Altius Scimitar diesel motorcycle
Indian firm signs up with HDT to offer a multi-fuel motorcycle designed to run primarily on diesel, with a effective 600 kilometre cruising range
In the automobile world, diesel cars are widely represented and some brands offer a diesel option for every petrol model available. The same, however, cannot be said about the motorcycle world.
Which is why whenever a diesel-powered motorcycle rears its head people sit up and take notice.
Making use of the same powertrain that provides motive force for the Hayes Diversified Technologies (HDT) M1030-M2 LE 670 (based on the Kawasaki KLR650), the Altius Scimitar dual-purpose motorcycle offers the same 33hp (24kW) output and multi-fuel operation, but in a more modern looking package.
Altius Automotive Technologies, an Indian outfit based in Chennai, has teamed up with HDT to create the Scimitar, which appears to be very similar to the Kawasaki KLR650, albeit with a more urbane paint scheme.
Power comes from a modified Kawasaki KLR650 engine, a single-cylinder liquid-cooled four-stroke mill that has been revamped by HDT to run on numerous fuel types, including diesel and biodiesel. It will also run on several military fuel variants like JetA1, AVTUR, JP5, JP8 aviation kerosene and AVCAT. Understandably, the military is likely to take a keen interest in a diesel-capable motorcycle.
Equipped with a 14lt fuel tank, the Altius Scimitar has a theoretical range of around 600km when filled with diesel, and has a top speed of roughly 150km/h.
What are your thoughts on diesel motorcycles - would consider riding one if it was offered in Australia? Leave your opinion in the comments box below.
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