On the BBC South local TV news last night.
Cranfield Inst of Technology have developed a diesel Motorcycle for sale to the US military. First order for 500 has been agreed.
Not a great performer (85mph max) but main bonus is said to be commonality of fuel with other vehicles and simplicity and extra fuel economy.
Wonder if the technology it will make it into the mainstream
consumer market?
StarGazer
|
|
Nothing new here, there was an Enfield framed bike powered by a Robin engine on the market a few years ago. There is also a British Made diesel engined bike being made for the MoD - rumour was that the US military were interested in this - maybe one and the same of course.
|
Here it is, looks like much the same thing
www.drive.cranfield.ac.uk/cfml/news_item.cfm?id=149
Prototypes in 2001 but looks like the backing came from a US company in the end to commercialise it.
TV report said that US Marines have ordered some but MoD were 'interested'.
StarGazer
|
from the link above -
'And so powerful is the motorcycle that in September 2004 it set the world?s first land speed record for a diesel fuelled motorcycle'
well, just how much competition has there been ;-)
I seem to remember the same project featuring on Top Gear when Steve Berry was a presenter, and that must be getting on for 10 years ago ?
|
Can't believe this got an airing! Been around for ages, and it's pretty established [read 'old'] technology.
Surely these days the technology exists for a 'proper' diesel engined bike. How about turbos, direct injection, ECU management etc etc. A small up-to-the-minute TDi motor like the 800cc Smart CDi or the 1.2 litre VW TDi three cylinder would be great in a practical motorcycle, yet the existing diesel bikes are still powered by ancient cement mixer engines run through 1970's gearboxes. Or by old petrol engines adapted for derv.
For a wide range on the topic : www.peace65.freeserve.co.uk/Pictures/diesel.htm
|
|
At the Blackbushe commercial sale yesterday in the Royal Mail section, there were two mopeds. On the lot sheets on each, the drivetrain was described as "Diesel, manual". I didn't see them go through the hall, so I've no idea if that was actually correct!
|
Diesel engined motorcycles are a long way from being viable outside of specialised fields. Commuters already get excellent fuel economy from 50cc machines, and a diesel of that size would have a job getting above walking pace in less than a week.
Everyone else rides mainly for fun, and leisure riders want performance above all else and don't worry too much about economy. As for turbos, they had a brief appearence in the eighties but were unpopular because of the problems of turbo lag. Barely noticible in a car, cranked over on a bike the sudden kick led to some interesting moments.
|
The requirement for a diesel motorbike for the UK army is driven by logistics and safety.
If all vehicles/generators/plant + bikes are to be diesel then there is no need to supply petrol for military operations; and of course diesel is less volatile than petrol.
|
|
|
![2021 Nissan Qashqai 1.3 DiG-T 160 [157] Acenta Premium 5dr DCT](http://images.honestjohn.co.uk/imagecache/url/crop/90x60/https/cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/8d97b111eca556a2041d7e8ce106905b/b12499e80e62e8bcd98e0a86d9e96508.jpg)
