Diesel Motorcycles

[Hot Cruiser]

Check this out. Kawasaki also is supposed to be making diesel bikes which are used by our armed forces overseas.

"Star Twin, a company in Holland, has designed and built a motorcycle with a turbocharged, direct injection diesel engine. There’s potential for biodiesel here, and reportedly the bike gets 150MPG. It’s called the “Thunder Star 1200 TDI Sportbike”. KneeSlider tells us that Star Twin started with a three cylinder diesel engine from the VW Lupo, redesigned numerous parts using SolidWorks 3D computer modeling software, and cast them in aluminum. The frame is their own design.


Power output begins at 80bhp and 165 foot pounds of torque, but a bit of remapping of the engine controls increases this to 120bhp and 250 foot pounds at 5500rpm. The bike weighs 450 pounds.

The bike is not to the production stage yet and they are exploring lots of different configurations, touring, commuter, etc.

More information: Star Twin via Biodiesel Blogs via KneeSlider"

[orangeRcode]

Sounds intriguing.

[hbgregg]

picture in this old thread right here -->www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/forum/kawasaki-streetbikes-sportbikes/65416-would-you-ride-diesel.html

[Dajur]

I was very intrigued, until I saw the picture in the other thread. If they can make it not look like @#$ I would definitely be interested in owning a diesel motorcycle that gets 150 MPG.

[Hot Cruiser]

Originally Posted by Dajur

I was very intrigued, until I saw the picture in the other thread. If they can make it not look like @#$ I would definitely be interested in owning a diesel motorcycle that gets 150 MPG.

+ a bunch! When I read the article I wondered if the bike has ever been put into production. The company also was supposed to be experimenting with different model configurations.

[goober44]

not thinking that it would take a whole lot fabbin to make a cruiser outta it. Just think, take a ride to your favorite burger joint, fill yer belly with a burger and fries, then have them dump the used frying oil into your tank I could dig it. Not to mention 100+ miles to the gallon.

[internet_bully]

If they'd put it in a good looking cruiser frame with a 3-4 gal tank I'd buy one. Providing there's an aftermarket support for it.

[RichLockyer]

Ya... they've been building the military version of the KLR650 for years.

Keep in mind that in the military, damned near everything runs on #2, fuel oil, or jet fuel... and those can be used interchangeably in some vehicles.
Having an oil burning offroad bike eliminates the need to carry gasoline in the convoy.

[9511234]

I like the idea of our soldiers being involved in the project..

However, the second bike posted on that thread is sweet... and I wouldn't mind one of those.

Also, it is very ironic that I was talking with a co-worker and the subject of diesel bikes came up. Would it be the best to keep it in V-twin form, though?

[Brently]

A diesel bike would be awesome. I doubt anyone would make it for cheaper than a VW Vetta TDI though. haha

[cosmicsclassic]

All well and good,, But that things got to stink, can you imagine, sitting still and the exhaust fumes choking you to death.

[rfb92345]

One of my customers is a contractor that handles these bikes. Last time I was over at his shop, he had a ton of them. They look cool. Haven't heard on run yet. I would love to ride one..maybe some day.

[9511234]

Originally Posted by cosmicsclassic

All well and good,, But that things got to stink, can you imagine, sitting still and the exhaust fumes choking you to death.

Last time I heard bio-diesel smelled like french fries... I wouldn't mind that.

[nvbirdman]

150 miles per gallon sounds nice, but I didn't buy my vn900 because it gets better fuel mileage than my pickup, I bought it because I wanted a motorcycle.
When I'm riding, I'm really not too concerned about miles per gallon.

[chekako]

Yeah, right... 250ft-lbs of torque and 150mpg?!? Only if you mod it with a flux capacitor that can generate 1.21GW.

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by chekako

Yeah, right... 250ft-lbs of torque and 150mpg?!? Only if you mod it with a flux capacitor that can generate 1.21GW.

It's Diesel... not gas.

My Duramax had a 400cid oil burner, hauling a lifted 8,000lb 4x4 with a shell and light bar, and it got comparable, maybe slightly better mileage than my '03 Toyota Tundra with a 283 DOHC hauling a 4500lb 2wd with barely 250hp. With my 53 gallon fuel tank, I could fuel up in Los Angeles, drive to the Napa Valley north of San Francisco Bay, spend a couple of days working the area, then drive back to LA without refueling.
The VW TDI can EASILY exceed 50mpg, and it's a very performance-oriented car.

Power? Here's the dyno chart on my Duramax... 679ft/lbs and it got 18mpg hauling that beast:

[chekako]

I understand, I know diesel can give you big torque (in a truck) OR good fuel economy (in a small passenger car), but I don't believe it's possible to achieve BOTH 250ft-lbs of torque AND 150mpg at the same time.

[Lazarus]

Originally Posted by chekako

I understand, I know diesel can give you big torque (in a truck) OR good fuel economy (in a small passenger car), but I don't believe it's possible to achieve BOTH 250ft-lbs of torque AND 150mpg at the same time.

It's turbocharged. That is how it can do it. I guess your statement is technically correct, it can't do it at the same time but can do both depending on position of the 'throttle'.

The modern turboed, directed injected (TDI) engine is simply amazing. It is the real thing.

rick

[chekako]

I guess you guys really want to believe that... I call it BS.
It would be a bike half the weight of V2K getting twice the torque and four times the gas mileage! A Vespa scooter has only 3ft-lbs of torque, max speed 40mph, and gets less than 100mpg. I don't believe it's possible to construct a bike that will achieve the torque and the mileage simply by changing the throttle. The TDI is good, but not THAT good. I would have hard time believing in this story even if it was 100 ft-lbs of torque and 100 mpg. I'll say again, it will take Mr Fusion and a Flux Capacitor to get those numbers

[Nico]

Originally Posted by chekako

I understand, I know diesel can give you big torque (in a truck) OR good fuel economy (in a small passenger car), but I don't believe it's possible to achieve BOTH 250ft-lbs of torque AND 150mpg at the same time.

I'm skeptical about this as well. Whether it's possible or not, I don't know. With today's technology probably not. With tomorrow's, who knows? But I won't believe it until I see it...