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Diesel bike: 2 000km range

27/08/2007 08:54

From those crazy Dutch, with their love affair for the bicycle, comes a diesel powered motorcycle with contemporary applicability.

Built and designed by EVA Products in the Netherlands, the T800 CDi is an enduro-styled 800cc inline triple. In standard trim it is an amazing concept for a motorcycle, the optimal rev range, for instance, is between 1800r/min and 2800r/min, peculiarly underwhelming for a motorcycle.

Obviously the idea of a diesel powered motorcycle is centered on the efficiency coefficient, enabling huge range. Being an on/off-road type enduro bike, the T800CDi features WP suspension, and shaft-drive, which coupled with the optional 50-litre long range fuel tank, should make it an ideal continent-crosser.

The Daimler-Chrysler sourced 800cc engine is turbocharged, features two-valves per cylinder, a 18:1 compression ratio and produces 54kW and 145Nm when fettled to it's highest state of tune. Power is transferred via a continuously variable transmission which allows maximum drivetrain efficiency.

Range: 2000km...easy

Considering the T800CDi has a maximum wet weight of 214kg's, performance is still quite sufficient. It has a top speed of 185km/h, and does 0-100km/h in 6.5 seconds.

Perhaps more importantly, it averages 2.13l/100km, so you could easily achieve more than 2000km on a 50-litre tank full, which is especially neat if you intend crossing Zimbabwe for instance.

Befitting it's unique Dutch engineering heritage, the T800CDi can be ordered with optional ABS, a lifting device to recover from after silly sand driving antics and even two-wheel drive.

EVA's director, Erik Vegt, says the first 50 orders will be going to EU customers, after which he will start taking orders from further afield.

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