Victory Motorcycle to Wind Down Production

[the Ferret]

Yes, entertaining thread.

I guess it morphed into Motus because Motus is an expensive version of what Victory could have produced, so it makes sense that the conversation kind of went that way. Not a problem, we can easily discuss both.

Yea the chain drive on the Motus is questionable, not because it's a horrible way to power a motorcycle, because a chain has it's advantages (weight, cost, cost to replace, ability to alter gear ratios), but for a bike that is supposed to be a big time mile eater, a chain that wears out every 20,000 miles or so (Motus warranties the chain for 20K) is a weak link (pun intended). I mean, a lot of dedicated sport tourers ride more than 20K a year. I know several that ride over 40,000 miles a year. Then again you won't have reputed final drive failures like BMW that cost $2K apiece to fix, (and I read about one guy had had 3 failures). On the other hand you could have a good one like on the FJR or ST 1300's which will run 100's of thousands of miles on 5.2 oz of 80 weight oil changed once a year. I have been on the ST forum for 8 years and can't recall a rear end failure. A couple of universal joint failures but no rear end failures. Not saying there haven't been any, but certainly rare, rare, rare, and there are forum members who have racked up 200-300 thousand miles on their ST's. Not a common issue with Gold Wings either, and you know how many of those guys rack up big miles. In 100,000 miles (if they only lasted 20,000) you'd have to replace 5 sets of chains and sprockets vs less than 32 oz of oil, and have to replace a set of chains and sprockets before every riding season.

Motus does have some good points with their hydraulic valves (are you listening HONDA?) they use hydraulic valves on a 165 hp motorcycle that revs to 9K, and a spin on oil filter to facilitate maintenance.

From what I have read, complaints on the Motus circulate around what it doesn't have... like ABS, TC, ride modes, std heated grips, lack of dealer network, and an unknown reliability record on what is certainly a premium priced motorcycle.. I have heard complaints of an "agricultural" transmission, but don't know if that was just with early ones or common to all.
I think with Motus you just can't use the same measuring stick as you do with other motorcycles. You are paying for low volume motorcycle, hand built, using premium parts like Brembos and Ohlins and a certain exclusivity.

[Cormanus]

I'll settle for this one.


Cormanus assumes an angelic face.

Breathe. And again. Writes:

Stichill, you're promoting this overpowered ST / FJR 1300 knock off big time. Why?

I know! You want one! :

So, do us all a favour and get on with it. Quickly, before Mrs Stichill finds out.

Take it for a thrash—one of Forest Gump proportions—and tell us about it.

Then buy a 2017 CB1100 EX and acknowledge that the lust for power and kudos afforded by the Motus wasn't worth it.

:

Funny! But that swooshing sound is the passing rush of a point being entirely missed!

This thread started out with people crying in their beers and lamenting that our one last shot at an American sport touring motorcycle just died with Victory...waaaah!

To pointedly contradict that mistaken notion, I've offered up evidence that a fantastically capable American sport touring bike manifestly exists.

Then came the protests:[ul] [li]"Yeah but there's no dealers."[/li] [li]"Yeah but they're too expensive."[/li] [li]"Yeah but the BMW K1600GTL wipes the floor with it."[/li] [li]"Yeah but I never heard of it."[/li] [li]"Yeah but I don't know anybody who rides one."[/li] [li]"Yeah but you never see 'em parked at Taco Bell."
[/li][/ul]
If one finds any of the above rationalizations compelling...it's pretty obvious that you aren't in the target audience for Motus. So, now that we have that much established, we can move on and talk about what the Motus is rather than what it is not.

Whether or not the Motus meets the price levels of more plebeian motorcycles or whether it can be afforded on a Burger King budget isn't germain...what matters is that the Motus was built to a defined specification for a specific market segment, and is succeeding.

Personally I love the bike for what it represents: a lifetime zenithal purchase for the most dedicated, seasoned, and serious sport touring motorcyclists among us.

In an abundance of self-effacing modesty, I don't count myself among this elite cadre of riders. After only five years' street riding and ownership of just two motorcycles (entry-level and mid-range), I absolutely do not have the breadth of riding skills and experience to fully appreciate the Motus...putting me on that bike would be a waste of machinery. Not to mention that would make me a terribly embarrassing poseur...I can only imagine the first cringe-inducing out-on-the-road conversation with a hardcore Motus rider.

That being said, I'd definitely like to get a test ride on one, just to gain an understanding of what a bike of that caliber feels like to ride. Plus, it's just a radically cool and uniquely awesome motorcycle! Hard to imagine a motorcyclist whose pulse isn't raised (at least a little bit) by a rip-snorting machine like the Motus.

And the crash that followed was a failed joke hitting the wall.

I hope you do get to ride one and tell us about it.

[uscgmac_imp]

Let's face it, niche expensive hot rod type bike are cool as heck and fun but made for a true enthusiast who will take the time and money to pour into it just for pure joy and pride of owning something different and won't care about dealer support or distance to a dealer. The same type that will buy a viper or boss hog or an old Porsche or ferrari just because they can. I don't think this bike is intended for the general market at this time. I ride with people who have enough money to buy several of these bike at one time if they wanted but will stick with what they already know because they don't want to get their hands dirty to fix anything or have a hassle ordering anything and know the dealer is around the corner. I know guys who own guzzies and are sickened at the fact they have to put the bike on a trailer and travel to another state to have it worked on because it's above their level of experience and their local dealer stinks.

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[the Ferret]

Let's face it, niche expensive hot rod type bike are cool as heck and fun but made for a true enthusiast who will take the time and money to pour into it just for pure joy and pride of owning something different and won't care about dealer support or distance to a dealer. The same type that will buy a viper or boss hog or an old Porsche or ferrari just because they can. I don't think this bike is intended for the general market at this time. I ride with people who have enough money to buy several of these bike at one time if they wanted but will stick with what they already know because they don't want to get their hands dirty to fix anything or have a hassle ordering anything and know the dealer is around the corner. I know guys who own guzzies and are sickened at the fact they have to put the bike on a trailer and travel to another state to have it worked on because it's above their level of experience and their local dealer stinks.

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We have to do that with my son's Ducati which is why he doesn't ride it very much lol. His daily rider is an FJ-09. The Yammie dealer is about 10 miles away.

[uscgmac_imp]

BTW, yes Motus is another American made option and they make a sport tourer but is it practical for the everyday Joe, no I don't think so. Maybe down the line it will be.

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Now that Victory is going away I wonder how Indian will be with their warranty work. I've only heard of bad experiences with the only Indian dealer on Long island.

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[the Ferret]

Our local Indian dealer folded the tent earlier this year. From my understanding they were part of a 6 or 7 mega store operation that closed all their shops at once.

[redbirds_imp]

The BMW K1600GTL weighs 50% more than the Motus. To me, THAT is the hill BMW has to climb.

I have followed development of the Motus since announced and it is my dream bike. Considering the price range of CVO Harley's the Motus is a bargain. As for chain drive, anyone who can afford a bike at this price can certainly afford a chain and sprocket replacement every 20,000 miles or so. No valve adjustments ever, everything on the engine easily accessible, I can't imagine better. As for the BMW, ugly and heavy.

[uscgmac_imp]

The Harley CVOs can be purchased for under msrp, often dealers will heavily discount them and whether you like them or not they hold a higher resale value than most bikes out there.

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[Sam Mac_imp]

The Harley CVOs can be purchased for under msrp, often dealers will heavily discount them and whether you like them or not they hold a higher resale value than most bikes out there.

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Don't tell me about how Harleys hold there value, I've owned a Night Rod and a Road Glide Ultra, took a bath on both. I will never buy a Harley again. Night Rod was the worst POS bike I have ever owned.

[Stichill_imp]

The BMW K1600GTL weighs 50% more than the Motus. To me, THAT is the hill BMW has to climb.

I have followed development of the Motus since announced and it is my dream bike. Considering the price range of CVO Harley's the Motus is a bargain. As for chain drive, anyone who can afford a bike at this price can certainly afford a chain and sprocket replacement every 20,000 miles or so. No valve adjustments ever, everything on the engine easily accessible, I can't imagine better. As for the BMW, ugly and heavy.

^^^ Motus target buyer

The BMW K1600GTL weighs 50% more than the Motus. To me, THAT is the hill BMW has to climb.

I have followed development of the Motus since announced and it is my dream bike. Considering the price range of CVO Harley's the Motus is a bargain. As for chain drive, anyone who can afford a bike at this price can certainly afford a chain and sprocket replacement every 20,000 miles or so. No valve adjustments ever, everything on the engine easily accessible, I can't imagine better. As for the BMW, ugly and heavy.

+1

Our local Indian dealer folded the tent earlier this year. From my understanding they were part of a 6 or 7 mega store operation that closed all their shops at once.

There's a good Indian dealer in Richwood, Kentucky off I-75: CCM of NKY Indian, Victory, Slingshot. They do all my tubeless tire swaps and balancing for about $30 a rim off the bike. I've had nothing but pleasant interactions with the sales and service staff there.

I'll settle for this one.


Cormanus assumes an angelic face.

Breathe. And again. Writes:

Stichill, you're promoting this overpowered ST / FJR 1300 knock off big time. Why?

I know! You want one! :

So, do us all a favour and get on with it. Quickly, before Mrs Stichill finds out.

Take it for a thrash—one of Forest Gump proportions—and tell us about it.

Then buy a 2017 CB1100 EX and acknowledge that the lust for power and kudos afforded by the Motus wasn't worth it.

:

Funny! But that swooshing sound is the passing rush of a point being entirely missed!

This thread started out with people crying in their beers and lamenting that our one last shot at an American sport touring motorcycle just died with Victory...waaaah!

To pointedly contradict that mistaken notion, I've offered up evidence that a fantastically capable American sport touring bike manifestly exists.

Then came the protests:[ul] [li]"Yeah but there's no dealers."[/li] [li]"Yeah but they're too expensive."[/li] [li]"Yeah but the BMW K1600GTL wipes the floor with it."[/li] [li]"Yeah but I never heard of it."[/li] [li]"Yeah but I don't know anybody who rides one."[/li] [li]"Yeah but you never see 'em parked at Taco Bell."
[/li][/ul]
If one finds any of the above rationalizations compelling...it's pretty obvious that you aren't in the target audience for Motus. So, now that we have that much established, we can move on and talk about what the Motus is rather than what it is not.

Whether or not the Motus meets the price levels of more plebeian motorcycles or whether it can be afforded on a Burger King budget isn't germain...what matters is that the Motus was built to a defined specification for a specific market segment, and is succeeding.

Personally I love the bike for what it represents: a lifetime zenithal purchase for the most dedicated, seasoned, and serious sport touring motorcyclists among us.

In an abundance of self-effacing modesty, I don't count myself among this elite cadre of riders. After only five years' street riding and ownership of just two motorcycles (entry-level and mid-range), I absolutely do not have the breadth of riding skills and experience to fully appreciate the Motus...putting me on that bike would be a waste of machinery. Not to mention that would make me a terribly embarrassing poseur...I can only imagine the first cringe-inducing out-on-the-road conversation with a hardcore Motus rider.

That being said, I'd definitely like to get a test ride on one, just to gain an understanding of what a bike of that caliber feels like to ride. Plus, it's just a radically cool and uniquely awesome motorcycle! Hard to imagine a motorcyclist whose pulse isn't raised (at least a little bit) by a rip-snorting machine like the Motus.

And the crash that followed was a failed joke hitting the wall.

I hope you do get to ride one and tell us about it.

Ouch! Tough crowd tonight.

I'll settle for this one.


Cormanus assumes an angelic face.

Breathe. And again. Writes:

Stichill, you're promoting this overpowered ST / FJR 1300 knock off big time. Why?

I know! You want one! :

So, do us all a favour and get on with it. Quickly, before Mrs Stichill finds out.

Take it for a thrash—one of Forest Gump proportions—and tell us about it.

Then buy a 2017 CB1100 EX and acknowledge that the lust for power and kudos afforded by the Motus wasn't worth it.

:

Funny! But that swooshing sound is the passing rush of a point being entirely missed!

This thread started out with people crying in their beers and lamenting that our one last shot at an American sport touring motorcycle just died with Victory...waaaah!

To pointedly contradict that mistaken notion, I've offered up evidence that a fantastically capable American sport touring bike manifestly exists.

Then came the protests:[ul] [li]"Yeah but there's no dealers."[/li] [li]"Yeah but they're too expensive."[/li] [li]"Yeah but the BMW K1600GTL wipes the floor with it."[/li] [li]"Yeah but I never heard of it."[/li] [li]"Yeah but I don't know anybody who rides one."[/li] [li]"Yeah but you never see 'em parked at Taco Bell."
[/li][/ul]
If one finds any of the above rationalizations compelling...it's pretty obvious that you aren't in the target audience for Motus. So, now that we have that much established, we can move on and talk about what the Motus is rather than what it is not.

Whether or not the Motus meets the price levels of more plebeian motorcycles or whether it can be afforded on a Burger King budget isn't germain...what matters is that the Motus was built to a defined specification for a specific market segment, and is succeeding.

Personally I love the bike for what it represents: a lifetime zenithal purchase for the most dedicated, seasoned, and serious sport touring motorcyclists among us.

In an abundance of self-effacing modesty, I don't count myself among this elite cadre of riders. After only five years' street riding and ownership of just two motorcycles (entry-level and mid-range), I absolutely do not have the breadth of riding skills and experience to fully appreciate the Motus...putting me on that bike would be a waste of machinery. Not to mention that would make me a terribly embarrassing poseur...I can only imagine the first cringe-inducing out-on-the-road conversation with a hardcore Motus rider.

That being said, I'd definitely like to get a test ride on one, just to gain an understanding of what a bike of that caliber feels like to ride. Plus, it's just a radically cool and uniquely awesome motorcycle! Hard to imagine a motorcyclist whose pulse isn't raised (at least a little bit) by a rip-snorting machine like the Motus.

And the crash that followed was a failed joke hitting the wall.

I hope you do get to ride one and tell us about it.