Diesel Motorcycles

[darthrider]

Check these guys out. They are a customer of ours and great people.
And they are sending LOTS of bikes to the Marines in Iraq.
What do you dual-sport boys think about the specs & performance?
I saw them run one of the diesel dirt bikes at Bonneville last year...they're coming back next month with a partial streamliner diesel!

http://www.dieselmotorcycles.com/models.htm

[mistercindy]

Great idea! But I'm a diesel car fan so I'm biased. BTW, the one of the U.S. services (army or marines) outfitted some KLR650's with diesel engines, too. Makes sense, as all their other vehicles operate on diesel, That way they only have the diesel supply lines to worry about, not an additional gasoline supply line.

I'd sure love to see the diesel Hummers used by the military made available to the public. With diesel fuel the Hummers aren't that unreasonable a vehicle.

[Deans BMW]

Over 100 MPG, over 90 MPH with a range of 400 miles,

Way Cool

[Optimus Prime]

Dave, are you telling me I can actually purchase one of those? I was under the impression these were only available for the military.

By golly I might be getting a new bike if these are actually available. I've been jonsing for one of the military diesel bikes for a long time. Great find Dave, thanks.

[Lance1150]

I hate diesel fuel... it stinks. It should be outlawed.

[Optimus Prime]

I hate diesel fuel... it stinks. It should be outlawed.

so should gas

and steam

and horses power (horse $hit stinks real bad)

and human power (even though some don't think so, everyone's $hit stinks)

hell any type of work stinks altogether. All work should be outlawed.

[arkline]

Wowwee! Now that's what I call a thumper. And a stump puller too. Bet it beats that Enfield diesel they were selling a couple of years ago. I think it (the Enfield) topped out at something less than 10 hp. Has anyone seen one of these in the flesh? I would love to know what one sounds like.

[popgazer]

The future looks good:

150MPG... 120bhp and 250 foot pounds at 5500rpm. The bike weighs 450 pounds.

http://www.metaefficient.com/metaeffici ... eated.html

[cricman]

Can you imagine seeing a crotch rocket getting passed by something that sounded like cross between a bumble bee and a school bus? I'd be cheerin for the diesel! And yes, I too am biased; I drove a school bus to pay for my college education. I pumped a lot of diesel. I like the safety factor with diesel. A leaky quick connect might go from potentially catastrophic to mildly annoying! Plus, in theory, its cheaper to manufacture than higher octane volatiles.

cricman

[darthrider]

Here's what little I know about these guys...they do not now sell to the public. It's all military and lots of it!
The black bike will be produced in March 2006 as a limited run for civilian sales. They will be expensive but I don't know the price. I hear Jay Leno wants one so there's a clue!
They have been building these for 20 years or so. The first ones were modified KLR 650's but the current ones used the chassis only, it is a proprietary engine. The engine is multi-fuel. Both petro & bio-diesel and aviation kerosene.
They are experimenting with turbos...I think that's the purpose of the Bonneville racers.
I know many people (and I imagine some on this board) that think small, hi-output diesels are a coming thing, cars & bikes.
Look at the military models and tell me *those* bad boys wouldn't make some serious dual-sport bikes for many miles in the mountains!

[BMWChef]

Dave,
I want one! Can you get us a deal? Please...I'll cook for you. Heck if it runs on bio-diesel I could just fill up at our restaurants and drive for almost nuthin'...not that I'm cheap or anything!

Chef

[darthrider]

I'm working on it Chef-O...I'm planning to get a KLR 650 soon anyway!
I may have to wait on a 3rd generation model and let the cost come down though.
If we all eat more French Fries & corn dogs can we all get free fuel?
In Texas, CA and SC we already have Willie Weed, no that's not what I meant...it's called Bio Willie Diesel. Named for Willie Nelson. Really.

[trbaldridge]

Dave,
I want one! Can you get us a deal? Please...I'll cook for you. Heck if it runs on bio-diesel I could just fill up at our restaurants and drive for almost nuthin'...not that I'm cheap or anything!

Chef

So does the exhaust smell like some one is cooking french fries?

[BMWChef]

I'll probably smell like a big fish taco going down the road!

[Slipstream]

JP-8 (or diesel) fuel??!!!

JP-8 is jet fuel....can that be right?

[cricman]

Diesel and Jet fuels are very similar, with only minor vartiations in cetane number (a measure of ignition quality), viscosity, cold weather properties, and flashpoint. They all stink, and leave a greasy residue on the ground where they are spilled. Just look out the window of any airport under the wings and around the jet-bridges; big, dark, greasy stains. It's not from the honey wagon,...those stains are blue!

cricman

[dallara]

I WANT ONE! I WANT ONE!

Imagine 150 miles to the gallon and over a 400-500 mile range for exploring deep down in Mexico...

TOO COOL!

How do I get one, Darth?

Cheers!

Dallara

[arkline]

Was lead to this via an old issue of MCN. So if you don't want a mountain goat, what do you do?



A brief explanation here:

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2005/ ... star-twin/

Impressive bhp and torque numbers from a machine that gets over 90 mpg...

[darthrider]

Bring it on babeeee!


EDIT: I meant hi-output deisel motorcycle engine technology, not that unfortunate yellow & black motorcycle...

[MattPie]

So does the exhaust smell like some one is cooking french fries?

From what I hear, pretty much. Likewise if you get the grease (er, bio-diesel) from an Indian place it'll smell like curry.