Bear Motive 6 Review
from $550
Pros
- Balance and comfort
- Ease of cam adjustment
- Impressive speed
Cons
- pricey
Video
content from YouTube
Editors' review
The 2013 Bear Motive 6 is a bow that should raise a lot of eye brows this year. The engineers at bear are continuing to make strides from year to year and have not failed once again. They keep getting closer to the upper high end archery market and have made strides, however, don't seem to yet have the reputation of very top manufacturers. Bear puts lots of emphasis on consumer input and the company seems to really care how their customer's feel. Speed is written all over this bow and it's balance and feel is amazing for the power it packs.
Finish
The Motive 6 is available with color options including Realtree APG, Shadow Series (black), Realtree APG Snow/Black, Red/Black, and Green/Black. The camo colors look flat in finish and the red and black finishes appear to be somewhat glossy in finish. They all seem to be durable without any flaking or chipping complaints at this time. Additional color options for 2013 gives consumers more good looking choices.Riser/Limbs
This bow sports an all new riser and design that measures 32" axel to axel. It is 3.25" shorter than the Anarchy and it weighs about .2 lbs. more. It has a completely different design and shape from the Anarchy that is wider with smoother edges. It sports dual offset string suppressers that are integrated into the riser. The riser also has a stainless steel stabilizer bushing.The Motive 6 has Max Pre-Load Quad Limbs that provide lots of power without stacking up during the draw. These limbs are connected to the riser with Zero Tolerance Limb Pockets. They provide an interference fit between the limb, the boot, and the pocket to eliminate any movement of the limb in the pocket. These limb pockets play a large role in preventing any vibration. The riser/limb combination creates a 6" brace height. It is a very comfortable bow to shoot especially for as fast as it is. It seems to be a little more suited for hunting with its shorter ATA than the Anarchy with an even better feel.Grip
There two options for the grip on this bow. The custom options include the over mold rubber grip or the panel grip that is underneath it. The rubber grip feels nice in the hand and has the large Bear trademark emblem that is a good look. It has a thicker feel than the panels and is warmer on the hand during cold hunting days. The bow feels steady in your hand with torque nearly unnoticeable.String Suppressers
Bear's unique look of dual string suppressors remains on the Motive 6. The dual adjustable string suppressors enable the bow to be whisper quiet and they eliminate virtually all hand shock and vibration by countering the string. The adjustment lets you custom tailor your shooting style. The suppressors have a large and thick foot style rubber boot that softens the string contact with them.Eccentric System
The Bear Motive 6 is equipped with their new flagship Bear Synchronized Hybrid Cam System. The new H13 dual cams have a rotating module to make all adjustments without a bow press or any other modules. This makes changing the draw length extremely easy and convenient. It is adjustable in .5" increments from 25.5" to 30". The H13 cams produce a smooth draw without a giant hump that most speed bows have. It has 75% let off and comes in 50, 60, and 70 lb. max weights. The speed is impressive and seems to live up to at least it's IBO of 350 fps. The velocity of the Motive 6 is one of its best attributes.Draw Cycle / Shoot Ability
The draw on this bow is smooth especially for the speed it produces. The lack of a large rollover is nice. It balances out just right in your hand and it holds dead still at the shot. The back wall feels good and not too spongy due to its rock solid feel. It creates a valley that is comfortable enough to not feel like it is always wanting to creep forward. A stabilizer would help with balance on this bow like it would help most others, but it is already pretty quiet. Vibration is reduced greatly with the dual string suppressors. Bear is still using its 4x4 Roller Guard system and it does create even more smoothness on the draw.Silencing Package
For a bow with this kind of speed it is pleasantly quiet. There are virtually no vibrations, shock, or noise. The dual adjustable string suppressors make it pretty silent. There is nothing added to the string for silencing, to slow it down, and it doesn't seem to need anything.Comparisons
| Bow | Bear Motive 6 | Bear Anarchy |
| Version | 2014 | 2014 |
| Picture |  |  |
| Brace Height | 6 " | 7.25 " |
| AtA Length | 32 " | 35.5 " |
| Draw Length | 25.5 " - 30 " | 26.5 " - 31.5 " |
| Draw Weight | 40 lbs - 70 lbs | 40 lbs - 70 lbs |
| IBO Speed | 350 fps | 330 fps |
| Weight | 4.0 lbs | 4.0 lbs |
| Let-Off | 75% | 75% |
| Where to buy Best prices online | ||
| compare more bows | ||
As impressive as the Bear Anarchy was last year the Motive 6 is even more so. It is probably their most desired bow of 2013. It is 3.25" shorter than the Anarchy, but still has an IBO of 20 fps faster although it is .2 lbs. heavier. It is also more maneuverable with its shorter length. The two bows have the same MSRP of $899.99. They do seem a little pricey and it is thought by some that it may still be too high for Bear. The company does not yet have the top of the line reputation when compared to some of the other manufacturers in the business at the same price range or lower.