| Author | Message | ||
     Johnnymceldoo |
...what if Buell made a line of XB's that ran on natural gas? Maybe the XB frame could still be used without much redesign? Why hasnt anyone done this? Lots of other vehicles run on natural gas. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
why not-- Availability. Cost effectiveness. Why spend all those resources on a vehicle that already gets around 50 mpg? I'm not certain on this part, and I'm too lazy to look it up, but I think natural gas has a lower BTU rating than gasoline. So basically it would have to consume more fuel, shortening the range on a bike that already doesn't get real far on a tank of gas. | ||
| Bombardier |
The frame is a stressed member and would not be suitable to hold any type of gas as it may crack at any time. The wall thickness would also be an issue being alloy as it would need to withstand direct impacts without perforating. The engine could run on the gas with no real worries as it has a relatively high compression ratio but using the frame as the tank would be creating a serious hazard for everyone. | ||
| Tramp |
Gas, be it propane or "natural" would be incredibly hazardous to run a motorcycle on. | ||
| New12r |
Propane is less efficient, and it stinks to boot. | ||
| Tramp |
and a compressed gas tank on a motorcycle, containing highly-explosive product, would never make it past COT reg.s, thankfully. | ||
| Birdy |
Just think one laying it down. I don't think ATGATT would help much. One little crack and a tiny spark and BOOM!  | ||
| Brumbear |
electric is much easier but IC engines on a bike IMO has to be gas | ||
| Tramp |
A V-Twin diesel would be pretty cool. | ||
| Hughlysses |
A V-Twin diesel would be pretty cool. +1 for that. V-Twin = massive torque. Diesel = massive torque. V-Twin diesel = massive torque squared! | ||
| Tramp |
...'zackly my point, plus the long stroke lends itself well toward the end of compression X volume. This would be an interesting direction for HD/Buell to take with a line or two. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Tramp- There was a website a while back showing several ex-HD powertrain engineers who were working on diesel HD V-Twin for eventual production. The site included a video of preliminary test runs of a diesel Big V-twin. It'd be interesting to know how they're coming along. | ||
| Tramp |
I'd like to see that. Diesel's lower flash-point further lends itself well to motorcycle safety | ||
| Hughlysses |
Tramp- I think this is the bike, 2nd one down on this page: http://www.dieselbike.net/harleydavidson.htm The group is called "Advanced Engine Development Corp". Can't find a link to their website yet. The Neander isn't a V-twin, but it's a pretty cool engine design: http://www.neander-motorcycles.com/motorbike/en/ | ||
| Brumbear |
I believe they have a few models in Europe but I haven't looked into it sounds cool though | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
yea, zero to sixty in a lifetime | ||
| Tramp |
Guess we can't all be as fast as some, here. | ||
| Johnnymceldoo |
Natural gas would be something more of us could use in our back yards. Fill up before you leave your house and the same with cars. Thats what makes it appealing. Knowing Buells innovation I would expect them to lead the way with a project like this especially given our current energy climate. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Knowing Buells innovation I would expect them to lead the way with a project like this especially given our current energy climate. Don't hold your breath. | ||
| Tramp |
Yep- Natural gas, with its angry flash point, and compressed storage...perfect for motorcycles. One good crash, and the motorcycle, the rider, and passers-by blown to shreds. | ||
| Paint_shaker |
An oil burnung V-Twin would be cool. But, diesel is currently more expensive than gas. So, unless they get substantially better MPG it wouldn't be worth it. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Diesels do typically get substantially better mileage. I have a diesel Jetta which probably averages 45 MPG. The equivalent gas burner gets around 30 MPG IIRC. | ||
| Tramp |
Yep- and with oil prices declining back toward reality, and the attendant longevity of diesel engines, in contrast to gasoline engines, makes more economic sense. | ||
| Froggy |
I want a diesel Buell so I can convert it to run on used McDonalds fry grease. I wouldn't be allowed to be near the front of the groups anymore because the exhaust would make everyone hungry  | ||
| Tramp |
...plus you could always home-fuel it from a nice, big above-ground oil tank of #2 heating | ||
| New12r |
Diesels do typically get substantially better mileage. I have a diesel Jetta which probably averages 45 MPG. The equivalent gas burner gets around 30 MPG IIRC. And you can tow, unlike your 30mpg bretheren. I know a guy who gets 40+mpg with a Jetta wagon TDI pulling a trailer with two bikes, camping gear, generator, grille, coolers etc...Show me a prius that can do that. Back to propane. The increased weight from reinforcing the frame to hold the compressed gas, the lower power output, and the lower MPG, you would end up with a 600LB bike, getting 30mpg, and could not keep up with a blast. A deisel bike would flat out move with the right tune, I have seen 600hp 1000 lb ft 4x4 trucks on 39" tires that could get to 60mph faster than most sports cars. | ||
| Glitch |
I'll take the Star Twin ThunderStar 1200 TDI.  http://www.gizmag.com/go/4273/gallery/ http://www.gizmag.com/go/4273/ | ||
| Froggy |
Just for comparison sake, here is the BTU rating of common fuels, from the Department of Energy
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| Iamike |
Being an electric & gas utility we tried the natural gas thing for awhile. The mechanics had to put these tanks in the trucks that took up most of the space. Then they had to work up some sort of vent that would allow the gas to escape if it leaked. Granted these were carbed cars and trucks but the system just didn't work well. They had a short range per tank and didn't start well in the winter. I guess they didn't have much for acceleration either. We had put in these really expensive pumping stations and then no one put the systems in buses and other fleet vehicles like we thought they would. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
1 gallon of gasoline = 124,000 Btu 1 gallon of heating oil or diesel fuel = 139,000 Btu 1 cubic foot of natural gas = 1,026 Btu 1 gallon of propane = 91,000 Btu Thanks Froggy, those were the numbers I was refering to when I said-- I think natural gas has a lower BTU rating than gasoline As your research shows, gasoline and natural gas don't even compare. |
