Details noted:

• Uncomfortable routing of exhaust from tiny turbo.
• "Troy-Bilt" appearance.
• Things to hurt you on "dashboard?".
• Open drive sprocket/trouser winder.
• Lack of "cheater legs" option (these are false legs I invented, with small tires under the fake boots) for stability.

There's more, but someone else can take over from here.

I completely agree with you Garthh. Better engineering work in diesel motorcycle design has been done for decades. The numbers for the original story's cobbled diesel are hopefully typographic errors, 50 mpg for a diesel motorcycle! The Mercedes C250 gets 45MPG from their diesel with over a ton of metal and a roof. I would expect the Mercedes to be faster than this Frankenstein machine.

The military bike pictured gets 95mpg

Part of the quest for armed forces around the world to simplify the supply chain & have only one type of fuel

the diesel courier bike has proved so popular, the release date for a consumer model have been pushed back year after year

I saw an early version listed on ebay about two years ago. the seller's location was out your way. I believe it was without a title.

The bidding started so high I didn't bother to watch it.

Now that is a serious "Chook Chaser" 650km range makes a lot of sense for military use. Diesel would also be good for AG use. The only caveat would the diesel's ability to out accelerate a scrub bull. A lot of the ringers ride petrol bikes in this size range and to get all day operation mustering it takes at least 30 litres of fuel.

Diesel 4WDs have proven better off road, not only for torque, but also for reduced fire risk when working in dry grass such as spinifex. The logistics of one type of fuel is definitely worth looking at for AG as well as military.

The first 4WD diesels were also indirect injection and look where they have gone, this kind of bike has huge potential.

Thanks for the link.

I went looking for the christini 2wd kits & found this

http://gas2.org/2009/03/09/eva-announces-2wd-diesel-motorcycle-next-stop-baja

it's not 2wd drive but does look like the Beemer crowd would like it

KTM's big bore 2wd

http://www.gizmag.com/go/3180/

Great links Garthh.

Like you say the diesel looks the berries for off road touring, (Beemer style). By the time I get around to buying a bike again they may be available. My last one was a DR750 Suzi whose torque I really enjoyed.

Not so sure about 2WD though. Bikes that straighten up under acceleration frighten me, that is why I rejected the Triumph Tiger after the damn thing stood up and turned wide into the oncoming lane on the test ride. It turned about 2 metres wider than my Suzi did under same conditions (turning on from a side road and opened the throttle 3/4 way through turn).

Certainly don't need the thing in the original post though, it reminds me of the V8 monstrosities E.J. Potter made in the 60s or one from WA with a Leyland P76 V8 called "Cane Toad". Cane Toad ran a tractor tyre on the rear.

Sounds & looks more like a 'main battle tank' than a motorcycle.

İf you ever laid it down it would be a bit difficult to pickup!

No, I knew about this http://www.realclassic.co.uk/diesel05112800.html but have discovered a site to explore as a result, it's here http://www.dieselmotorcycles.co.uk/

This is more my style. I read about this a few years ago in Bike magazine, I guess this is the result of what they were playing with back then.

And look at all the beautiful carbon fiber on that magnificent machine!

Drew

Sank without a trace

I've often wondered my there haven't been more Harley diesel conversions

shouldn't have to do more than sleeve the cylinders, to get the compression, electric pump & injectors, glow plugs, the bottom ends & heads are heavy duty...

Whew!

Did you guys see the asking price for this buffalo? $64,900.00

Uff-da!

I think that they're going to be asking for a long time.

I am inclined to agree, redfred.

A fellow would have to have a pretty large discretionary fund to consider such a thing. And what is your insurance guy going to say?

A fellow would have a pretty large derriere to ride it.