Diesel bike

[embee]

I don't think that spec is the full-fat version TBH. Smart advertise the Fortwo diesel as 40kW and 130Nm, the bike version is 35kW and 100Nm.

100Nm from a 0.8L is about 16Bar BMEP, 130Nm would be a tad over 20Bar, as a comparison a Honda 2.2L TD gives 20Bar which is about the benchmark for current common rail diesels.

Why the lower spec? Is 35kW a tax break point in Euroland? Is it so an upgrade will be available? Is it a limitation of the transmission used? Who knows.

[the_lone_wolf]

130Nm sounds more like what I'd expect from a layman's observation... Not to mention you can gain massive increases in torque with ECU flashing in cars, wonder if the same would be possible on the Diesel bike?

[yorkie_chris]

why a CVT I wonder. Do they not expect bikers to be interested?

no, its a diesel!

[embee]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

why a CVT I wonder. Do they not expect bikers to be interested?

There is no Smart manual AFAIK, I had assumed the CVT was what they use in the diesel cars but might be wrong on that. I think the petrol Smarts were autos using discrete ratios (certainly the one I tried was), but they may have also introduced a CVT for them too by now.

In theory a CVT will make much better use of the available performance and potential economy by allowing the engine to run either up to max power and hold there while the vehicle accelerates, or can track the optimum economy curve versus road load. What a CVT bike with this sort of power/torque on tap would feel like is an interesting question.

I know the only CVT car I've driven felt quite strange at first, plant your foot down and the engine goes up to near max power and just sits there. That was quite a few years ago, and control systems have progressed a lot.

It's an interesting question about what sort of power unit/transmission a vehicle should have, there's absolutely no reason why there should be any sort of variable gearing, it's only done in order to overcome undesirable characteristics in the power unit. Why do you want gears, other than it's something to do? It's a bit like arguing for starting handles or kickstarts or manual advance/retard levers, there's no need for them and better ways of doing things. Things evolve, I suspect the traditional manual gearbox will disappear in the relatively near futureTBH.

[the_lone_wolf]

Originally Posted by embee

There is no Smart manual AFAIK, I had assumed the CVT was what they use in the diesel cars but might be wrong on that. I think the petrol Smarts were autos using discrete ratios (certainly the one I tried was), but they may have also introduced a CVT for them too by now.

In theory a CVT will make much better use of the available performance and potential economy by allowing the engine to run either up to max power and hold there while the vehicle accelerates, or can track the optimum economy curve versus road load. What a CVT bike with this sort of power/torque on tap would feel like is an interesting question.

I know the only CVT car I've driven felt quite strange at first, plant your foot down and the engine goes up to near max power and just sits there. That was quite a few years ago, and control systems have progressed a lot.

It's an interesting question about what sort of power unit/transmission a vehicle should have, there's absolutely no reason why there should be any sort of variable gearing, it's only done in order to overcome undesirable characteristics in the power unit. Why do you want gears, other than it's something to do? It's a bit like arguing for starting handles or kickstarts or manual advance/retard levers, there's no need for them and better ways of doing things. Things evolve, I suspect the traditional manual gearbox will disappear in the relatively near futureTBH.

Diesel engines have a narrower torque band I thought, hence a CVT keeps it in the torque, more of the time

Kind of like when you take a close ratio box to the lim-->infinity

</geek>

I reckon your right embee, although you will maybe lose the 'feel' with a cvt, and other similar options, its another way of making it easier to ride. Like with everything nowadays were always making things to make our lives easier.
I went in an audi the other day that had the fancy dsg gearbox, it was wierd to not think of using it like a manual and it having a seamless shift, for pure driving pleasure its not for me but i guess if your using it day in day out then it probably makes it alot easier

Originally Posted by embee

What a CVT bike with this sort of power/torque on tap would feel like is an interesting question.

i suppose it would be similar to an electric bike- press the "go" button (triangle) and off you go, max torque until you press the "stop" button (X)

Originally Posted by embee

Things evolve, I suspect the traditional manual gearbox will disappear in the relatively near futureTBH.

Nah, not a chance. People ride bikes for the feeling of involvement- thats why scooters and cars aren't as fun. Theres a satisfaction in getting the best out of a machine, make the machine too simple to use and you remove that feeling.

P.S. Flat cap disclaimer- I dont like computers or silly gizmos like FI. I drink real ale. And I'm only 21.

[yorkie_chris]

Bumpety bump.

http://www.motorrad-hofschaller.de/d...tschritte.html

Diesel bike that looks a bit more interesting. Wonder how much it weighs...
translated
http://translate.google.co.uk/transl...tschritte.html

think of it as experimental engineering.or a cement mixer on steroids,and as for miles on a tank of fuel my mates aircooled xt600 does 4 or 500 miles on a tankfull,mind you it is the bigger plastic one,and could anyone put up with the noise and vibration,and less face it diesels are best suited to large heavy vehicles, tractors and cement mixers