Funny you should mention that I found my old 83 mk1 vg did London to C'wall at an average of 70mph at 37mpg - I thought that was pretty bloody good!!

This just in from the diesel KLR guys.

Currently all diesel engines and M1030 diesel combat motorcycles are produced under a military contract for the USMC, they are not available to the general public.

However, to promote the civilian version of the diesel motorcycle we will shortly be offering a limited number of bikes to the public with serial numbers xxx-001 through xxx-100.

We will be requiring a substantial deposit that will go into an escrow account, in the event that something unforeseen happens to prevent us from producing a civilian version, this deposit will be fully refunded.

Full details will be on our website www.m1030.com as we get further into the project.

When we do go public with the diesel motorcycle it will be available in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia, then the rest of the world.

Price has not been set yet but we are guessing at about 20% over the MSRP of the KLR 650.

The diesel engine itself will be available separately, for retrofit and for OEM and special project use.

Other projects that are in the development stages include a 1000cc, 4 overhead cam v-twin diesel engine designed for the US Army for ATV use, this engine will be offered in 90hp normally aspirated and 110hp turbocharged versions.

This will be a single unit engine (no transmission), so it will make a great engine for large cruiser motorcycles.

One other project is a 1500cc flat 4 (boxer) high performance diesel engine being designed for US Army and USMC low profile gunship platforms, again this engine will be in the normally aspirated and turbocharged configurations.

All of our family of high performance, small diesel engines are designed to start and run on multiple heavy fuel oil and kerosene based fuels, specifically JP8 jet fuel as well as all aviation kerosene, AVTR, NATO Mil Spec diesel, CARB low sulfur diesel and B20 and B100 Biodiesel fuels.

We have run sub zero start and run tests in Labrador, using #2 diesel fuel, JP8, B20 and B100.

The bikes started easily after being left outside all night and performed all functions of the test flawlessly.

Thanks for your interest,

Roger Flynn
F1 Engineering Inc.

Here is an excerpt from an email I received from the company a few weeks ago...


_ It will be the only production run of commercial diesel motorcycles that will use the military engine and limited to only 200 units.

_ The D650-A1LE will have custom graphics by Wally World.

D650A1Bulldog

_ It will have special Noleen/F1 rear suspension and custom tuned front suspension.

_ The D650-A1LE will be available with the customer's choice of Dunlop D606 or D607 tires.

_ Gearing will be customized to the rider's preference for on-road, off-road, or adventure touring.

_ The D650-A1LE will have a custom seat cover.

_ The D650-A1LE will have a custom, military style, tool kit, especially equipped for adventure touring.

Second, we plan to offer individualized engine serial numbers. After receipt of your deposit for the 2006 Ltd. D650-A1LE Bulldog, HDTUSA will provide you with a custom, military-style leather Bomber Jacket that includes a special patch with your individualized engine serial number. Additionally, each bike owner receives individualized documentation and a bronze medallion with the individualized engine serial number.

Individualized engine serial numbers will be assigned on a first come, first served basis, with the exception of serial number 00001. We intend to auction off the first production unit with the proceeds going to a Marine Corps charity and the Marine Corps Heritage Museum in Quantico, Virginia.

Owners will be provided with monthly updates as to the progress of the commercial production.

Third, we will be offering a limited choice of colors and graphics. We are working on color and graphic details now and will announce the options in an upcoming newsletter.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

PRICE: The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price for the D650-A1LE Bulldog will be $18,999.00 (the price is subject to change until the opening of our initial offer to sell and some restrictions may apply.) A non-refundable deposit of 10% of the purchase price will be required to hold your bike. The balance will be due on presentation of documentation and notice that the unit is ready for shipment. For our customer's protection, deposits will be refunded if HDTUSA is unable to deliver their motorcycle.

We plan to provide more details on the 2007 full production D650-A2 Bulldog in an upcoming newsletter.


------------------
Jeeps, motorcycles, fly
fishing and cold beer...life is
good!!!

Pity. If they make only 200 then it won't be available outside the US, as the cost of homologation would be astronomical...

I should have posted the entire message...

It's 200 bikes in 2006 and then full production in 2007.

The real pity is the astronomical price

Now that's good news. Apart from the price tag.

If only it had a decent chain case and big tank. Would get close to being the ideal overlander.

Barry Sheene would be turning in his grave right now. He used to call any four stroke motorcycle a Deisel!!!!!!