TIL Diesel KLR650s were a Thing.

"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo)
11/07/2020 at 22:28 • Filed to: None

Well kinda. They were military spec only, a company called Hayes Diversified Technologies modified the KLR for the US military. The biggest change being a more robust, high compression engine that can run on Diesel fuel. The reason for this is so that it can use the same fuel as the Hummers and Tanks. Other modifications include beefy suspension for hauling gear, a larger front brake, bash bars for the handle bars and engine, a larger fuel tank, with a 400 mile range, and of coarse matte tan or green paint. I found out about these when looking for bikes on a government surplus auction site.This one was already sold tho.

https://www.wisconsinsurplus.com/cgi-bin/mmlist.cgi?rlust67/42292

And in case you’re wondering, yes it sounds exactly as horrible as you’d think a single cylinder Diesel engine motorcycle would. Basically like a jackhammer.

I would have to imagine you’d get some funny looks filling up your motorcycle at the diesel pump.

Haynes did eventually try selling a civian model in 2009 after the military stopped buying them, but with little interest it was canned after one year.

DISCUSSION (26)

Wacko > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/07/2020 at 22:47

I learnt that not too long ago, and I believe it was a post here on oppo.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/07/2020 at 22:49

I rode one once at 29 Palms, pretty weird.

facw > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/07/2020 at 22:51

Someone just had a big post about diesel motorcycles (I think including these). Couldn’t find it quickly though.

Nom De Plume > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/07/2020 at 22:52

So you’re buying at least one cop car to absorb Winter abuse and replacing the dual sport. Seems reasonable.

Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com > Wacko
11/07/2020 at 22:53

Mercedes did one for FP like last week. I saw it on my once a day headline scroll.

facw > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/07/2020 at 22:55

The reason for this is so that it can use the same fuel as the Hummers and Tanks

Not just those, JP-8 is jet fuel so it can be used for just about anything with a gas-turbine or diesel engine (though I think the Navy prefers JP-5?). Still, in theory it means a single fuel could be used for just about everything non-nuclear, greatly simplifying logistics.

AestheticsInMotion > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/07/2020 at 22:57

You need a klr

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > facw
11/07/2020 at 22:58

I must have totally missed it

facw > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/07/2020 at 22:59

No worries, the oddness of diesel motorcycles is certainly worth multiple posts!

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Nom De Plume
11/07/2020 at 23:00

Not with one of these. I found the normal KLR to be in refined and tractor like. I can’t imagine these being much fun at all. Great if you was to traverse great distances in the wilderness, but probably not great for blasting up to the grocery store to get some milk, and wheelies, I mean Wheaties

Wacko > Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com
11/07/2020 at 23:01

That’s it, that’s why it though it was oppo, it was her.

Jb boin > facw
11/07/2020 at 23:01

https://jalopnik.com/diesel-motorcycles-used-to-exist-but-many-were-terrible-1845511490

facw > Jb boin
11/07/2020 at 23:03

Ah, it was Miss Mercedes, and on the FP (no wonder I wasn’t finding it)

sn4cktimes > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/08/2020 at 01:40

A thumper diesel might be good for long slow rides... but damn if that doesn’t shake something awful. I thought my 350 Husky had some vibes . But at least it’s of a reasonable “frequency”. I’d need elbow and wrist replacements after taking that diesel for a rip. This thing looks like it’d go from jackhammer to Hitachi Magic Wand.

Blondude > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/08/2020 at 01:45

From what I’ve heard they’re basically perfect when when society collapses and we go all Mad Max, but if something unique to the diesel engine conversion breaks you’re fucked.

Beefchips > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/08/2020 at 04:12

OK thats rad af. A s a KLR owner the only thing I could want for my bike is LESS technical advancement lol

pip bip - choose Corrour > facw
11/08/2020 at 04:33

MissMercedes on the FP

pip bip - choose Corrour > facw
11/08/2020 at 04:36

https://jalopnik.com/diesel-motorcycles-used-to-exist-but-many-were-terrible-1845511490

pip bip - choose Corrour > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/08/2020 at 04:36

https://jalopnik.com/diesel-motorcycles-used-to-exist-but-many-were-terrible-1845511490

Nom De Plume > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/08/2020 at 05:19

In previous comments I was only trying to point you towards the right bike for your terrain. Not discourage getting something you fit on better or is funner to ride. The death of small local manufacturers like Rupp removed the only real base platforms truly designed for enjoyment offroad in the Midwest.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Blondude
11/08/2020 at 08:30

That sounds about right. With 400 miles in a 6 gallon tank, you you wouldn’t have to be too worried about fuel. Plus They are meant to run on just about anything that goes boom. Diesel, jet fuel, kerosene, propane if you can figure out a way to hook it up.

The only real disadvantage is the noise. You won’t be sneaking around abandoned cities on that thing.

Tohru > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/08/2020 at 11:19

that’s actually a cheap price for one of those - i’ve seen then selling for 8-9k. it was also only about an hour and a half from my house...
glad i didn’t see that one until after it was sold, else i would have another motorcycle in the front room.

onlytwowheels > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/08/2020 at 11:59

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Jb boin
11/09/2020 at 07:58

I think the main reason they’re “terrible” is their lack of willingness to rev. They’re only like that because diesel has a higher energy density than gas- you can make a diesel rev. I’ve seen people take old VW 1.5 or 1.6 IDI motors, balance the rotating assembly, alter a few things internal to the injection pump, lower compression, and take them up to 6 or 7 thousand RPM, just like the gas motors.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
11/09/2020 at 16:56

Weird in a good way or weird in a bad way?

I imagine throttle response was pretty lacking, and with the low end torque it might be wheelie prone. It seems like a weird combination, like you hit it and a it creeps, but at the same time wants to float the front a bit. Am I on the right track?

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Snuze: Needs another Swede
11/09/2020 at 19:36

Well I am not an expert motorcyclist, I was messing around with it. But yeah it wasn’t lightning responsive.