Victory Motorcycle to Wind Down Production

[the Ferret]

I imagine they are, but have never seen one. Never seen a Motus dealer, never talked to anyone that has ridden one. So, I can't say for sure.

At least Victory had some dealers, I've seen em, sat on em, and known a couple guys who actually have ridden them.

Motorcyclists have been begging for an American sport tourer for years. Maybe someday someone will step up. Harley could do it easly but won't. I have a feeling Indian never will either.

It's here...

It's here...




Lol if you think Victory had a tall hill to climb.....

[Stichill_imp]

I imagine they are, but have never seen one. Never seen a Motus dealer, never talked to anyone that has ridden one. So, I can't say for sure.

At least Victory had some dealers, I've seen em, sat on em, and known a couple guys who actually have ridden them.

Motorcyclists have been begging for an American sport tourer for years. Maybe someday someone will step up. Harley could do it easly but won't. I have a feeling Indian never will either.

It's here...

It's here...




Lol if you think Victory had a tall hill to climb.....

I'm not sure why so dismissive of Motus. Any serious motorcyclist genuinely desiring an American sport touring machine would never reject the Motus out of hand, because there is no Plan B after Motus. Not to mention that it's a penultimate dream bike for the dedicated, lifetime sport touring rider. I follow Motus on Facebook, and the purchasers are almost always older guys who are basically saying, "This is the ultimate bike for me. It exceeds all of my expectations. Now I'm just content to ride it for the rest of my life."

The same sentiments I've heard expressed a time or two around this forum...

The business models of Polaris and Motus are in no way similar. Polaris is a giant corporation focused on the bottom line. Motus is a privately held venture going for a skimming strategy: the well-heeled, lifetime rider who has the desire and the scratch to buy the ultimate sport touring machine for the North American continent.

The pricing of the Motus actually isn't out of line at all with many of the Harley CVO offerings, but it is an incredibly more capable machine. It goes to show how much margin is baked into a Harley, when a small upstart can offer a better machine at roughly the same price as a major market power. I think Motus has pulled off an incredible accomplishment that shouldn't be scoffed at. Personally I'm in awe of the vision and achievement of [url=http://motusmotorcycles.com/story]Lee Conn and Brian Case.

[emptysea]

The Motus is 50% more expensive than the BMWK1600GTL. To me, THAT is the hill they have to climb.

[Stichill_imp]

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

[emptysea]

I guess....but the fact remains that we were talking about bringing an US built sport touring bike to the US market and while the Motus may be defined as a "sport touring bike", "the US market" cannot possibly be defined at almost $40,000.

[Roper_imp]

Man, that Motus Baby Block V4 is a beautiful motor. The bike is like an ST1300 on steroids. And it doesn't sound like a sewing machine. If I had 30 grand just sittin around, I might buy one just to listen to the sound when I ride. But then again, I could buy three more CB1100's for that price, and give one to each of my kids, and have change left over for farkles...

[the Ferret]

Maybe I dismiss them out of hand because (1) I am not well-heeled enough to pay that kind of money. I am well healed enough to pay between 1/4 of that and maybe 1/2 if I wanted to ride it forever and (2) I am not one of those motorcyclists that would buy an American made sport tourer anyway (but I know there is a sub set of motorcyclists clamoring for just such a machine). Chances are, no matter what, I would buy/drive a Japanese sport tourer. Not American, not British, not German, not Austrian, nor Italian either. I like Japanese products.

I imagine there are people who have bought Motus's and like them. I understand there are also people who have bought Ferraris and like them. I am not well-heeled enough for one of those either. I drive a Honda (and like it)

I would also dismiss a $1 million dollar home even if there were no Plan B like the modest home I currently live in. I am not well-healed enough to pay for one of those either.

I eat at McDonalds and Burger King and have no idea what beef wellington is remember? I don't like paying more than $10 for a meal and prefer paying less than $5. The best (only) wine I can name off hand is Boone's Farm and I couldn't name a fine cigar if you held a razor to my throat. I wear HJC helmets and run of the mill Tourmaster jackets and pants (all bought on sale). I sleep in Red Roofs and Comfort Inns on the road because Holiday Inns cost too much. The only thing well-heeled in my house are my Alpinestars touring boots.

Just a common everyday run of the mill Ferret

[DAC]

I chatted up a guy who had the Motus sporty version outside Iron Pony one day. (IP is a local mega motorcycle dealership/gear store.) That guy started that thing up and it was like standing next to a big block Chevy dragster. Crazy loud. Pulled away pretty briskly too. It would be a fun thing to have if I was a gazillionaire. But for a poor working stiff who gets one toy to play with, I'll stick with the CB. (A rock and a string is pretty fun as well - if you're on a budget.)

[the Ferret]

See DAC understands (btw I could only afford the rock)

[Cormanus]

Is there some interstate thing happening here? Kentucky v Ohio?