A long time dream comes true

Rewind about 5 years when the founders of a new motorcycle company release some of the first sketches of a sport touring bike. MST-01 was the name given and the initial mention showed up in Cycle World around 2010.

I was intrigued. All the points hit home- comfortable, sporty, touring, HP, torque, classic USA engine design... I was following Motus from that point on keeping an eye on progress. The updates were spot on for a bike I could really see myself owning. 

The development moved along and updates kept coming. The bikes were nearing production and prices were released...and I was out. $37k MSRP for the high-spec version of the bike was a bit more nut than I care to crack at that point in my life. The dealer network was still developing and test rides required a bit of a drive.

The next amazing thing came when a local BMW dealer became a Motus dealer! They were gearing up for test rides and I would finally be able to be apart of this trip that I watch from afar for quite some time. Timing would also work against me for the test rides. I was scheduled for a much needed hip replacement in October of 2016. Factory test rides were scheduled 2 weeks after my surgery. I was at least able to meet Lee Conn (founder), sit on a bike, and watch other guys enjoy that day even if it was a bit cold...

Throwing a leg over a motorcycle 2 weeks after they saw off the top of your femur isn't exactly the smartest thing I ever have done, but there I was...

Fast forward through recovery and a new riding season. I had been putting miles on my other bikes and taking tours mostly on my Moto Guzzi Stelvio around Michigan. The thought of a Motus was distant, but always present. I would just have to wait until the used market to have a chance at a Motus.

That day happened by chance on the Friday before the 2017 July 4th weekend. The local dealer called some of the test riders from October to let them know a 2017 came in on trade (details of why it came in on trade are interesting, but not mine to share publicly). I happened to be doing an overnight ride with one of those test riders that weekend who knew I was interested. The ride and holiday prevented me from calling the dealership until July 5th where I could schedule a test ride. I spent about an hour and a half or more with the MST-R around the Grand Rapids, MI area. Highway, back roads, some traffic with various road surfaces. 

Damn. That test ride didn't help me not like the bike one bit. It did away with my concerns about comfort, fit, size, feel, and all the things that a picky rider would have issues with. The bike is very good overall and well thought out. They did a damn nice job. Shit.

Another deal fell through on the trade and I jumped at my seemingly only chance to find a near new fully optioned out MST-R with low miles. I took it.