Neander Turbo Diesel Motorcycle
June 19th, 2006 by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider"
With diesel engines gaining more of the spotlight, let’s take a closer look at another diesel, the Neander turbo diesel motorcycle. A number of readers have pointed out this bike before which has been around for a while in prototype form but their intention is to begin production in limited quantities later this year so what do they have to offer?
Neander Motors looked at diesels and saw small displacement diesel engines of the one, two or three cylinder variety underrepresented in most applications. The major reasons were weight and vibration. Although ideal in large displacement and stationary applications, you didn’t see many diesels in small watercraft, ATVs and, of course, motorcycles. Rather than trying to fit an existing diesel into those roles, they designed a new diesel engine with the idea of low weight and vibration as goals, the result is a twin counter-rotating crankshaft design that looks like they might have come up with a winner.
They’ve built a vertical parallel twin cylinder diesel, which would be plagued with far too much vibration in the configuration and displacement chosen, yet the counter rotating crankshafts all but cancel the majority of the vibration. And this is no computer model, the engine has been built, tested and installed in a prototye motorcycle which has been showing up around Europe in a variety of venues where folks could get a look at it.
The final configuration is a 1400cc, twin cam, four valve per cylinder, vertical twin turbo diesel with intercooling producing 100hp and 144 foot pounds of torque at 2600rpm. It looks nice without some of the bulky and clunky appearance you might expect when you hear the word diesel. Performance figures are quoted on their site as 0-60mph in approximately 4 seconds. Not bad for a cruiser and sure to improve as the engine is refined.
The engine, as set up in the bike, is equipped with particulate filters for low emissions. The bike will have a six speed transmission and belt final drive.
Although the bike they plan to produce will not look exactly like the prototype and is only presented in computer images, it is similar in appearance to the prototype which doesn’t look bad as is.
They have not set a price yet which I imagine might be rather high but whether or not this bike succeeds as a sales hit, it may very well succeed as a great demonstration platform to prove the viability of their new twin crank diesel design. If it does that, they might find huge markets in many other areas and at the same time other companies may want to source their engine for use in a diesel motorcycle of their own.
Link: Neander Motors
The Kneeslider: Thunder Star 1200
Posted in Diesel Engines, Diesel Motorcycle, Motorcycle Builders
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16 Responses to “Neander Turbo Diesel Motorcycle”
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September 25th, 2006 at 8:39 pm
[...] Here’s an interesting article on a turbo-diesel motorcycle with 2 crankshafts. Only you gearhead geeks will really appreciate the engine, but the bike design is beautiful no matter who you are! [...]
September 27th, 2006 at 3:06 pm
This is AWESOME!!!! Would love to hear what it sounds like too…
October 6th, 2006 at 7:45 am
i envision the same problem as a single cylinder engine, even though it is a two.
October 6th, 2006 at 7:48 am
most single cylinders are bad starters. the reputation of diesel will perhaps stop that but maybe just the same.
October 9th, 2006 at 1:31 am
I would luv to have one. I wonder about the engine’s operating temperature when operated here in the tropics?
October 13th, 2006 at 12:16 am
This is just great! I love it. I rebuilt a Lister single cylinder diesel for marine use a few decades ago and ran it in the shop before moving it out to the showroom. Talk about vibration! But I remain a BIG diesel fan. I own two and used to have three - I learned about this after checking into the new AUDI V-12 Twin Turbo Diesel that won Le Mans by more than four laps. They had a stronger engine with fewer fuel stops. Watch for some IMSA rule changes on this one…
November 5th, 2006 at 5:18 am
Bravo. Just waiting it to come out in market.
November 21st, 2006 at 7:22 am
I would love to demo this in the U.S. for them. It looks terrific as is.
November 22nd, 2006 at 3:35 pm
It looks like half a Philips Roboid Drive Hot Air engine crank configeration - have you thought about doing a full Romboid drive 2 stroke using the cold zone as the blower? Consider anti back lash gears as expansion on heating is bound to cause rattle issues- wish you well - Trev
December 16th, 2006 at 1:40 pm
[...] Encontrado en TheKneeslider gracias a Mobuzztv [...]
January 22nd, 2007 at 4:53 am
wow, fantastic, at last someone has recognised just how good diesel engines can be. I have driven a Peugeot 306 diesel for the last 14 years and have nothing but praise for the thing.
I’ve just bought a big Harley Davidson but would be quite happy at some point in the future to swap it for one of these. Diesel is the way forward with world suplies of oil diminishing at a heck of a rate and the new bio diesel coming on stream.
The future is good, the future IS diesel.
January 26th, 2007 at 8:46 am
[...] Una moto turbo diesel? Ma va! Eppure quello che sembrava un sogno quasi irrealizzabile sta per concretizzarsi. La due ruote in questione è una Neander, imponente cruiser prodotto nel sud della Baviera, più precisamente in quel di Monaco. Il prototipo viene attualmente testato per le strade di mezza Europa per la gioia dei fortunati centauri del posto. Per raggiungere l’obiettivo di una moto con un peso contenuto ed un quantitativo bassissimo di vibrazioni, ci si è orientati verso un 2 cilindri 8 valvole: si tratta di un 1400 cc di cilindrata raffreddato ad aria e olio. PUBBLICITÀ PUBBLICITÀ La “creatura frankensteiniana” ha una potenza di 100 cavalli a 4.200 giri che garantisce un’accelerazione da 0-100 Km/h in circa 4 secondi. Il peso complessivo della bicilindrica si aggira attorno ai 310 Kg.La velocità massima è di 240 km/h (in Germania si può…), il cambio è dotato di sei rapporti. Sono inoltre presenti particolari filtri per garantire basse emissioni dei gas di scarico. I consumi, come ci si aspettava sono più che buoni: con 3/4 litri si percorrono 100 km. Il serbatoio è in grado di contenere 15 litri di gasolio. La Neander verrà commercializzata a partire dai primi mesi del 2007. Il prezzo ufficiale non è ancora stato comunicato. via | TheKneeslider postato da Gianni Calicchio il martedì 27 giugno 2006 in: [...]
February 18th, 2007 at 11:41 am
I love the idea of a diesel powered ATV. I own a 2004 Honda 450 Forman, and would only think of trading it if I could find a diesel powered ATV.
August 1st, 2007 at 5:48 pm
I would like to see them develop a touring 2-up model. I have heard diesels have a lot of torque. With the weight of 2-up touring & loaded saddle bags a diesel would seem effort less in torque & fuel milage at high way speeds.
This is a very interesting article. Thank you for reporting on this development of possibly a new erra of motorcycling.
Thanks;
William
November 20th, 2007 at 10:43 am
This looks fantastic. What’s the mpg like?
December 14th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
I am a diesel lover too; as evident by my 6.5 diesel powered 59 El Camino. Would love to be in the test market on this one.