Team-BHP - Hero and Royal Enfield planning Diesel bikes

Quote:

Hero is already in talks with a Chennai based firm with whom a supply agreement is likely to be signed in first quarter of the next fiscal.
The bikes will sport engines over 400 cc which are currently undergoing certification testing at ARAI.
These motorcycles are likely to hit the market in the fourth quarter of the next fiscal.

Depending on response Hero could look at a possible licensed manufacturing of these engines in the future.

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Royal Enfield is also in talks with the same supplier for a future diesel engine for it bullet range.

Hero Group keen to enter diesel based 2-wheelers space - NDTV Profit

If they do materialize, they wont be the first diesel bikes in this country; RE had a diesel Bullet in the past, which became recognized more for its infamy than its virtues of doing a BLR-Pune run on 1 tankful of diesel !

It would be interesting to see the refinement levels of these new engines, if/when they do materialize.

The one manufacturer I can think of around the Chennai area that does low-capacity diesels is Greaves, near Ranipet. The other possibility (remote) that comes to mind is Delphi, but I've not known them to produce low-capacity diesels, atleast until now.

Was there not one more manufacturer, with the brand name of Sooraj?
The Enfield diesel Bullets used the Greaves-Lombardini engine. They ran almost on just love and pure air, according to Dilip Bam!

Can't forget the 6.5 bhp, 80 kmph top speed RE-Diesel: What a cruel joke on the real bullet. This one and Sooraj appeared (and sounded) like generator engines strapped to bike chassis.

Interesting piece of news. Moving in line with low capacity diesel engines planned in cars and now to low capacity diesels in two wheelers.

My question is, who will be the target customer? The urban or the rural customer.

At 400cc these bikes will be out of reach for the milk man/newspaper delivery people or other people looking for workhorse two wheeler. If it is to be for urban commuters or a lifestyle/touring bike etc will it beat the fun to drive factor of petrol engines. Hmm..

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaushikr (Post 2199369)

At 400cc these bikes will be out of reach for the milk man/newspaper delivery people or other people looking for workhorse two wheeler. If it is to be for urban commuters or a lifestyle/touring bike etc will it beat the fun to drive factor of petrol engines. Hmm..

There is no FTD factor in Splendor and the like, which are commuters. If it is 200cc or thereabouts, and priced no higher than a Unicorn, it will succeed. Else, RIP!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Su-47 (Post 2199362)

Can't forget the 6.5 bhp, 80 kmph top speed RE-Diesel: What a cruel joke on the real bullet. This one and Sooraj appeared (and sounded) like generator engines strapped to bike chassis.

I too remember seeing a few of them while in my teens in Chennai, very noisy and crude, but I'm sure owners loved them, as they could go on and on, on a tank full. If anyone has seen the machines they use to flush toilets in our railway stations, they would notice the engines look the same, may be they are the same.

Earlier RE diesels were product of 70s and 80s technologies. This is 2011. I expect them to be turbo charged, common rail, BS IV NVH levels, etc. Probably power-wise will match ~18bhp or so, if not more. May increase the weight of bikes (>200kgs), but, the torque will be enormous:thumbs up.

-BJ

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gansan (Post 2199387)

There is no FTD factor in Splendor and the like, which are commuters. If it is 200cc or thereabouts, and priced no higher than a Unicorn, it will succeed. Else, RIP!

200cc and priced no higher than Unicorn! is it possible? But if they manage to do that, they will have something going for them.

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Originally Posted by bj96 (Post 2199462)

With common rail, turbo charger where is the price going to go!
I just can't see where the product fits in. stupid:

Hopefully we should know when and if it gets launched.

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Originally Posted by kaushikr (Post 2199479)

I just can't see where the product fits in. stupid:

It can fit in only in the thrifty commuter segment IMO. A customer in this segment will be willing to pay 10 - 20k more than the Splendor range (100 - 125cc) for the diesel mileage.

Definitely not in the performance/touring categories.

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Originally Posted by Gansan (Post 2199500)

Definitely not in the performance/touring categories.

Why not?

Weighty (firmly planted), good torque, relaxed ride, diesel economy what more a tourer needs? Current RE 500CC offerings cost about 1.6L. Add another ~50k to it, throw in a little turbo charger and DI... you have a recipe for success.

-BJ

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Originally Posted by bj96 (Post 2199521)

I think not, for one major reason. At this category we are talking of a 500cc engine at least. It will sound like an ape' auto and not like a bike. If this obstacle is over come, then may be yes, may be. For the commuter category, this will be no problem so long as the bike delivers on FE.