Diesel motorcycle. Would you buy one?
Discussion
John Laverick said:
dern said:
Beemer-5 said:
A Caterham R500 Evolution has 250 bhp, from it's n/a 1998cc engine and has 'lag' all the way to 5,000 rpm! Nothing happens much, but the low weight, of 450 kgs, means that it doesn't really matter.
How can an n/a engine exhibit lag?Beemer-5 said:
There is a new derv bike coming out in 2009 i am reliably informed.
It promises a turbocharged, 660cc parallel twin engine, with 8 valves, twin-cams and 100 bhp.
Very low emissions via 2 cats. and 75 mpg average is mentioned.
But would you buy a diesel bike?
be ideal for commutingIt promises a turbocharged, 660cc parallel twin engine, with 8 valves, twin-cams and 100 bhp.
Very low emissions via 2 cats. and 75 mpg average is mentioned.
But would you buy a diesel bike?
Edited by Beemer-5 on Monday 14th April 10:56
i'd be interested as long as it didnt look awfull
dern said:
John Laverick said:
dern said:
Beemer-5 said:
A Caterham R500 Evolution has 250 bhp, from it's n/a 1998cc engine and has 'lag' all the way to 5,000 rpm! Nothing happens much, but the low weight, of 450 kgs, means that it doesn't really matter.
How can an n/a engine exhibit lag?
dern said:
Beemer-5 said:
A Caterham R500 Evolution has 250 bhp, from it's n/a 1998cc engine and has 'lag' all the way to 5,000 rpm! Nothing happens much, but the low weight, of 450 kgs, means that it doesn't really matter.
How can an n/a engine exhibit lag?dern said:
John Laverick said:
dern said:
Beemer-5 said:
A Caterham R500 Evolution has 250 bhp, from it's n/a 1998cc engine and has 'lag' all the way to 5,000 rpm! Nothing happens much, but the low weight, of 450 kgs, means that it doesn't really matter.
How can an n/a engine exhibit lag?Beemer-5 said:
dern said:
Beemer-5 said:
A Caterham R500 Evolution has 250 bhp, from it's n/a 1998cc engine and has 'lag' all the way to 5,000 rpm! Nothing happens much, but the low weight, of 450 kgs, means that it doesn't really matter.
How can an n/a engine exhibit lag?Yes, but modern turbos have all but eliminated lag, so a n/a highly tuned engine is often more of a pain, as you wait and wait and wait for the revs to build up sufficiently, to get any real go.
A Integra Type R i recently drove had 237 bhp, but was all but useless below 5,000 rpm.
Thinking back, i had a bike with an 18,000 rpm 'powerband', but it was as slow, compared to the competition and a real nightmare to go quick on, unless you thrashed it within an inch of it's life all day, which, whilst fun sometimes, gets boring after a while.
A Integra Type R i recently drove had 237 bhp, but was all but useless below 5,000 rpm.
Thinking back, i had a bike with an 18,000 rpm 'powerband', but it was as slow, compared to the competition and a real nightmare to go quick on, unless you thrashed it within an inch of it's life all day, which, whilst fun sometimes, gets boring after a while.
I'm going to a Institute of Mechanical Engineers lecture about a diesel bike on wednesday (exciting i know!).
I'll make a comment after that!
I'll make a comment after that!
IMechE said:
The HDT diesel motorcycle stems from a collaborative programme between Hayes Diversified Technologies [HDT] of California and the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom [DAUK] at Shrivenham, near Swindon, to design and develop a bike to meet the NATO requirement for armed forces to operate all their vehicles on either diesel fuel or aviation kerosene. Military motorcycles are used both on the battlefield and for road work such as convoy escort, policing and courier duties. An ‘all-round’ on/off-road performance capability is therefore required.
The project aim was to produce a motorcycle with an engine having realistic power output and performance characteristics for these duties. The objectives were the best possible torque without resorting to turbocharging, which is impracticable for this application at present, and to run at the highest possible engine speed to maximise the power output. The current bike has a top road speed in excess of 140 km/h [85 mile/h] and excellent ‘drivability’. Overall fuel consumption is at least 30% better than petrol-engined motorcycles of comparable performance.
Teams riding prototype machines have competed successfully in four ACU National Rallies in the UK. At Bonneville Salt Flats in the USA in September 2005, mildly uprated bikes established eight world speed records for diesel motorcycles. Production for the first customer, the United States Marine Corps, commenced in 2006 and bikes are now in service in several combat theatres. There is also strong interest from other NATO forces.
The engine design has potential beyond the military motorcycle application. Possible opportunities include civilian motorcycles – particularly for the Third World; small all-terrain vehicles [ATVs]; lightweight, high output industrial engines, unmanned aerial vehicles and light aircraft.
The project aim was to produce a motorcycle with an engine having realistic power output and performance characteristics for these duties. The objectives were the best possible torque without resorting to turbocharging, which is impracticable for this application at present, and to run at the highest possible engine speed to maximise the power output. The current bike has a top road speed in excess of 140 km/h [85 mile/h] and excellent ‘drivability’. Overall fuel consumption is at least 30% better than petrol-engined motorcycles of comparable performance.
Teams riding prototype machines have competed successfully in four ACU National Rallies in the UK. At Bonneville Salt Flats in the USA in September 2005, mildly uprated bikes established eight world speed records for diesel motorcycles. Production for the first customer, the United States Marine Corps, commenced in 2006 and bikes are now in service in several combat theatres. There is also strong interest from other NATO forces.
The engine design has potential beyond the military motorcycle application. Possible opportunities include civilian motorcycles – particularly for the Third World; small all-terrain vehicles [ATVs]; lightweight, high output industrial engines, unmanned aerial vehicles and light aircraft.
bimsb6 said:
i've seen that before somewhere i think they used a modified kawasaki klr 600 .
Correct.The KLR based diesel for the US defence forces has been around for many years, and is being tested by other forces, including UK.
I think the bike the OP was referring to is on this site.
See this link for more diesel bike resources.
Here it is :
http://www.neander-motorcycles.com/motorbike/en/
Not your "cheap commuter" with only 250 bikes projected,
at 90.000€ if I recall correct.
Cheers,
Benni
€dit :
This might be something more for commuting,
how does 625 miles with one tank fill-up sound ?
And it´s an Enfield, no "royal" though :
http://www.enfield.homepage.t-online.de/enfield.ht...
http://www.neander-motorcycles.com/motorbike/en/
Not your "cheap commuter" with only 250 bikes projected,
at 90.000€ if I recall correct.
Cheers,
Benni
€dit :
This might be something more for commuting,
how does 625 miles with one tank fill-up sound ?
And it´s an Enfield, no "royal" though :
http://www.enfield.homepage.t-online.de/enfield.ht...
Edited by Benni on Tuesday 15th April 02:15
I think just about anything can be useful, as there are so many different applications.
I'd consider one for sure, if it would meet a need I had.
One thing no one has mentioned here, is the actual fuel economy of regular bikes. Most bike mags test their machines in some pretty full on performance envelopes, and then run it around a bit, and then draw an average fuel consumption figure.
If they actually tried to run the machines SOLELY for the purpose of fuel consumption testing, they'd find their figures to be significantly different. I'd hazard a guess that the latest crotch rockets can actually do a good bit further on a tank than the mags achieve.
Having said that, I'd expect the diesel to have amazing range. I think that if the rider was sitting on cruise the whole time, the issue of excess tire usage would be non existant. Then again, if you really needed to exercise the throttle, you could fit harder compound tires.
No, I'm all in favour. By all means, lets see diversity, lets see new things, it will make the sport richer as a whole.
I'd consider one for sure, if it would meet a need I had.
One thing no one has mentioned here, is the actual fuel economy of regular bikes. Most bike mags test their machines in some pretty full on performance envelopes, and then run it around a bit, and then draw an average fuel consumption figure.
If they actually tried to run the machines SOLELY for the purpose of fuel consumption testing, they'd find their figures to be significantly different. I'd hazard a guess that the latest crotch rockets can actually do a good bit further on a tank than the mags achieve.
Having said that, I'd expect the diesel to have amazing range. I think that if the rider was sitting on cruise the whole time, the issue of excess tire usage would be non existant. Then again, if you really needed to exercise the throttle, you could fit harder compound tires.
No, I'm all in favour. By all means, lets see diversity, lets see new things, it will make the sport richer as a whole.
But of course a site dumper is faster than a company car or even a white van off-road!
On the subject of diesel bikes, for any bikers, learners, diesel fans, or even greens:
Can Bikers Raise A Million Signatures On These No 10 Petitions?!
Petition to postpone the date for bringing in the new motorcycle test (due Sept 29 2008) till all 66 sites are operational in the UK:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/delaytheMPTC/
Petition to remove the maximum motorbike engine size limit for learners and light motorcycles with Diesel engines as a 500cc will produce less than 10hp whereas a petrol engine of the allowed 125cc can produce 14.6hp!
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/FreeTheDiesel15/
Please all vote and pass them round as many friends and forums as possible.
Let's see if we can hit a million signatures on both!
On the subject of diesel bikes, for any bikers, learners, diesel fans, or even greens:
Can Bikers Raise A Million Signatures On These No 10 Petitions?!
Petition to postpone the date for bringing in the new motorcycle test (due Sept 29 2008) till all 66 sites are operational in the UK:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/delaytheMPTC/
Petition to remove the maximum motorbike engine size limit for learners and light motorcycles with Diesel engines as a 500cc will produce less than 10hp whereas a petrol engine of the allowed 125cc can produce 14.6hp!
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/FreeTheDiesel15/
Please all vote and pass them round as many friends and forums as possible.
Let's see if we can hit a million signatures on both!
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