American niche motorcycle manufacturer Motus, which produced limited numbers of a transverse V4 sport-tourer, has closed down. Owners of its bikes in the US were informed by email on 31 August that the company has “reached the end of its financial backing from investors”. This news was later confirmed by Motus co-founder and designer Brian Case in a text message to motorcycling website Asphalt & Rubber. A more formal liquidation notice is expected to follow shortly.
Built in Birmingham, Alabama, the original Motus MST model was launched in 2014. It featured a technologically retro pushrod 1650cc engine with two valves per cylinder and a studied absence of modern electronics — at a premium price equivalent to about £24,000. Motus had been planning to unveil a streetfighter version in the near future.
BDN reported in the last issue that the Motus dealer network in the United States had reached 30.