diesel KLR

**DAVSATO** · #1 8 Sep 2004

any new news about the diesel powered Kawasaki KLR that caused a lot of interest 1 or 2 years ago? i see Kawasaki have discontinued the old faithful in the UK this year.

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dave

**ManxScamp** · #2 16 Sep 2004

Doesn't look hopeful does it... what a shame
Is there any other way of going about it?

**beddhist** · #3 16 Sep 2004

Build your own! => http://dieselkrad.tk

I think the only likely place where you could buy one right now could be the bazars of Baghdad...

However, with the F650GS with injection returning 3.5l/100km you have to ride VERY far to make it worth while.

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Salut from Southern France, the bikers' paradise,

Peter.

**martync** · #4 23 Sep 2004

I think you can now buy a diesel enfield, I read it somewhere, maybe motorcycle news

**braindead** · #5 23 Sep 2004

The USMC have juts finished testing them and the UK army are in the process. All the trials have gone very well. I would of though that production for the military will start ijn about 18months to 2 years time, Not sure whether they will be available to the public thought.

The enfield deisel is a real dog though steer well clear.

BD

**DAVSATO** · #6 25 Sep 2004

ah yes, the enfield robin, now with 3hp!!!

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dave

**canadianmike** · #7 8 Oct 2004

Check this out! They also seem to be working on a civilian model.

http://www.f1engineering.com

100 mpg!

**gyuris** · #8 27 Oct 2004

F1 Engineering is located in Hesperia Southern California,, relatively near where I live. I have personally spoken recently with the owner, Flynn Roger, and he told me that they are fully committed to the production contract of the Military version of the Diesel KLR. They are a relatively small shop and all their production line is taken up with this contract for 600 bikes for the USMC. The civilian version is another whole can or worms, he said...the main one being liability and NHTSA certification, plus the scarcity of obtaining the KLR frames to mount the engines on. Also a very small niche market share (in the big scheme of things). He said that each diesel KLR in civilian version would cost about U$D 15,000 until (if ever) economies of scale kick in. He would need about 2 million U$D in seed money to start up the civilian diesel line and is seeking investors. Anyone interested?

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Ride On!

A.T.

**beddhist** · #9 28 Oct 2004

Diesel road bikes are available in Germany: www.centaurus.de

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Salut from Southern France, the bikers' paradise,

Peter.

**mcdarbyfeast** · #10 28 Oct 2004

Looks like one of the old diesel Enfields.

**beddhist** · #11 2 Nov 2004

It IS an Enfield, of course. New, but old design.

850cc, 20 hp. I don't know anybody who owns one...

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Salut from Southern France, the bikers' paradise,

Peter.

**DougieB** · #12 3 Nov 2004

news on the diesel KLR

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3709859

**mcdarbyfeast** · #13 3 Nov 2004

A price of 20-30% more than a coventional bike sounds too expensive for overlanding.

**beddhist** · #14 3 Nov 2004

You will need to do your sums (and guesstimates) beforehand. Like Diesel cars, it'll only be worth it if you travel far. You get 1/2 - 2/3 the fuel consumption and fuel price compared to a petrol bike.

Add to that the fact that Diesel is often more easily available and the bigger range. Plus it can run on Kerosene, which in some countries is dirt cheap.

On the German Diesel bike site I read about one guy who buys his fuel at the catering supplies: 5l containers of salad oil! Must have an interesting smell out of the exhaust.

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Salut from Southern France, the bikers' paradise,

Peter.

**martync** · #15 9 Nov 2004

i can't comment on diesel bikes but most diesel cars are higher performance these days and the engines are all nearly over 2.0L.

As a result there consumption is not a great deal from a petrol car, a good example is the golf GTI, man that thing can drink some juice!