Motorcycle Engines You Should Know:
The 2012-16 Motus ‘Baby Block’ MV4
http://www.smartcycleshopper.com/wp-content/uploads/Motus_engine.png
Motus is a boutique, hand built all-American manufacturer. They worked with Pratt & Miller to design an engine they unabashedly admit has its roots in the small block V-8. They pride themselves on having used one of the most commonly available oil filters on the market today, and eschewed more complicated injection systems for the tried and true. While its architecture is pure muscle car, with pushrods shoving 2 valves per cylinder and a 90 degree V, they gave it a ‘Big Bang’ firing order (1-4-3-2). That approach delivers power in pulses, which allows the driven wheel to hook up again if traction is overcome. (This is a good thing, because Motus motorcycles don’t have traction control, because Bubba.)
Having developed this power plant, Motus is open to applying it to other applications. With the gearbox it measures L 26″ W 20.3″ H 28″ and weighs 225 lbs (internet says a Hayabusa motor w/tranny is about 200 lbs) It puts out 125-ish ft-lbs around 5000 RPM and peaks at 165 – 180 HP in the 8000 RPM neighborhood. With the firing order, that sounds very distinctive.
So, how long before someone hangs one off the front of one of those new Morgan trikes?