chaseing the hore power

[sbrumby]

There seems to be a lot of talk of tryng to make the engines more powerfull or go faster, while I would not try to stop anyone trying to improve things, let me say any any increase in power usually comes at the expense of reliability or economy. Most people are able to alter a bike, to actually alter the caperbilities of a diesel engine is possible but not very practicable out of a small garage or shed.
In the latest copy of Bike magazine there is a review of the Victory Hammer S rather like the Harley v rod.
Price £14,495,1634cc, 83hp,top speed 110mph (est), to quote, the bike has a 6 speed gearbox with a true overdrive in top, at 70 mph ( the highest sustainable speed the riding possition allows).
Most sports bikes do about 37mpg and have a range of about 150miles , so are looking to refuel after 1 1/2 hours if they are lucky and actually find a station open. A reasonable diesel bike although slower will just keep going so you are looking at the tortoise and the hare situation.

[Diesel Dave]

Good to hear from you Sam, we missed you at the rally this year.

The hare and tortoise thing is very true, it took me 4.5 hours from the ferry terminal at the Hook of Holland to the campsite at Hamm last year, but I never put a foot down during the ride.

I was overtaken 4 times by a group of dutch Caterham 7 type cars who flashed by each time and then pulled into the next service station to refuel or ease aching bones.

I find the secret to achieving big mileages on small diesel bikes is to make sure you are comfortable. Choose bar and peg positions that fall easily to hand/foot and fitting a small screen can save a lot of wind pressure and weather. Fit a friction throttle to ease aching wrists and I much prefer the old Brit type 'barrel' grips as they fit into the hand better.

Some may consider a cup holder as a bit much but I managed to jam a McDonalds coke with a straw into the tank bag within reach.

As my next creation will be a ridgid frame I'm not sure how well this theory will hold up.

Cheers M8
Dave

[sbrumby]

Just to add to the tortoise & hare thing, a bloke I worked for who ran cranes said everybody waits for a crane a crane waits for nobody. Quite a few years ago on a 750F1 from Stafford to London I pulled in at every service station to check on some friends that were hitching , I kept passing the same old guy in a morris 1000 when I got off in London what did I pass same morris 1000. Latest bike almost finished now just took the various bits for painting today. Needed some antivibration mountings for the mirrors, my original source had dried up. Spent about 2 hours trawling the net and eventually found them on (www.getgeared.co.uk) 10mm threads male & female £9.99 for two well woreth it.

[andrewaust]

Good point guy's Slow and steady wins the race so to speak. If you want a power machine that is what you buy or build. If you like cruising and like to travel without worrying about filling every 2 hrs, wanting a bike that will nearly outlast the owner our ole diesels are the go.

With good maintenance I guess a diesel will travel some impressive K's/Miles before a rebuild. I've got a 200cc Enduro pocket rocket which eats heaps of fuel, has a top speed of 170 K's in ideal conditions - in other words a license burner! The downside, it has to be fully pulled down and rebuilt every 10-20K. If you try to ride it like a diesel, it just fuels up and fouls the plug and stops. Before it does this it blows more smoke than any diesel!

So I just like to cruise on the Enfield, and if I'm in the mood for some high powered fun - go the dirt bike.



Cheers


Andrew