someone here (sorry, can't remember who, thanks to whoever it was.) posted a
link to a discussion forum about homebuilding tractor implements. i went
there...

http://www.tractorbynet.com/

happened to come across this and thought it was SO cool...

http://www.peace65.freeserve.co.uk/Pictures/kubota.htm

tell me that's not cool.

b.w.

It's not homebuilt but Kawasaki already builds a diesel version of it's KLR
dual/purpose bike. They're supposedly releasing a civilian version of it
some time soon. Modify one of those to run on vegetable oil and you've got a
pretty cool motorcycle.

John E.

"Carl Byrns" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 05:04:43 GMT, "William Wixon"
wrote:

someone here (sorry, can't remember who, thanks to whoever it was.)
posted a
link to a discussion forum about homebuilding tractor implements. i went
there...

http://www.tractorbynet.com/

happened to come across this and thought it was SO cool...

http://www.peace65.freeserve.co.uk/Pictures/kubota.htm

tell me that's not cool.

b.w.


Pretty neat but the three cylinder Kubota goes for about $5000 (or
more.. I can look it up Monday).

-Carl

On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 20:31:38 GMT, "John Emmons"
wrote:
"Carl Byrns" wrote in message
.. .
On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 05:04:43 GMT, "William Wixon"
wrote:

someone here (sorry, can't remember who, thanks to whoever it was.)
posted a link to a discussion forum about homebuilding tractor
implements. i went there...
http://www.tractorbynet.com/
happened to come across this and thought it was SO cool...
http://www.peace65.freeserve.co.uk/Pictures/kubota.htm

Pretty neat but the three cylinder Kubota goes for about $5000 (or
more.. I can look it up Monday).

The idea would be to get a used or surplus engine for cheap and
build the bike around it - if you have to pay full list, it kind of
ruins the economy factor since the payback period is way too long.

It's not homebuilt but Kawasaki already builds a diesel version of it's KLR
dual/purpose bike. They're supposedly releasing a civilian version of it
some time soon. Modify one of those to run on vegetable oil and you've got a
pretty cool motorcycle.

Kawasaki has been selling rolling frames to HDT-USA who has been
building Diesel bikes for the US Military for a few years. Under the
new "One Battlefield Fuel" initiatives they need to use Diesel, JP or
Kerosene for running everything new.

And the best part for military use being that Diesel doesn't go
BOOM! nearly as easily as gasoline does.

-- Bruce --

--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.

On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 20:31:38 GMT, "John Emmons"
wrote:

It's not homebuilt but Kawasaki already builds a diesel version of it's KLR
dual/purpose bike. They're supposedly releasing a civilian version of it
some time soon. Modify one of those to run on vegetable oil and you've got a
pretty cool motorcycle.

John E.

Enfield motorcycles..now made in India, have a deisel powered one
lunger



"Carl Byrns" wrote in message
.. .
On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 05:04:43 GMT, "William Wixon"
wrote:

someone here (sorry, can't remember who, thanks to whoever it was.)
posted a
link to a discussion forum about homebuilding tractor implements. i went
there...

http://www.tractorbynet.com/

happened to come across this and thought it was SO cool...

http://www.peace65.freeserve.co.uk/Pictures/kubota.htm

tell me that's not cool.

b.w.


Pretty neat but the three cylinder Kubota goes for about $5000 (or
more.. I can look it up Monday).

-Carl




"A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them;
the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences."
- Proverbs 22:3

On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 09:27:30 GMT, Gunner
wrote:

On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 20:31:38 GMT, "John Emmons"
wrote:

It's not homebuilt but Kawasaki already builds a diesel version of it's KLR
dual/purpose bike. They're supposedly releasing a civilian version of it
some time soon. Modify one of those to run on vegetable oil and you've got a
pretty cool motorcycle.

John E.

Enfield motorcycles, now made in India, have a diesel powered one
lunger

Yeah, but would you want to stake your life on it's reliability?

Thought not. ;-)

-- Bruce --

--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.

I wouldn't want to have to rely on one but it would make a nice, unusual 3rd
bike to have in the garage. I've thought about picking up one of the "new"
Enfield's.

John E.

"Bruce L. Bergman" wrote in message
news
On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 09:27:30 GMT, Gunner
wrote:

On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 20:31:38 GMT, "John Emmons"
wrote:

It's not homebuilt but Kawasaki already builds a diesel version of it's
KLR
dual/purpose bike. They're supposedly releasing a civilian version of it
some time soon. Modify one of those to run on vegetable oil and you've
got a
pretty cool motorcycle.

John E.

Enfield motorcycles, now made in India, have a diesel powered one
lunger

Yeah, but would you want to stake your life on it's reliability?

Thought not. ;-)

-- Bruce --

--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.

On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 01:16:46 GMT, with neither quill nor qualm, Bruce
L. Bergman quickly quoth:

On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 09:27:30 GMT, Gunner
wrote:

Enfield motorcycles, now made in India, have a diesel powered one
lunger

Yeah, but would you want to stake your life on it's reliability?

Thought not. ;-)

So you're saying that the country which gave us the Prince of Darkness
(whilst eating steak and kidney pie) does better engineering than the
country which brought us curry and the Kama Sutra?

Hmmm...I dunno about that.

--
The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly
is to fill the world with fools.
--Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)

"Bruce L. Bergman" wrote:

Enfield motorcycles, now made in India, have a diesel powered one
lunger

Yeah, but would you want to stake your life on it's reliability?

Thought not. ;-)

-- Bruce --

Two things immediately spring to mind.

First is that it's sorta like buying from HF or Grizzly. The Enfield
India bikes are a "kit" rather than a ready to run machine. They still
represent a pretty good value for the dollar spent if you are a fan of
that style of bike (which I will admit to liking)

Second, it's not exactly airplane or space tech, it's a modern copy of
50's technology. Sometimes ya gotta walk, but failure mode tends not to
be catastrophic.

I have seen a few writeups on the diesel Enfield. They are using a
single cyl farm engine. Dead nuts reliable, exceptional mileage,
acceleration that requires a calender to plot. Not enough power to wear
itself out. All good attributes for a bike for use in an economy where
there may not be a lot of cash on hand. Not surprisingly, they had no
plans to export any of the diesel bikes.

From my perspective the dealer network is where these really fall flat.
Dealers are expected to buy the bikes for cash up front then resell. Not
so bad but delivery is by guess and by golly, from what I have heard
while I was looking into these. Sorta like an HF lathe, they should be
gone through before they go out the door, but often are not.
They are a complete shock to someone that thinks all bikes should be as
close to maintenence free as a generic Japanese bike is.

Cheers
Trevor Jones

On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 01:16:46 GMT, Bruce L. Bergman
wrote:

On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 09:27:30 GMT, Gunner
wrote:

On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 20:31:38 GMT, "John Emmons"
wrote:

It's not homebuilt but Kawasaki already builds a diesel version of it's KLR
dual/purpose bike. They're supposedly releasing a civilian version of it
some time soon. Modify one of those to run on vegetable oil and you've got a
pretty cool motorcycle.

John E.

Enfield motorcycles, now made in India, have a diesel powered one
lunger

Yeah, but would you want to stake your life on it's reliability?

Thought not. ;-)

-- Bruce --
Italian diesel engine - need I say more??
*** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com ***
*** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from http://www.SecureIX.com ***

On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 01:16:46 GMT, Bruce L. Bergman
wrote:

On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 09:27:30 GMT, Gunner
wrote:

On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 20:31:38 GMT, "John Emmons"
wrote:

It's not homebuilt but Kawasaki already builds a diesel version of it's KLR
dual/purpose bike. They're supposedly releasing a civilian version of it
some time soon. Modify one of those to run on vegetable oil and you've got a
pretty cool motorcycle.

John E.

Enfield motorcycles, now made in India, have a diesel powered one
lunger

Yeah, but would you want to stake your life on it's reliability?

Thought not. ;-)

-- Bruce --

Actually..Ive ridden one. Its not a bad bike, and has a fairly decent
reputation.

Gunner



"A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them;
the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences."
- Proverbs 22:3