Motus MST-R - Specifications & Review

Company History

Motus set out to build an American sport-tourer that felt mechanical, elemental, and brutally durable. Its centerpiece was a longitudinal, cam-in-block V4 derived philosophically from small-block American V8s—pushrods, compact packaging, and thunderous midrange rather than sky-high revs. The MST and MST-R wrapped that engine in a chromoly frame, Öhlins/Brembo running gear, and practical touring bits—hard luggage, real-world wind protection, and service access any competent shop could handle. Journalists raved about the throttle connection and engine character: tractable at a crawl, locomotive from corner exits, and unburdened by the thermal complexity of some modern superbikes. The business, like many boutiques, wrestled with capitalization, emissions evolution, and dealer footprint, ultimately winding down. Yet Motus proved a thesis: an American V4 can be soulful, serviceable, and devastatingly effective for long, fast roads. Historically, the brand occupies the same romantic space as Britten and MotoCzysz—small teams translating clear ideas into cohesive motorcycles. Used examples retain cult status because they feel engineered for riders first: simple to wrench, long-legged on interstate, and joyous on empty two-lanes.