Setting a Land Speed Record

How fast do you think it will go?

Not as fast as the Angelic Bulldog

Yeah, this part of the project wasn't exactly gripping, its more about setting the stage and introducing everything. I promise to spice it up for next time!

Also, the Bulldog is apparently based on two Honda Blackbird engines, which would pump out at least 44 times more power than mine so, you know, yeah its probably faster. But its not in my class so I don't really mind. I was shooting for 55 mph.

No dig at you mate...I wish you all the best. I just thought I'd spread the word about Angelic Bulldog to like-minded folks.

Ah, my misunderstanding, how fast has it officially gone so far?

It's not the same thing at all - yours is a diesel engined motorbike, that other one is a twin engined petrol bike.

I'm not sure what the record for a diesel bike is, but I do know that the US Army spent a fortune to get one made for them (so every engine could use the same fuel), because they've only recently come into existence. As such, you might well have a shot at the world record!

The world record is around 130 held by a group from Cali who built a bike around a car engine. I believe the company that builds the US army bikes set the 750cc diesel record at around 95 mph. I won't hold the absolute number, but I am shooting for the 350 cc class.

I don't know that 05 is "only recently"

Haynes

or even older hobbyists

http://www.dieselbike.net/

Royal Enfield anyone??? At least some of the ex-colonials paid attention...

Royal Enfield models went out of production at least 15 years ago. Too bad, they were just a little ahead of their time. They could have easily been marketed as biodiesel, high efficiency machines in the U.S.

If '05 isn't recent, then I'm sorry for the huge delay in replying!

The link to the Royal Enfield there was interesting. I actually bothered to read it, and paid attention - it's about some guy taking an old bike and putting a diesel engine in it himself. Likewise the other links to hobby guys who have done it themselves.

Which of these guys would have been able to fulfil the US Army's desire for over 500 machines?

The Haynes link tells the story quite well:

At that time [1997] there were only two major tactical military systems still using gasoline, small field generator sets and motorcycles. The military approached both generator set and motorcycle manufacturers to determine what alternatives might be available. The generator set manufacturers responded immediately with some diesel fueled options. However, all the motorcycle manufacturers approached indicated that a diesel fueled motorcycle was neither commercially practical, cost effective, or, in some cases even possible given the performance requirements.

<snip>

HDT successfully completed the first part of Phase II in May of 2001, when they demonstrated the first motorcycle that used a diesel engine specifically designed as a motorcycle engine. The motorcycle exceeded all expectations and was received with great acclaim by both the news media and potential military customers.

So yes, Diesel engined motorbikes that you can actually buy are new - just a decade old. Setting a land speed record for one should be far easier than, say, jet powered cars.

This may interest you also:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_motorcycle

So Royal Enfield in India is the only manufacturer that has mass production a diesel motorcycle, between apparently the '80's and 2001. A 6.5 hp industrial diesel was installed in the frame of the British-based Royal Enfield. However, due to pollution laws - which must have been something, to be banned in India - this bike is no longer produced. With a reported 1.4 L/100 km, and a top speed of 55mph, I'm sure it doesn't do the standing 1/4 very quickly.

Probably not something to worry about on the day of the world record attempt, not least because the moderators won't be able to see it through the smoke.