A new American that isn't a shake pile V twin!

[Ivan]

Its called the Motus. V4 longitudinally mounted. Think Honda CX with two more cylinders.

Still reading the article. Not sure it will be any good, but at least there is some one in the US that has enough sense to abandon the V2 stigma.

I am starting to regain hope for the American Motorcycle.

[81xsproject]

Looks cool. I wonder how it will fair, however. Buell tried to break that barrier and look where they are now. Seems to me that if you are "American Made" mind set, you want to shake on a pile.

[Ivan]

Yeah, but I think Eric's mistake was not in design, but in aligning with HD. Eric was a progressive forward thinking genious when it came to cycle design, and HD is everything but. I almost hope Mr. Buell will find a way to get back in the game.

I am not sure if the pushrod design is all that great, but for a low end torque type motor it should do ok. Plus it helps with the compact dimensions.

It will be interesting none the less. Hopefully it will be a respectable price, and not 50k or some outrageous price that makes it non competetive in the marketplace.

[fredintoon]

Its called the Motus. V4 longitudinally mounted. Think Honda CX with two more cylinders.

Still reading the article. Not sure it will be any good, but at least there is some one in the US that has enough sense to abandon the V2 stigma.

I am starting to regain hope for the American Motorcycle.

Hi Ivan,
this one?

http://www.motusmotorcycles.com/

I wish them well but the bike looks like it was billet machined from unaffordium.
BTW, nothing wrong with a V-twin as long as it's done right. Cite your own European and Japanese examples.
What's wrong with most V-twins you see around is the Barcalounger seating position.
In it's own way as ergonomically unsound as the monkey-humping-a-football riding position of the average sport bike.

[psycoreefer]

I like the look, and v4's have a lot of advantages, torque and smoother then a twin and by mounting it transverse they have the crank rotating the same direction as the shaft (sport TOURING so I'm assuming shaft drive). I'd give it a test ride at a dealer near me....

[cueball]

Longitudinal V4

Seem to remember Honda have been doing that for quite a while. As for Buell, No way were Hogly going to let them live when they stopped using Sportster motors. Although, do hope Eric Buell gets going on his own again.

[XSokieSPECIAL]

The only REAL problem I had with my CX was that it torqued to the right all the time.

When you were on it hard you had to lean left.

[b.walker5]

Seem to remember Honda have been doing that for quite a while. As for Buell, No way were Hogly going to let them live when they stopped using Sportster motors. Although, do hope Eric Buell gets going on his own again.

One of those unsubstantiated rumours with no apparent source says some involvement with Ducati could be in the pipeline. Now that would be a cool Buell.

[GARTHXS]

i found that out the hard way

The only REAL problem I had with my CX was that it torqued to the right all the time.

When you were on it hard you had to lean left.

a couple of beers and inexperience left with some nice scars looping a cx on a gravel road when my right hand got a little heavy...... of course I was 21 and was wearing shorts and a tshirt now I am atgat

[cueball]

Pass

On Ducati seriously expensive to maintain. Service costs down here can run to $1200 when cam belts need to be replaced. If not replaced when worn, take out a loan to replace valves. Honda or Suzuki make very healthy V twins that are reliable. Please translate atgat?

[b.walker5]

Yeah, maybe, but I dont care, theyre way cool and if i was 30 years younger and without a bad back I'd have one in a flash.

[Ivan]

Just from a 30 foot "looks kinda like" the Buell ans Suzuki 90 degree twins were knock offs of the Ducati design. IIRC, they ripped it from an early MV Augusta, but I could be wrong.

I never thought about longitudinal mounting and the torque. Man if that thing has 80 ft-lbs I bet it will be hell on the take off, and acceleration. Good news is that you could get a knee down at 30 mph, in a straight line . Probably not that bad.

Its still a breath of fresh air though. The direct injection looks neat, not sure if any motorcycles use that yet?

[Guy_b_g]

another American effort

Here is an innovative design from an American company, MotoCzysz, based out of Portland Oregon. This bike was built to be raced in the 2009 MotoGP series, but the rule change reducing engine capacity to 800cc forced a redesign, the plan was to build 50 replica racers and then test the road market.

This is a longitudinal straight 4 with zero torque reaction, and zero flywheel effect from the motor, as well as perfect primary balance, achieved by spinning two cranks (2 cyl ea) in opposite directions.

They also have a very innovative front suspension.

Here is what the state of play currently is for this bike (since they changed the rule (again) for 2012 to 4 cylinders at 82mm per cylinder.

The chassis is very complete, all who have ridden the C1 claim it to be the best handling, most neutral motorcycle they have ever ridden.

The 2012 season is a great opportunity! MotoCzysz now has the base motorcycle, enough time and rules actually leaning a little in our favor- we could not ask for a better opportunity. Let’s hope others feel the way I do. There is heavy lifting to be done but great things can be accomplished with many hands and the assistance of a few true believers.

And here is their major effort right now, an electric bike with the performance level of a current 600cc sportbike, it will be raced at the Isle of Mann TT this year.



I wish them success!

[fredintoon]

- - - - Please translate atgat?

Hi cueball,
All The Gear All The Time.

[Guy_b_g]

As to torque reaction, it ain't that bad.

I've owned 2 MotoGuzzi 1000cc bikes, and the only time the torque reaction of the longitudinal v-twin motor or flywheel was noticeable was at a dead stop.

The big problem with my '78 LeMans was the torque reaction from the shaft drive, if you lifted the throttle heeled over in a turn, then you could get your foot wiped off of the footpeg when the rear suspension dropped...but it never wrecked me. Later models fixed that with a torque bar attached to the drive hub from the frame, and other methods.

If torque reaction was such a big deal, no way would you be able to ride the 502 cu in Boss Hoss, with a longitudinal big block Chevy V8, and not end up on your head.