Royal Enfield Bullet... Diesel

Jeff Higgins · 03-14-2018, 03:52 PM

I don't know why I think this is so damn cool... maybe because is just so really isn't. What a hell of a contraption. I think I might need one, though...

BeyGon · 03-14-2018, 04:42 PM

It's different but they have a better looking café style single out

Noah930 · Noah930's Garage

The dealer network (or lack thereof) would steer me away from any Royal Enfield.

Evans, Marv · 03-14-2018, 08:40 PM

I always wanted one of those military, cross country, diesel bikes. Probably the same problem a Noah mentioned though.

Jeff Higgins · 03-14-2018, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

I always wanted one of those military, cross country, diesel bikes. Probably the same problem a Noah mentioned though.

I remember those, barely. Didn't Kawasaki make them for the Army? I seem to remember they were pretty highly thought of at the time.

Evans, Marv · 03-14-2018, 09:38 PM

Yes they were for the Army, & I believe it was Kawasaki that built them. I remember reading an article a long time ago and wondering if they might come up for sale at a surplus sale.

Jeff Higgins · 03-14-2018, 09:51 PM

O.k., I just spent a few minutes googling this. It was Kawasaki, in the early '90's, that adapted the KLR650 to diesel for the Marines. They later upgraded them under some "single battlefield fuel" program, so they would run on just about any fuel oil, like jet fuel, kerosene, etc. They only made about 250 of them, and apparently they command a premium on the used market today. Sounds like the performed a lot better than this Enfield, with about the same power as the gas version.

Evans, Marv · 03-14-2018, 10:02 PM

Too bad. With a run of only 250, laying your hands on one wouldn't be likely at any price. I bet one would run for a thousand years. I didn't realize it had been that long.

HardDrive · 03-14-2018, 11:03 PM

There was another Indian brand called Rajdoot that made diesels. Frequently used by milk men because the got good mileage and were reliable. they made a really cool sound. Very low rpm, big thumps.

Reiver · 03-15-2018, 08:26 AM

Pretty cool....sounds like my Yanmar tractor.

VincentVega · 03-15-2018, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reiver

Pretty cool....sounds like my Yanmar tractor.

x2

Reminds me of the little yanmar in my boat

Cool bike!

scottmandue · 03-15-2018, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HardDrive

There was another Indian brand called Rajdoot that made diesels. Frequently used by milk men because the got good mileage and were reliable. they made a really cool sound. Very low rpm, big thumps.

I often wondered why with the popularity of big cruiser bikes why someone didn't come out with a diesel?

pwd72s · 03-15-2018, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottmandue

I often wondered why with the popularity of big cruiser bikes why someone didn't come out with a diesel?

Listen to the video...that's why.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

Those helmet cams that swing around and never focus on anything make me nauseous. I ran through the video with my eyes closed and peeked now and then. I was hoping for some technical info, the idea sounds fascinating. But as far as I could tell it was just a helmet cam video of a guy riding a funny sounding motorcycle.

scottmandue · 03-15-2018, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Listen to the video...that's why.

Dunno what diesel he installed in the bike but it looks pretty 'vintage'... and motorcyclist are know to like 'funny' sounding machines (two stroke bikes).

I would wonder what a modern two cylinder turbo diesel would sound like in a bike.

VincentVega · 03-15-2018, 01:31 PM

Typically heavy, slow revving and expensive. All 3 are changing but its hard to beat a compact 4 bike motor for price and hp density.