Rumours keep raising their heads in europe about BMW developing a diesel motorcycle.
No secret spyshots have been forthcoming so I don't know if this will be a boxer or a K type configuration.
BMW certainly have the tech expertise in the car division, indeed there was some crossover on the F650 development from the M series car type combustion chamber.
Here's a bike to whet you apetites - R45 based:
There you are then, something slower than an R45
Currently one of the best diesel engines fitted into a bike is the 800cc Smart Car 3 cylinder turbo diesel unit developed by Damler Benz - unfortunately the price comes out to over GBP12k (USD20k+) and the bikes are still in development. A test bike did prove itself capable of 1 litre per 100km at 100kph which I make out to be 282 mpg (Uk gallon) but I guess this must be downhill with the throttle shut.
Another favorite engine is the Lupo 1.2 diesel as this weighs in under 90 kilo's and provides about 60bhp, this is another 3 cylinder unit and developed by the Volkswagen Audi group so easily available to BMW if they wished it.
So far the only mainstream manufacturer to put out a factory diesel motorcycle was Royal Enfield with their mighty 325cc 6HP Greaves engined Bullet - capable of only 45mph but good for 200mpg (Uk) - I know 'cos I have one although it's got a 360cc motor installed. - This bike has to be the most rugged bike ever made and so long as you can kick start the 18.5:1 compression then there is little to stop it running I would choose this bike to do a 'Long Way Round' journey as it would handle the Mongolian 'Road of Bones' easily - mine also has a 4.5 Gallon fuel tank so it has a range of 780 miles! For those doubters about doing long journeys on slow bikes I have toured a lot on this little bike - named Sluggy because of his speed, colour and pugnacious appeal. We have been to Germany where we exited the ferry in Holand at 08:30am and I didn't put a foot down 'till I arrived in the campsite 4.5 hours and 210 miles later - I was glad of the old friction throttle grip. Also made all the ride outs and the return journey without needing to fill up. He also runs quite happily on Veg oil (used or new) home made biodiesel, and even his own used engine oil although this did seem a bit cruel.
This is Sluggy in his small tank days:
I'll be back in Germany for this years diesel bike rally in Sept so I'll catch up on the local gossip then
Regards
Dave
