Track T-800 CDI

I've been reading alot recently about the Track T-800CDI motorcycle, a diesal powered sort of huge adventure type motorcycle. There was a particuarly good article in a magazine called "Moto Tech International", discussing the diesal engine in more detail than most other publications.

I would really like one for the day-to-day commute. Fuel economy of 100 mpg (110 mpg is realistically acheivable aswell apparently) means a tank range of over 500 miles from the 22.5 litre tank. The engine itself is made by dialmer benz (sp!), and is apparently in use on some smart cars. 49 bhp is not going to set anyones world on fire, but consider that it's made at only 2,750 rpm, and thats not bad. Max torque is the more interesting figure though - 88 lb ft at 1,800 rpm which is allegadly carried through to the rev-limiter, cutting in at 4250 rpm could mean a bike that would be great for town riding and easy long distance trips.

The bike encompasses a CVT transmission, much like a scooter. Not a bad thing, since the engine is turbo assisted. Also, CVT generally creates a smooth throttle response, as well as allowing the engine to sit on a big wodge of torque.

I certainly am interested and would love to have a go on one of these bikes. Common-rail diesal technology seems to be leading the way through the future of powertrain technolgoy; seat have enjoyed immense success in their diesal touring cars, and both Audi and Peugot have enjoyed success at le mans and in other sports-car races with their diesal-powered offerings.

Could it be the future for motorcycles aswell? For outright performance, petrol looks set to always win hands down. But for real-world applications, and in the face of ever-dwindling crude oil supplies and ever-increasing fuel prices, maybe larger manufacturers (Honda!!!! I'd like to think) will start thinking about diesal-powered motorcycles for use in touring and adventure motorcycles.

Plenty of food for thought, methinks

I think we need one of the Jap big 4 to manufacture one, then it would see some more interest...?

[rictus01]

It's nothing new, been around for a long time, the Enfield robin is a bit of a classic, of more interest was the Kwak KLR650 based bike made for the US Army, something like a 1300 parallel twin making about 95hp or so if memory serves.

But in reality the downsides are far to great and give the slide over to the hobbyist market in bike sales I seriously doubt you'll see mass sales anytime soon.

Cheers Mark.

[Biker Biggles]

It would be good for towing the caravan.

Originally Posted by rictus01

It's nothing new, been around for a long time, the Enfield robin is a bit of a classic, of more interest was the Kwak KLR650 based bike made for the US Army, something like a 1300 parallel twin making about 95hp or so if memory serves.

But in reality the downsides are far to great and give the slide over to the hobbyist market in bike sales I seriously doubt you'll see mass sales anytime soon.

Cheers Mark.

This is true; one of my friends was quite interested in the diesel enfield. However, it would seem previous attempts at diesl motorcycles have given the world smelly, heavy motorcycles. Here, with the much more modern technology avaliable for diesals (for instance, CDI), things look a little more promising

I agree that mass sales will not happen any time soon, and many motorcyclists hunger for the performance that often only a petrol engine provides. But for someone who wants to set off around the world, where diesal is more likley to be found at a suitable quality for use (i.e. diesal in almost any form...failing that, some cooking oil ), then maybe bikes like this would be more usefull

Biggles - should suit the goldwing clan then who like to tow trailers

I think it's not such a bad idea. I remember bmw made a diesel that was far more performance oriented. I think the engined revved to 8.5 k or something like that (trouble with diesels is they don't really rev a lot). It'd be nice if they had somewhere around 100 bhp and revved a little harder than this one.. It would make long journeys more probable with the low fuel consumption. I can really see bmw venturing into something like this, more then honda perhaps. The big natural torque would mean that they could concentrate more on power.
Too bad the weight would increase a lot, as diesels tend to weigh in more than petrols, so then, they could really make a big tourer with one

Andreis, do you happen to know why diesal engines are much heavier? The engine in the Track bike there weighs 45-50 kg' apparently (not sure how comprable that would be to a similar capacity engine though)

Is it because engine parts have to be beefier to withstand the much higher compression rations (18:1 in that diesal engine, cf around 10:1 for a typical motorcycle petrol engine)?

Maybe someone else can shed some light on that?

[fastdruid]

Useful for tank range and in the case of the Mil Spec bikes useful for having the same fuel as everything else but apart from that not much of an advantage.

I'd rather chew my arm off than ride a diesel.

Druid

Excellent! We could make our own Diesel spills!

Was there not an old honda 125 or the like that used to do close to 200MPG?

500Kg wet!

"you ain't never picking that one up after a drop!" lol