xBhp.com : The Global Indian Biking Community - View Single Post - How about a diesel engine in modern day bikes?

arunmur · 07-14-2009, 06:03 AM

A morder engine with a PD injection or a computer controlled injectors will surely make a hell of a diesel. But looking at the prices for our petrol bikes a diesel bike will be far costlier for the same performance.

There are two options in making a diesel bike
- a high performance sport bike
- a high mileage bike

Hi performance bike, I dont think any of our current makers have proper expertise to make a high performance bike like we are talking about. At the best they could plonk in a custom developed 400cc single(may be a twin since Bosch is going to make a CRDI unit for NANO) with short stroke to rev till about 5kRPM. This would give you crazy mileage.

If they want to make a mean high mileage bike some one could plonk in a 200-250cc mordern single diesel with square stroke setup. This could give our old Splendour a good competition but should be costing atleast twice.

Chance of making though is real zero, for example none of our makers have shown any interest in making or displaying any diesel bike in the past. Enfield themselves stopped the production of their diesel, though theoretically it should have been a super hit.

Even the educated people in India are not ready to put a few more thousands for a FI, despite clear signs that FI is smoother, better in gear accelerations, gives you more kilometers per can of petrol, hassle free starts, no chance of your mechanic screwing up your air-fuel mixture, lower carbonation and what nots. I wonder who would pay for a mordern diesel engine on a bike. It will be too complicated and roadside mechanics are certainly out of option. At the best this bike could be targetted at Farmers but will they buy this instead of their good old splendour especially since they can save many thousands.

I think a hybrid bike is a better bet for long distance travellers but then who wants a hybrid. I would rather drive that old 200cc carbed bike for which our manufacturers charge like crazy because reboring costs like 10k bucks around or my old 150cc sport bike which looks like a replica of that 1000cc one.

07-14-2009, 06:03 AM	#27 (permalink)
arunmur Anti-Technical Jargon Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bengalooru Posts: 129	A morder engine with a PD injection or a computer controlled injectors will surely make a hell of a diesel. But looking at the prices for our petrol bikes a diesel bike will be far costlier for the same performance. There are two options in making a diesel bike - a high performance sport bike - a high mileage bike Hi performance bike, I dont think any of our current makers have proper expertise to make a high performance bike like we are talking about. At the best they could plonk in a custom developed 400cc single(may be a twin since Bosch is going to make a CRDI unit for NANO) with short stroke to rev till about 5kRPM. This would give you crazy mileage. If they want to make a mean high mileage bike some one could plonk in a 200-250cc mordern single diesel with square stroke setup. This could give our old Splendour a good competition but should be costing atleast twice. Chance of making though is real zero, for example none of our makers have shown any interest in making or displaying any diesel bike in the past. Enfield themselves stopped the production of their diesel, though theoretically it should have been a super hit. Even the educated people in India are not ready to put a few more thousands for a FI, despite clear signs that FI is smoother, better in gear accelerations, gives you more kilometers per can of petrol, hassle free starts, no chance of your mechanic screwing up your air-fuel mixture, lower carbonation and what nots. I wonder who would pay for a mordern diesel engine on a bike. It will be too complicated and roadside mechanics are certainly out of option. At the best this bike could be targetted at Farmers but will they buy this instead of their good old splendour especially since they can save many thousands. I think a hybrid bike is a better bet for long distance travellers but then who wants a hybrid. I would rather drive that old 200cc carbed bike for which our manufacturers charge like crazy because reboring costs like 10k bucks around or my old 150cc sport bike which looks like a replica of that 1000cc one.