Diesel engines

[Stingo]

My missus asked me today if there were any bikes with diesel engines...I had to be honest and answered "don't know of one" and then I countered with "what would be the benefits?" She suggested cleaner, which I poo pooed, then she sai cheaper fuel as you'll get more mpg...


So orgers...is there a diesel engine bike? How come this area of the market appears to be untapped?

[northwind]

There's a Kawasaki diesel bike, though I don't know if it's in proper production or just special order- some militaries use them. And I remember seeing a project bike built around a small capacity diesel triple out of a Renault or somesuch.

[Carsick]

http://dieselmotorcycles.com/

There are a couple.
The real advantage is for the military, where simplifying the supply chain is useful. For the civilian market where that isn't an issue, a smaller capacity, lighter bike would probably show just as good fuel economy and be alot cheaper.

[Stingo]

Now you mention the military, I can see the logic in that - especially when it comes down to fuel supply & availability etc - the whole logistics thing is complicated enough...

[Grinch]

Theres also a old enfield... you get about 200 miles per gallon... about 12 bhp and it tops out at 60 mph

Or a dutch experiment which has a 1.3 ltr lupo engine... produces aout 140 bhp and about the same torque... and still does 80 mpg. Its called the 'Startwin' I think, still looking for backers as far as I know.

[Nekkid]

http://www.gizmag.co.uk/go/4273/

Oooh, and it's ugly!!

[Stingo]

:shock: That is one strange creature!! Where was it made? Jupiter? :lol:

[wheelnut]

There is a diesel bike in the museum at Donington. dont remember a lot about it though.

I think the national bike museum have one too

[stuartyboy]

Saw last year on discovery channel about the army moving towards diesel bikes but dont know how far on they are with it. tbh I hope they dont become reality on the roads - there are enough diesel spills without bikers contributing

[rob13]

i would have thought diesel bikes would be heavy and therefore they would have to work on the balance of the bike.