus MST? CN S P E C I F I C A T I O N S MOTUS MST-R (MST) ENGINE: ................................... Liquid-cooled all aluminum 90-degree V4 four-stroke with crankpins offset by 75 degrees, two pushrod-operated OHV valves per cylinder, chain-driven camshaft-in-block and hydraulic roller lifters BORE X STROKE: .............................................. 88 x 67.8mm DISPLACEMENT: ..............................................................1650cc POWER: .........180 bhp at 7800 rpm at crankshaft (165 hp at 7800 rpm - rear wheel) TORQUE: .......126 lb-ft at 5000 rpm at crankshaft (123 lb-ft - rear wheel) COMPRESSION RATIO: .................................................... 11.5:1 FUEL/IGNITION SYSTEM: ...Closed loop multi-point fuel injection and engine management system, with Murphy ECU, RBW digital throttle, and 4 x 40mm Motus downdraft throttle bodies with single AC Delco L92GM injector per cylinder TRANSMISSION: ........................................................ Six-speed extractable cassette-type with gear primary and chain final drive CLUTCH: ....Hydraulically-controlled multi-plate (10 friction/11 drive) oil-bath CHASSIS: ...4130 chrome-moly tubular-steel trellis spaceframe FRONT SUSPENSION: ............ 43mm fully adjustable Öhlins NIX30 inverted telescopic fork REAR SUSPENSION: ....................... 4130 chrome-moly tubular steel swingarm with fully-adjustable Öhlins TTX36 (Motus MST-R). Progressive Suspension adjustable for rebound damping only monoshock with progressive-rate link and remote spring preload adjustment (Motus MST) RAKE: .............................................................................. 26 degrees TRAIL: .......................................................................................4.25 in. WHEELBASE: ........................................................................... 58 in. WEIGHT/DISTRIBUTION: ...... 565 lb./wet (claimed), with 52/48% static forward bias (580 lb.) FRONT BRAKES: ............................Dual 320mm Braking discs with four-piston radially mounted Brembo M4 Monobloc calipers REAR BRAKES: ..... 1 x 200mm Braking disc with two-piston Brembo caliper FRONT TIRE/WHEEL: ...120/70-17 Pirelli Angel GT on 3.50 in. BST carbon fiber (Motus MST-R). OZ Racing forged aluminum wheel (Motus MST). REAR TIRE/WHEEL:.......190/55-17 Pirelli Angel GT on 6.00 in. BST carbon fiber (Motus MST-R). OZ Racing-forged aluminum wheel (Motus MST). SEAT HEIGHT: ......................32.5 in. (option of 31.5 in.) FUEL CAPACITY: .....................................................5.5 U.S. gal. TOP SPEED: ........................169 mph (Bonneville 2014) TEST BIKE: ................................ Motus Motorcycles Inc., Birmingham, Alabama, USA. www.motusmotor- cycles.com PRICE: ................................$30,975 (MST), $36,975 (MST-R) WARRANTY: .... Two years unlimited mileage, with 20,000-mile warranty on drive chain and unlimited mileage on drive sprocket