Motus Motorcycles

Motus Motorcycles is a start-up motorcycle manufacturer. The company was founded by entrepreneur Lee Conn and former Confederate Motorcycles designer Brian Case with plans to develop a sport touring motorcycle. They have designed a 1650cc liquid-cooled V4 engine, unique in the motorcycle industry. It was engineered by Pratt & Miller and Katech Engines of Detroit, Michigan.

Currently housed at the Innovation Depot downtown, Motus plans to manufacture its first model at a new facility near the Barber Motorsports Park. In 2010 the company applied for $2 million in tax-free Recovery Zone bonds administered through the City of Birmingham to finance the project.

In March 2012, Motus unveiled their first two models at events at Pratt & Miller in Detroit and at the Barber Museum of Motorsports. Conn and Case plan to tour 250 cities on their first bikes, beginning at Daytona Bike Week. Limited production of the motorcycles is expected to begin before the end of the year at an assembly plant near the Motorsports Park.

In March 2012 the company began seeking a site for a production facility which could begin building motorcycles for sale to the public in the Fall.

Models

Rendering of the Motus MST-01

• Motus MST-01: 1,654 cc, V-4 sport-touring motorcycle (2011)
• Motus MST-R: 1,654 cc, V-4 sport-touring motorcycle (2011)

References

• Kent, Dawn (September 23, 2009) "Birmingham motorcycle company developing model for sport touring market." Birmingham News
• Tomberlin, Michael (January 25, 2010) "Founders of Birmingham's Motus talk motorcycle." Birmingham News
• Stein, John (February 2010) "Motus Operandi: New motorcycle startup envisions a uniquely American sport-tourer." Motorcyclist
• Reynolds, Ed (May 13, 2010) "The Best of Both Worlds." Black & White
• Brooke, Lindsay (March 4, 2011) "Motus Motorcycles: Sport-Touring, American Style" Wheels Blog. The New York Times
• Coman, Victoria L. (March 6, 2011) "Birmingham men unveil Motus MST, MST-R motorcycles." Birmingham News
• Tomberlin, Michael (March 15, 2012) "Startup to start production." Birmingham News

External links

• Motus Motorcycles website
• Motus Motorcycles on Facebook.com