Diesel motorcycle

Thanks for posting Phelonius. I've appreciated diesel engines since, in addition to our tractors, running two little slow, loud, vibrating but very efficient Isuzu P'up small trucks back in our farming days some 25 years ago. The TDI turbo technology helps overcome the slow loud vibrating nature of the diesel engines, there will likely be some more diesel engine motorcycles developed in the future, but I suspect it will be some time before those options are produced in sufficient numbers to be competitively priced -- the small Hero scooter may be the exception tho.

Several years ago,they made a diesel powered gold wing in argentina. At that time the whole country was not dependent on gasoline. Don't know what happened to it. J.R. Tex rep

Back in the late 70s or early 80s Zundapp Made a diesel road bike but since it didn't sell well it was dropped.

I've always been interested in the diesel KLR650 developed for the US Marines, but unfortunately that bike seems to have been exclusively produced for military use and is nearly impossible to get ahold of as a civilian.

edit: link for more info, if you're curious
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/automobiles/24KAWASAKI.html?_r=0

Sommer makes one for the Royal enfield, saw one at Brock Smiths.( side effects side cars) when I dropped my bike off the other day to have him build me a side car for my sportster. He is building a side car for it, will see if I can get some pictures when Im back there in a few weeks to see how my bike is coming along

diverdown - 2/14/2014 12:53 PM

Sommer makes one for the Royal enfield, saw one at Brock Smiths.( side effects side cars) when I dropped my bike off the other day to have him build me a side car for my sportster. He is building a side car for it, will see if I can get some pictures when Im back there in a few weeks to see how my bike is coming along

There is a garage in the UK that does the Royal Enfield diesel conversions here is a link.

http://www.pricepartmotorcycles.co.uk/page_2219102.html

There is a person who made their own diesel motorcycle in the Kansas City BMS club.

There is a very entertaining book by Paul Carter called "Is That Thing Diesel?" about building and riding a diesel powered motorcycle around Australia. I listened to the audiobook and the author is also the narrator.

Not a sidecar rig but still very entertaining.

jae - 2/13/2014 1:06 PM

I've always been interested in the diesel KLR650 developed for the US Marines, but unfortunately that bike seems to have been exclusively produced for military use and is nearly impossible to get ahold of as a civilian.

edit: link for more info, if you're curious
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/automobiles/24KAWASAKI.html?_r=0

sometime in the last year or so, i saw a US MARINE display at the LONE STAR RALLY in GALVESTON

too bad you have to join the MARINES, to get to ride one

@ 66yoa, i don't see riding one in my future

sw
they had the desert tan coloured model on display

I called the disigner of the 800ccm Track in Holland. His first comment was: " Why all you guys first ask for a sidecar for the Track, it is not designed for sidecar use."
In fact the variable belt would not have any down hill engine breaking due to its tension spring.
Eventually if the Track would have been able for sidecar use I would have gone with it and not the Ural.
Anyhow sadly the production was stopped after several dozens bikes.
Sven

Of course the big question is..Can it hold 4-5 people and an infant riding on the handlebars AND a bale of hay?