V4s For The Privileged Few

The Honda V4 engine is a mechanical wonder to those of us who are in on the secret, and even more amazing that it's able to be produced to a price point allowing the VFR to be an affordable yet thoroughly modern performance motorcycle. When startup Motus and reborn Norton chose engine designs for their exclusive (read: expensive) new motorcycles both companies settled upon the V4 configuration — but in totally different directions.

Motus chose to play on their role as an American manufacturer and created what they like to call the "Baby Block," a reference to the Chevy small block V8. The reference is valid, with a torquey 90-degree pushrod design mounted longitudinally in the frame. This is a big mill at 100 cubic inches, or 1650cc.

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Possibly taking a lesson from the Buell experiment, Motus chose not to compete with a world full of super-competent sport bikes, and instead went with a big, mile-muching sport tourer. Two models are available; the MST and MSTR. The bikes are a bit average, but the real star here is the motor, delivering 120 pounds of asphalt-rippling torque.

Are they worth $31K and $37K? Let your checkbook and common sense be the judge.

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Norton, on the other hand, went the full-on sport route and came up with a 1200cc, 72-degree V4 spewing somewhere north of 200 hp, sitting transversely in an aluminum frame by Spondon.

In addition to their race bike, two street models are planned. In contrast to the rather simple Motus, both are dripping in electronics and carbon fibre. The chiropractor's dream shown here is the naked Dominator SS.

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And, in what has to be the most "notice me" styling exercise since the Britten, Norton presents the RR. No, that's not chrome, rather a silver impregnated paint.

It seems every time the Norton name is resurrected, the price takes a leap upward. Expect these bikes to run $35,000 to $40,000.

I guess I'll be sticking with the Honda, at least till my lottery winnings come through.

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