Diesel motorcycles for the military??? US Marine model.

Joeaksa · 12-17-2006, 05:40 AM

Guys,

Sitting here overseas and watching the British Discovery Channel. They now have a program running about someone in the states doing a conversion on a Kawasaki motorcycle that converts it to DIESEL to be used on the battlefront. This model is going to the US Marines.

Anyone ever hear of a diesel motorcycle, street, military or otherwise?

Joe

charleskieffner · 12-17-2006, 06:16 AM

KLR model 650cc. not exactly what you want in the sand dunes! a tad bit heavy !

fingpilot · 12-17-2006, 06:57 AM

The military has been on a 'dieselization' program for a long time. They don't want to have to haul the volitile gasoline around.

Seahawk · 12-17-2006, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fingpilot
The military has been on a 'dieselization' program for a long time. They don't want to have to haul the volitile gasoline around.

Correct. Having been an Air Boss on a gator, anything but heavy fuel has to be stored OUTSIDE the skin of the ship, or in very specialized containers, a total pain in the ass.

Another reason is logistics...if all our stuff burns the same fuel, so much the better.

The next break through will be in very small diesel engine for small UAV's. We're getting close.

fingpilot · 12-17-2006, 08:00 AM

Agreed. The lack of a viable lightweight airbourne diesel was what stopped the interservice acceptance of several small UAV's I've worked on.

You'd think it wouldn't be THAT tough.

oldE · 12-17-2006, 08:04 AM

IIRC, there was a thread on here sometime last year about this, with several pics.

Les

HardDrive · 12-17-2006, 11:19 AM

I have heard a diesel motorcycle! They make them in India. I can't recall the brand, but its not Royal Enfield.

They make this really cool, deep 'put, put, put,put', like an old tractor.

I'll ask the wife about the brand.

HardDrive · 12-17-2006, 11:22 AM

I appear to wrong. They are made by Enfield.

http://www.epfguzzi.com/4bullets/models/nothere.html

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by HardDrive
I appear to wrong. They are made by Enfield.

http://www.epfguzzi.com/4bullets/models/nothere.html

Max bhp
6.5 bhp@ 3600 rpm

Max torque
1.48 kgm@ 2500 rpm

woohoo, last one to pop a wheelie is a rotten egg

charleskieffner · 12-17-2006, 12:37 PM

swedes built bad ass husqvarna auto trans models w/machine gun on h/bars. they were 2 stroke. puch also made some as well as jawa and bultaco in 2 stroke.

m21sniper · 12-17-2006, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fingpilot
Agreed. The lack of a viable lightweight airbourne diesel was what stopped the interservice acceptance of several small UAV's I've worked on.

You'd think it wouldn't be THAT tough.

Why not just use a small turbine?

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

i think turbines aren't that fuel efficient at slow speeds
so you need a gearbox, to reduce the revs, which adds weight

m21sniper · 12-18-2006, 11:16 AM

You'd need a gearbox with any type of engine.

Turbines are not efficient at idle, but at WOT they're generally unmatched for efficiency, and they have by far the greatest power to weight ratio of any ICE engine design that i am aware of.

I'm sure someone will have the scoop.

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by m21sniper
You'd need a gearbox with any type of engine.

i doubt they gearbox engines on prop planes...
but if they would put in a turbine, they would need the gearbox

LakeCleElum · 12-18-2006, 11:27 AM

I heard a rumor that the company that converts the 650 KLR for the military might sell to the public in the next year or two. Estimated fuel mileage over over 100 MPG...

Seahawk · 12-18-2006, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by m21sniper
You'd need a gearbox with any type of engine.

Turbines are not efficient at idle, but at WOT they're generally unmatched for efficiency, and they have by far the greatest power to weight ratio of any ICE engine design that i am aware of.

I'm sure someone will have the scoop.

You are correct on the gear box issues. However, Small UAV's fly at very low speeds and require lots of endurance (up to 15 hours on less than two gallons of gas).

A small turbine engine doesn't do well in those regimes.

Cost is also a factor.

m21sniper · 12-18-2006, 12:39 PM

Thanx Seahawk.

What about a rotary? I remember some time back John Deere was marketing a whole line of military rotary engines, though i've no idea if they ever found a customer or even still offer them.

Rotary's are also very compact with a very high p/w ratio. They are typically higher RPM engines though, so you might still run into consumption problems.

oldE · 12-18-2006, 01:43 PM

"i doubt they gearbox engines on prop planes...
but if they would put in a turbine, they would need the gear"

Stijn,

That's how a turboprop aircraft is set up (as well as most helicopters).
Also, the Porsche engined Mooney light plane used a gearbox to reduce the RPM of the prop.

Les

Milu · 12-19-2006, 03:48 AM

Rokon have made motorcycles with diesel engines and their trademark two wheel drive as standard:

http://www.plowsunlimited.com/rokon.htm

http://www.rokon.com/products/index.htm

http://www.rokonworld.com/history.html

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by oldE
"i doubt they gearbox engines on prop planes...
but if they would put in a turbine, they would need the gear"

Stijn,

That's how a turboprop aircraft is set up (as well as most helicopters).
Also, the Porsche engined Mooney light plane used a gearbox to reduce the RPM of the prop.

Les

ok , perhaps on big planes, but not ultra lights, or UAV's
we were discussing UAV's , not full size passenger planes