The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Biodiesel Motorcycle – Die Moto from The Crucible

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Die Moto biodiesel motorcycle

There's a group of folks called The Crucible, building all sorts of neat stuff out in Oakland, California. It looks like they've put together a biodiesel motorcycle with a couple of goals in mind. They want to promote the use of biodiesel and other bio fuels but they also want to set a new land speed record for diesel motorcycles, currently a mere 105 mph.

This custom has a hand built frame, a BMW swingarm, possibly a BMW fork and a custom aluminum fairing that looks like it one of the old dustbin fairings we used to see.

The engine is from a BMW 320D. It's a 4 cylinder, 4 valve turbo diesel with a displacement of 1995cc. Power output is 163 horsepower and 251 foot pounds of torque. The engine can run on diesel, B99 biodiesel or straight vegetable oil. The whole bike weighs in at a rather hefty 1100 pounds, no small part of that probably due to the engine itself.

They plan to take it to Bonneville this year to see what they can do. Since the bike has already run over 120 mph, a new record seems likely. I would expect diesel motorcycle records to start falling with some regularity since there has been some interesting work going on with diesels, but this one looks pretty neat for a small group of builders.

Drawing, video and links below:

Die Moto biodiesel motorcycle

Links: The Crucible via Biodiesel Report

Comments

  3. Will diesels ever be pratical for motorcycle use? Probably not, they simply are just to heavy. Motorcycles are getting heavier which hampers their handling. Light is everything.
    This bike is going for a LSR which the 1100 pounds will help instead of hinder. Would it work on the street? Not very well.
    Nice to see the “dust bin” fairing is alive and well.

    Ooooold Will

  4. Well Willie diesels are already being used in motorcycles check out http://www.webbikeworld.com/diesel-motorcycle/ and http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2005/02/25/thunder-star-1200-diesel-by-star-twin/ Don’t think weight is an issue really rather it’s a common misconception that diesels are heavy.. Also a Audi Diesel powered race car won the American Lemans Series http://www.audiusa.com/audi/us/en2/experience/motorsport/motorsport-news/audi_claims_title.html

  5. There’s also the Track Diesel bike from the Netherlands:
    http://www.dieselmotorcycle.co.uk/

    Hey James, your buddy wouldn’t happen to be John would it? That’s my neighbor who (also) teaches welding at the Crucible.

    I think the video was shot before the overpass burned down over there.

    -todd

  6. hey, this seems like it could be really good for motorcyclists. anyone here aware of diesel 2-strokes? i don’t know a whole lot about them, but imagine one run on biodiesel. 2-strokes could be clean again. . . or maybe just clean enough. either way, torque is king. bring on the diesel.

  7. Wow. That looks awesome. The dustbin is great looking, but the naked version looks even better. It might be useless for corner carving but… That is one hell of a muscle bike.

  8. I saw that thing in person at the Maker Faire last weekend. It may not be obvious from the pictures just how absurdly long the wheelbase is on this thing. It was definitely built for Bonneville first and the road second.

    Am I to understand from the video that there are experimental motorcycles practicing land-speed record attempts on the same highways I drive every day? Cool, certainly, but worrying.

  9. Thanks Kpaul for the links. Have seen several on The Kneeslider. I don’t have any experience with a diesel powered motorcycle. The only interest in performance diesels has been Gale Banks that I have followed. http://bankspower.com/high-performance.cfm
    When comes to buying a new bike I think it will be a while before we see one at the local bike shop.

  11. stating the obvious: That isn’t a Kawasaki per se, it’s a Hayes Technologies bike. Get yours while you can.

    -todd

  12. Thanks to all for debunking willie so utterly and completely, I hope he’s learned he cant rely on the lack of knowledge of others to support his invalid comments. Theres only one reason there aren’t more diesel vehicles available to the American public despite all common sense and that is the aggressive and coordinated efforts of the oil companies. It’s documented and indisputable.

  13. Sorry to have offened Jpaul and Andrewski. Your thoughts are well taken. I’ll look at diesels in a different way due to your convictions to the breed.
    Old Will

  14. What, the oil companies don’t want to sell more oil? Why would they be against diesel? From what I’ve read and come to understand is:

    1. diesel pollutes. Until we offer more refined fuel the EPA will limit the number of diesels in the US. Are they even available in California?
    2. very poor current infrastructure. Not many people want to go online to find out which gas stations offer diesel and which ones don’t. Many major cities have very few diesel pumps.
    3. diesel engines are more expensive to manufacture. Not everyone wants to pay a premium for an unfamiliar motor that has less horsepower.
    4. “diesels are noisy”, “diesels are hard to start in cold weather” – public perception is everything.

    -todd

    p.s. I would buy a diesel if I could get one. A few years ago I tried in utter futility to find or order a diesel Jetta Wagon with manual transmission…