Motus Motorcycles details new V4 engine, MST-01 sport tourer

When you think of American motorcycles, what comes to mind? We'd bet that 99-plus percent of you instantly thought of Harley-Davidson – and with good reason. The Motor Company has long occupied the fantasies of a very large portion of the United States population at large. There's a growing (and generally younger) group of cyclists, though, who want something considerably more sporty than what HD has to offer.

Motus Motorcycles, a new startup motorcycle manufacturer based here in the United States, has some grand plans in the works to change the perception – right or wrong as the sentiment may be – that American motorcycles are slow, rumbly, V-twin powered behemoths. The first salvo fired by Motus will be a new sport touring motorcycle called the MST-01, which will be powered by an all-American V4 engine. Much of the architecture of that powerplant will be instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with the classic American V8.

Katech, a Michigan-based firm that supplies engines to General Motors and its Pratt and Miller Corvette racers, designed and engineered the cam-in-block (pushrods instead of overhead cams), two valve per cylinder, 1650cc engine, and it is expected to put out around 140 horsepower and possibly as much as 120 pound-feet of torque. Modern updates to the tried-and-true design are capped off by gasoline direct injection technology for improved performance and cleaner emissions. We look forward to finding out more on Motus' new powerplant and motorcycle in the coming months.

*UPDATE: We incorrectly wrote the bike's name, it's MST-01.

[Source: The Kneeslider]