About to pick up a cheep motorcycle (Honda CX500c) for commutting back and forth to school and try to save some money on gas this summer. Was thinking a cool winter project would be to try to mount a diesel engine in the motorcycle frame. What type of diesel engine do you guys think would work? me personally I am all about getting 90-120 mpg out of a small diesel engine in the motorcycle.

 

it's already been done for you.....

http://mocca.kaf.fi/teotwawki/dieselbike/specs.html

 

http://motorcyclecity.com/Military-b...l-Kawasaki.htm

 

Man I like that wonder when they will start selling the civillian version

 

Or put that engine in a cruiser or touring frame...

 

The CX actually has a pretty efficient engine in it to begin with, and if taken care of it should turn over the odometer before needing any major work... And adapting something to the shaft drive would be very difficult.

As far as a do it yourself diesel, most I've seen use a Harley as a starting point, mainly because of the modular construction (clutch/primary drive, and transmission seperate from the engine).

Personally, I've always wondered if a Cummins could be put in a Boss Hoss...

 

lol I gotta see that one. A 6BT twin turbo cummins boss hoss. WooHoooooooooooooo

 

Yep, a diesel motorcycle would definetly be fun. I would love to commute on one of those.

Does anyone recall the turbocharged Japanese motorcycle that was produced for a short time in the '80's? Seemed to me that it would have been a great idea, but it likely cost too much and was too complicated to be practical. Just wondered if anyone remembered.

 

Almost al the jap manuf made a turbo bike in the 80's.....the most sought after to me is the turbo 750 kawasaki.....all the others were smaller.

I have a 93 zx11 c that is turboed and intercooled....actually parting it out now, I could not sell it together. I now have a busa that will be turboed, but the zx11 made 300 rwhp as a nice street bike....and do 4 th gear power wheelies on the hwy....@140+

I would love to do a deisel bike......

 

The new military tactical quiet generator sets (3-5 kw) have a 12 volt, electric start diesel made by Yanmar. The 3kw is a thumper. Not sure about the 5-10 kw ones. Above 10 kw, the engines appear to be John Deere, or at least that color green.

 

A 4BT mounted crosswise would be cool. A 6BT might be stretching things a bit. Might be hard to lay down though.

 

Crossways, yes -- if longitudinal, it would be a nightmare to get off of you if you ever laid the puppy over! No power doghnuts with that 1000+ lb engine to support!!

 

KLR 650 has a military application with a diesel. Lots of good reasons such as less volatile fuel and the fact that diesel is easy to come by in the military.

On the downside... Less power in an already pretty tame package. (The KLR is what we might think of as a two-wheeled Hummer.) Certainly not what I'd consider an enduro or motocross bike. More a road bike that has the ability to go off-road.

The gasser edition (I own one) has a single cylinder 650 cc engine that's good for well over the 50k mile mark. Some say the 100k mile mark with regular maintenance. Valve lash is probably the most critical wrench job, then oil and filters. Economy will be about 55 mpg overall.

This is a machine that makes a wonderful commuter, but also will take you to the ends of this earth with little worry. Diesel is a wonderful idea, but probably not really practical for most of us.

 

Anyone living near me in NoCal that wants a CX500 to try it on, I have one that has been sitting. Nothing wrong just can't ride it anymore.

 

Its just too bad you dont live closer, I really want one of those now. Didnt get the one I was looking at, it went over what I had to spend on ebay.