| Author | Message | ||
     Panhead_dan |
First I've heard of it and I like what I see! http://www.trackdiesel.ca/Specifications.html | ||
| Darth_villar |
Looks good! | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Cool! | ||
| Hughlysses |
It is a cool bike. There's a LONG-running thread on ADVrider about the thing that's been going on for at least a couple of years. | ||
| Xdigitalx |
still way too expensive but definitely the right direction for motorcycles. | ||
| Rwven |
I wonder how that CVT performs in a slip the clutch and/or drag the rear brake scenario? Or for lofting the front wheel over obstacles. I really like the looks and the overall execution though.... (Message edited by rwven on March 13, 2012) | ||
| Djohnk |
I agree it's too expensive ... Let's say you get 100mpg on the diesel bike, then in 50,000 miles at $5/gallon fuel cost your total fuel cost would be 50000/100*5 = $2500. Alternatively you get 40mpg on a gas bike, ceteris paribus, your total cost would be 50000/40*5 = $6250. That's only a savings of $3750 over 50,000 miles of driving. Maybe you make your own biodiesel for free using the leftover french fry grease from restaurants? Then in 50,000 miles you save the total cost of $6250, in 100,000 miles you save $12,500, that might be worth it. | ||
| Djohnk |
Having said all that, I really like the bike, would like to try one, it reminds me a little of the Uly the way it shakes at idle. | ||
| Panhead_dan |
Yes, it's expensive but just how expensive is it comparatively... A gas engine should run for around 100,000 miles. Many do not but it's a figure to compare to. This diesel engine should run for 250,000 miles according to the mfg. Again, just for comparison. The fuel mileage is close to a wash because diesel is a third again more expensive but the mfg claims up to 140 mpg. Still, it's something to think about. Maintenance is simple and do it yourself, much like an XB. Likely simpler yet. As new D/S bikes come out, they are offered at a premium price and that is the price range to compare this one to. So if you can buy a new D/S from whichever mfg, including the one we are all anxiously waiting for from EBR for say over 10k and under or actually near 20k, which is really the better deal? This one is like 26k so for 6k-8k more $ you get over twice the engine life and easy, do it yourself maint for the life of the bike. Yes the drive would be hard to get used to but I could manage. The system is dead simple and reportedly works very well. An XB transmission repair can mean splitting the cases, which becomes an engine overhaul before you are done. I don't know what a new belt for the TRACK Diesel costs but it sounds like they are easy to change. I think this beast deserves a harder look see. I wish Erik would give us a peek into his future D/S designs. | ||
| Panhead_dan |
Also--- I would not consider buying one of these yet. (jmo) They have made a lot of changes to them in the few years they have been making them and are likely not done changing them yet. Once they get them done, more or less, and go into higher production the price will come down. With a proven record of reliability, performance and a dealership network in place all they would need is to place the price somewhere near other D/S's and these bikes could sell like hotcakes. | ||
| Razz |
This is obviously meant to do some serious travelling.The extra range you get from a tankfull of fuel is just as important as the cost per gallon.Also for the world traveller it is easier to find quality diesel fuel whereas gas can be iffy at the best of times. | ||
| Redtail |
If no one considered buying the model T ford when it first rolled of out the door it might have been a real shame. I wish I had the cash to get one of these bikes. Heck I wish a USA company would make them. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
People bought the model T because it was cheap and it worked. The model T worked so well and was so cheap, it put many motorcycle companies out of business. I'm sure this cool Diesel bike is awesome and it may even be reliable but surely it is not cheap! | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Not so awful long ago it was Diesel that was cheaper than gasoline. Probably never again but never say never. 25,212 U.S.Dollars plus freight is pretty amazingly high dollar. Folks that think a Buell makes alot of rattling noises would need to double up the ear plugs on one of these beauties. | ||
| Motorbike |
That thing should have a 3-point hitch, like most tractors.... | ||
| Turf_moor |
Is diesel really a 3rd more expensive than petrol in USA? Here in Portugal, and elsewhere in Europe, it's cheaper (although our gas prices are WAY higher than yours. | ||
| Rwven |
An XB owner calling another bike a tractor, that's irony for ya! | ||
| Motorbike |
Rwven, yeah, you're right. I was just joking anyway. Sometimes when I start my XB, it reminds me of an old John Deere 2 cylinder model 50 we had on our farm years ago. But then I go for a ride and forget all about that.  Thanks. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Technically, Diesel fuel should be easier to produce and therefore more cheap. I was told the reason that it costs more in the USA is that the demand is so much higher. Pretty much anything that's manmade and isn't a car is powered by diesel. That's a lot of hungry mouths to feed I remember when I was graduating HS in 1991, regular gas was under $0.98 and Diesel was cheaper. I don't know what has changed to make the proportion different. | ||
| Motorbike |
Found these on ytmag.com: http://www.tractorshed.com/gallery/tphotos/c139880 .jpg http://www.tractorshed.com/gallery/tphotos/c139881 .jpg | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
nothing runs like a deere | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I've seen pictures of a nicely done blast in John Deere. They even had a tractor seat | ||
| Hughlysses |
Technically, Diesel fuel should be easier to produce and therefore more cheap. I was told the reason that it costs more in the USA is that the demand is so much higher. I saw a detailed technical post about the relative cost difference between diesel fuel in Europe and diesel fuel in the U.S. on ADVrider some time back; I don't know the validity of the guy's story but it sounded technically sound. According to him, the crude oil refinery processes in Europe are designed to optimize diesel fuel production so that they get the most diesel from a gallon of crude. Apparently this also resulted in their diesel fuel containing relatively little sulfur which made it easy to produce "low sulfur" diesel fuel. U.S. refinery processes are optimized to produce the most gasoline from a gallon of crude. A side effect of this process is that sulfur gets "pushed down" in the distillation column so that our diesel fuel inherently contained a LOT of sulfur. Removal of this sulfur required expensive additional steps to be added to the refining process. The "best" way to make cheaper diesel fuel here would be to build new refineries. For what it's worth considering the source (i.e.- "the internet"). | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
GWB called it the internets. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
It's a series of tubes.... That sulfur thing sounds dangerously logical. Any longtime diesel fans here chime in on when USA diesel fuel started to become more expensive than low octane gasoline? Perhaps that time coincides with some EPA mandate for Sulfur levels? | ||
| Sharkguy |
Those diesel bikes are cool. I was heading to a FL rally up near Tallahassee a few years ago and ended up waiting for a traffic light alongside an older gent on a home made diesel powered motorcycle. It was pretty cool, real old school looking like a Henderson. Centrifical type clutch. He ended up going to the same rally. I believe the motor he was using was a Dietz of some type. I enjoyed the video of the converted triumph turbo diesel too. The rider was doing burn outs and wheelies with it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RELltnWVtJg&feature =related | ||
| Eulysses |
GWB called it the internets. Hah! Al Gore invented the internet. The 3 cylinder is going to be a lot smoother than a 2 cylinder. US diesel has more taxes per gallon. It was easier to add a tax to diesel than gas because most consumers used gas and voted. You see diesel normally going up in winter as heating oil demand goes up. Then lower than gas in summer often. I would love a diesel motorcycle. Have a Kubota L-35 3 cylinder, Dodge Cummins, Passat TDI and Isuzu trooper diesel...and odds and ends. Need a Buell diesel conversion kit! The tranny on the Dutch bike is snowmobile country...works out fine and has a decel side to the clutches. Light and good longevity. }}} | ||
| Towpro |
It think it was the mid 90's when diesel caught up to, then passed gas. First it was in the winter time when diesel would catch up to gas. Diesel and heating oil come out of the same tank then they add red dye to heating oil. In the winter heating oil demands go up. Plus they cut diesel with Kerosene in the winter to lower it's gel point (straight diesel starts to have what looks like vasolene in it between 40 and 30 degrees. In the 20's it will actually clog up the filters. Around my area in PA I think diesel is around 40c more per gallon. But my diesels get not quite double the MPG of the same car/truck with a gas engine. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Do you know the difference between "the Internet", "the internets", and an "intranet"? | ||
| Paul56 |
I think oil companies are charging for the calories. Diesel is way more energy dense than gas, especially with modern gas being "oxygenated" and "nitrogen enhanced". If it doesn't burn, it doesn't push you down the road regardless of any other claims regarding social responsibility. |
