Hero - our new hero..?

[irev]

http://blog.motorcycle.com/2014/01/29/m ... l-concept/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



Hero MotoCorp revealed a new scooter concept powered by a 150cc turbocharged direct injection diesel engine. And an optional electric motor for the front wheel for 2WD.

The liquid-cooled TDI engine produces just 13.5 hp at 4000 rpm, but it’s the torque numbers that really shine, claiming 25.8 ft-lb. at just 1600 rpm

20% more torque than, for example, a J300, and about the same as a Burger 400.

They only burn when they bang so this low-revving, high torque nature bodes well for fuel economy... and is the natural home for CVT.

[StephenC]

Hi-torque I'm all for. I also like the idea of electric boost to aid traction, power and economy (Porsche 918 is incredible).

But diesel? No. Too dirty and generally unpleasant. I'll pass.

[maxiscoot nz]

Put nobbly tires on it and a air cleaner intake on the handlebars and would make a good offroad and farm machine

[smeghead]

I was tooling around on the Majesty the other day wondering why no one has put a Diesel engine into a scooter, seems logical to me. If my Maj did 100 mpg I'd be well chuffed, as long as they stay clear of the dreaded DPF it should work.

[Ferret]

I remember the diesel engined enfield bullet. it did 80 mpg and it was a dumper engine running on the older pre unit gearbox .There is also a group who have nothing but home bread diesel bikes and trikes with some very interesting machines . The technology is there but the demand is not for such machines yet .

[smeghead]

I remember the Enfield too, I though if Honda had a play it would work. The thing with 'demand' is it's a chicken and egg situation imho.

[alicethomas]

Interesting, but until now every (turbo) diesel engine is significantly shakier, heavier and more expensive than an otto engine.
Has to comply with emission standards too. I am not convinced that this characteristic suits for a scooter.

[irev]

Interesting, but until now every (turbo) diesel engine is significantly shakier, heavier and more expensive than an otto engine.
Has to comply with emission standards too. I am not convinced that this characteristic suits for a scooter.

Really?

http://wilksch.net/index.php?option=com ... &Itemid=15" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



2-stroke compression ignition will be the future, controlled by modern fuel injection systems and using a relatively high-pressure point injection system. 120hp and only a 100kg - that's a workable number and the design is modular so you can add cylinders - so a 60 horse twin would be commensurately lighter.

You obviously also haven't driven any of the modern automotive diesels - frankly in most you only know what the go -juice is by reading the `diesel` sticker on the fuel cap.

The mistake is in thinking that the future of mo'sickle diesel will come from the auto market - it won't, it will come from dedicated `scooter thinking`, perhaps driven by a lead from the aviation sector - where light weight is a pre-requisite. The expense issue is a function not of cost of manufacture, but market control - diesel engines are intrinsically simply than the otto engine, 2-stroke diesels even more so. Hero, of all major manufacturers, seem to be the first to recognise this - park it up and use it as a genny is pure genius.

I dream of the day when I can go down to the airport and fill up my scoot at the Jet fuel pump (no tax), when I'm not using home-brewed diesel (no tax).

And unlike you, I've actually ridden the HDT - the military diesel/Jet-A powered KLR and it is no more vibey, heavy or sup-par to the KLR motor. However, it does not feature any modern technological advances - it's basically a seventy-year old design built for squaddies - and therefore doesn't take advantage of any of the modern manufacturing, control or emission techniques. For that we'll probably need OPOC, micro turbos, high-pressure common rail injection - or hybrids. The inherently lower Specific Horse Power of diesel engines can be obviated to a greater extent by the torque, which is actually far more important to a road-going vehicle. If you combined that with a wheel hub electric motor to provide peak power when needed in short bursts (which is all you will ever use on the road), combined with design driven by real aerodynamic and rider protection requirements and you'd have a very interesting new take on maxi scooter-dom.

[alicethomas]

I know some diesel engines. Not hyper-modern, but existant. But I can't imagine any of them in a scooter.
There have been many concepts and those few, which became reality, had changed a lot.
Let's see, in which form (and if!) the Hero diesel concept will survive.
My scooter-power-unit imagination is more like electric.

[Bluebottle]

A little mechanical bird tells me that a next generation Diesel bike engine has been developed right here in the UK.
Unfortunately this bird would get the sack if he posted anything about it but it is amazing what you can pick up if you listen/read between the lines carefully.
Thought I'd mention it for him because I don't think he can