Founders Lee Conn and Brian Case have announced that Motus, their Birmingham, Alabama based V4 sportsbike manufacturing operation has had to close down.
Only as recently as in July the company was announcing the latest additions to its growing domestic U.S. dealer network.
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| Founded in 2008, Motus had been continuing to add to its domestic U.S dealer network as recently as July this year and had a new segment launch announcement planned for October |
In a statement posted to their Facebook page the owners said that “after an amazing ten-year ride, Motus is forced to shut down operations, effective immediately.
“Motus' financial backers unexpectedly informed management that they will not provide sufficient capital to maintain operations and grow the business. We were surprised and disappointed, especially because we have been working so hard preparing an October 2018 product launch into a new and exciting segment, as well as new features on the MST series.
“This is very unfortunate timing and we will work to quickly find a new path forward for Motus Motorcycles and our American V4 powertrain division.”
In recognizing the contribution that their employees and dealers have made to the project to date, they went on to say “we are very grateful to Team Motus, truly the finest group of professionals and people, who have each dedicated so much of their hearts and soul to Motus. We are also thankful to our dealers and the many customers and supporters who have cheered us on and put gas in our tanks along the way.”
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| The MST and MSTR were based on proven, low maintenance 1650 cc (100ci), liquid-cooled, all aluminum 90° liquid and oil cooled V4 small-block architecture. Producing a claimed 180 hp and 126 ft-lb of torque, the self-adjusting valvetrain, ride-by-wire, cam-in-the-block, 2 OHV 3.465 in. bore by 2.669 in. stroke engine is regarded as a highly accomplished powerplant for a sports tourer |
In closing they said “for Motus owners, hang on to those motorcycles. As you already know, they are heirlooms, unlike any other motorcycles ever built.”
Founded by company President Lee Conn and business partner and designer Brian Case in 2008, Motus manufactured “sportsbikes with accommodations for touring that are designed to excel in performance, comfort and range.”
All Motus motorcycles - the MST and premium MSTR - were powered by V4 Baby Block engines, combining high performance with “low maintenance and a unique character that expresses the evolving heritage of the American motoring experience,” according to Lee Conn.
As the first and to date only modern American sportsbike manufacturer, Motus have always enjoyed a positive reputation with the respected test riders and magazine editors who have ridden them. We here at AMD certainly wish Conn and Case well and that they can phoenix from this set-back.