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Kawi KLR Diesel conversion finally coming soon.

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great08

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News Article...

http://www.dieselbike.net/commercialproduction.htm

Video Interview with the man...

http://www.americanrider.magnify.net/video/HDT-Diesel-Motorcycles

Specs Sheet...

http://www.dieselbike.net/MD670F_Spec_Sheet.pdf

Just think about it folks.

With this you would have an over 600 mile range on a single 6gal tank of gas or over 700 mi with an aftermarket one.

Rekluse makes an automatic clutch for those tight/low traction conditions.

Ricor makes a smart suspension that automatically adjusts dampening for a superior ride and traction that makes the bike feel like a different machine.

Man I love these bikes.

What are your thoughts on the military diesel?

Marty

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Bear Rider

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I saw this bike during testing several years back. I wasn't really all that impressed with it -- certainly not enough to pay a five figure price for one.

Given the high compression ratios required by diesels, I question the longetivity of the engine and starter mechanisms.

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great08

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Kind of cool but how hard is your iron butt (and how large your bladder) to care about going 600 miles on a tank of fuel?

I also think that anyone would likely have a hell of a time getting it worked on if needed! :bonk:

I am thinking less like doing the Iron Butt Rally and more like doing the Trans America trail and not stopping for fuel but once in a blue moon. Or driving from Fairbanks Alaska to the North Slope without need for more fuel. Much less worry.

I know parts had to be a thought that went through the guy's minds that designed and built these things. That is part of the military requirements and they are already in that frame of mind. I know I would have chosen easily acquirable parts and Incorporated things like valving, piston, rings, etc. into the design that are easy to get a hold of. Only way to know is to wait... then call and ask once they are selling their final product.

I saw this bike during testing several years back. I wasn't really all that impressed with it -- certainly not enough to pay a five figure price for one.

Given the high compression ratios required by diesels, I question the longevity of the engine and starter mechanisms.

The only things attractive about this to me are...

The increased range.

Increased Torque in the 2000-4000rpm range for better performance.

Diesels last longer than gassers. It's a proven and well known/accepted fact. Many diesel trucks on the road today have over a million miles on them. I do wonder what the compression ratio of this engine is going to be. I have seen diesels with anywhere from 12-18. I am thinking that it is going to be a lower compression ratio diesel. Mainly because the red line is not much lower than the stocker engine. A high compression ratio diesel will sometimes red line @ around 3000 rpms.

I already have a KLR so there will be no 5 figure price for me. If I were to actually do this it shouldn't be too pricey and only in the mid 4 figure range. Any higher and I would just wait for the price to come down or for them to start offering it in a kit. Another plus to bringing in your own bike is all the time and money saved on not having to re-farkle a new bike. So I am Hoping that all together it will be about 1/3 the price of a BMW for the average Joe who already has a KLR.

Only time will tell the tale though on everything.

PPl put down some serious cash for a prius that get's half the fuel economy of this bike. I have no doubt that many will flock to this diesel motorcycle.

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LILBIT

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[quote=great08;8696958

Diesels last longer than gassers. It's a proven and well known/accepted fact. Many diesel trucks on the road today have over a million miles on them. I do wonder what the compression ratio of this engine is going to be. I have seen diesels with anywhere from 12-18. I am thinking that it is going to be a lower compression ratio diesel. Mainly because the red line is not much lower than the stocker engine. A high compression ratio diesel will sometimes red line @ around 3000 rpms.

Gas to diesel conversions have a history of failure. The bottom ends are unable to handle the loads. The lack of RPM doesn't make up for the pounding on the rod/main bearings. The plain bearings in auto engines do better than motorcycles rollers.

Any more only commercial diesels have low redlines. These things usually weigh 3 times what a similar HP gas engine would. They are massively overbuilt to get a long life. Check out any of the new 1 ton diesel trucks. HP has gone way up the old fashioned way-with RPM. Even so they add a few hundred pounds over a gas version.

Read the reviews of the KLR conversion bikes. Throttle response was said to be so slow that you had to plan ahead for it. Wick the throttle and count "one -one thousand"... Yuck. Don't let the front tire tuck and try to fix things getting on the gas. A quick spooling turbo would do wonders but isn't doable.

The only viable market for these bikes was met by our goverment wanting the whole fleet of military equipment to run on one fuel.

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gravelfreak

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What if we'd try direct injected gas engines first? Although diesel bikes would be cool, they really started with military and the "single fuel" idea. Everything runs on diesel/jp8 and bikes have to do that too. Now if we were aiming at maximum mpg, I bet direct injected gas engines would be very close to naturally aspirated diesels (with same performance). So far there are no DI gas bikes, but making one is less complicated than a diesel conversion.

What that really needs is a turbo. You can get about 200hp out of a 4-cyl 2L tdi engine easily, with similar performance 500cc would have a little less than 50hp, which is definitely enough.

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great08

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Gas to diesel conversions have a history of failure. The bottom ends are unable to handle the loads. The lack of RPM doesn't make up for the pounding on the rod/main bearings. The plain bearings in auto engines do better than motorcycles rollers.

Any more only commercial diesels have low redlines. These things usually weigh 3 times what a similar HP gas engine would. They are massively overbuilt to get a long life. Check out any of the new 1 ton diesel trucks. HP has gone way up the old fashioned way-with RPM. Even so they add a few hundred pounds over a gas version.

Read the reviews of the KLR conversion bikes. Throttle response was said to be so slow that you had to plan ahead for it. Wick the throttle and count "one -one thousand"... Yuck. Don't let the front tire tuck and try to fix things getting on the gas. A quick spooling turbo would do wonders but isn't doable.

The only viable market for these bikes was met by our goverment wanting the whole fleet of military equipment to run on one fuel.

Can you put down a link to military converted bike test drives for us?

You do of course realize that they military version was a 611cc converted engine and the civilian version is 667cc that is almost a second faster on the 0-60 time... and is a little faster than our stock KLR engines(claimed better performance between 2000-4000rpms). Also the upper half is not converted but completely new. I wonder if they change out the crankshaft goodies then... or just have a low compression diesel that is soft on the lower end's parts.

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JoeBlow Kokomo

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I am thinking less like doing the Iron Butt Rally and more like doing the Trans America trail and not stopping for fuel but once in a blue moon. Or driving from Fairbanks Alaska to the North Slope without need for more fuel. Much less worry.

I know parts had to be a thought that went through the guy's minds that designed and built these things. That is part of the military requirements and they are already in that frame of mind. I know I would have chosen easily acquirable parts and Incorporated things like valving, piston, rings, etc. into the design that are easy to get a hold of. Only way to know is to wait... then call and ask once they are selling their final product.

The only things attractive about this to me are...

The increased range.

Increased Torque in the 2000-4000rpm range for better performance.

Diesels last longer than gassers. It's a proven and well known/accepted fact. Many diesel trucks on the road today have over a million miles on them. I do wonder what the compression ratio of this engine is going to be. I have seen diesels with anywhere from 12-18. I am thinking that it is going to be a lower compression ratio diesel. Mainly because the red line is not much lower than the stocker engine. A high compression ratio diesel will sometimes red line @ around 3000 rpms.

I already have a KLR so there will be no 5 figure price for me. If I were to actually do this it shouldn't be too pricey and only in the mid 4 figure range. Any higher and I would just wait for the price to come down or for them to start offering it in a kit. Another plus to bringing in your own bike is all the time and money saved on not having to re-farkle a new bike. So I am Hoping that all together it will be about 1/3 the price of a BMW for the average Joe who already has a KLR.

Only time will tell the tale though on everything.

PPl put down some serious cash for a prius that get's half the fuel economy of this bike. I have no doubt that many will flock to this diesel motorcycle.

Well, time will tell. But I'd be surprised if "many" flock to any diesel motorcycle. To weird for most.

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LILBIT

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Can you put down a link to military converted bike test drives for us?

You do of course realize that they military version was a 611cc converted engine and the civilian version is 667cc that is almost a second faster on the 0-60 time... and is a little faster than our stock KLR engines(claimed better performance between 2000-4000rpms). Also the upper half is not converted but completely new. I wonder if they change out the crankshaft goodies then... or just have a low compression diesel that is soft on the lower end's parts.

Sorry no link. I've read a few magazine articles about the bikes over the years. I remember one online but where?

Didn't know that the mil. version was different. I'm not believing it's quicker until proved. Who tested the bike besides the manufacturer? You can't go too low of a compression or it won't run with diesel. Compression is the ignition.

Anyone know if gov. diesel is high sulfer or like our green street diesel?

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great08

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Sorry no link. I've read a few magazine articles about the bikes over the years. I remember one online but where?

Didn't know that the mil. version was different. I'm not believing it's quicker until proved. Who tested the bike besides the manufacturer? You can't go too low of a compression or it won't run with diesel. Compression is the ignition.

Anyone know if gov. diesel is high sulfer or like our green street diesel?

I hear that it is a 13:1 compression ratio. Not to high. There is a conversation over on KLR650.net on the diesel bike. Many are very skeptical if we will ever see it.

Military vehicles are typically emissions exempt. However, I do know that they use a variety of different grades of diesel. JP4, JP5, and JP8 are the most common. JP8 is what we use in our aircraft and is ultra purified diesel/kerosene pretty much. I will do a search here really quick to see if I can find any info. That is a good question.

EDIT: OK, I am done with that! I am pretty sure the JP4,5, and 8 have higher sulfur content than the civilian grade of diesel. Read up on an additive that is good to use on Civ. diesel to lube the pumps etc. as the sulfur content is what acted as a lube. I will read some more @ a later date. I am tired and going to bed. Just got off of work.

Marty

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LILBIT

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No 13-1 is not high. I've never seen any diesel speced that low. Not an expert though i believe normal is more like 20+-1.

I glanced at JP-8 last night. The name was stuck in my head but popped up as jet fuel. As i understand thats far more refined than diesel. More like kerosene. If the military fuel is high sulfer that too would allow a higher performance version for their use that would not be tolerated on a civilian model.

Huge fines for running offroad,high sulfer, diesel if caught in a on road vehicle. I worked for a guy that had me put it in my(his) work truck in a pinch. If caught it was his problem i warned.

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