The Real Reason why you NEED a DIESEL KLR

#srkcycles

[audiogarden]

There's a hidden benefit to having a diesel motorcycle. Pull up to the diesel pump and watch as people scream and yell at you not to pump it into the tank. You can cup your ear like you're trying to listen closely to their screams while pulling back the pump handle to give them a momentary respite and false sense of security before putting the pump nozzle back into the tank and start pumping while nodding and grinning like an idiot.

[CurtisDrew]

I had a KLR that had been converted to diesel a few years back. It was converted by a guy in Texas. He fitted a 418cc diesel generator motor and CV transmission in the 2002 KLR. I tweaked it a little to get it to run better, and it gave me a top speed of 60 mph. I built a proper header and intake for it because my shop is set up to do stuff like that.
I sold it to a friend in Ohio, and last we talked, he still rides it a lot.
I saw 106 mpg out of it if I rode it easy. Worst mileage was 85 mpg. Though about putting a turbo on it but never did still have the turbo!
Was going to build a diesel Triumph Tiger with a 3 cyl Diahatsu motor snd Harley 6 speed, but got diagnosed with cancer and had to shelve that project.
I still ride my other KLR. 153K miles on it so far.
Good video Craig!

[GhostWarmth]

Every diesel engine fan was waiting for the start-up to hear that diesel sound. Which totally got lost in the background.

[cheyennecombs]

I laugh when I hear “Military grade.” Basically translates to “built by the lowest bidder.”

[Cc-jfvw]

I served for 21 years in the Marine Corps. Attended the Division schools Marine Corps Motorcycle Combat school. Rode the KLR in Camp Pendleton, 29 Palms and the Saudi desert. Simple but great bike. Rode with radio and M16 on my back. I now own a 2023 KLR 650 as a off road and computer bike every day. I haven't seen a Marine Corps bike in years. He is right about the Harley, I tested one off road at Camp Pendleton. Way too heavy! Thanks for the memories!

[dookieshoes]

As an equipment mechanic in the military, all of our stuff runs on Jet A (previously JP8). Small 2 cylinder deutz engines up to 4 cylinder Isuzu, Kubota, Cummins and 6 cylinder Cummins. We still have some older units running Detroit engines. All run pretty solid. I intend on a poor man's apocalypse build with a DR650.

[mikegarmer]

EPA would say hold my beer and dream up a bunch of restrictions that kill any high efficiency (mpg wise) diesel alternative.

[seamuslockhart]

Praise God brother. Keep it up!

KLR was.my first and only bike. Sketchy at high speeds. I would stand up to stop the death wobble but it totally worked.

Don't remember it doing much better than maybe 90 tops but probably somewhere in the 80s.

[jefferyholland]

One of my favorite bikes that you have picked up. Very cool.

[BlackArroToons]

An Apocalypse Motorcycle that can run on Diesel or Kerosine spanning up to 600 miles, cool! I wish more modern bikes had larger fuel tanks. My Ninja 650 '21 has a decent 4.0 gallon engine with a range of 200 miles if riding conservatively around speed limits under 70 mph. Thanks for the review of this cool, utility bike. Glad you got it running again.

[gregmcclure]

That white truck made me think that you would end up on the Moto Stars channel!

[upsidedowndog]

They are cool but there are so many good regular KLRs out there with a huge aftermarket support and readily available parts that I recommend the gas one. Mine is tuned enough to make it fun.

[ElwoodPDowd-edpc]

Kinda reminds me of the sound my royal enfield Himalayan I bought new back in 2018. It didn’t run as rough as the diesel but reminds me of the sound it made when I did winter rides. Once the engine warmed up, it smoothed out a bit. Same as my Delica diesel. Thanks for sharing.

[leetvolk]

Love the idea of a diesel motorcycle, although something with at least 2 cyllinders for balance would be preferred. Would be interesting to see a BMW 4 cyllinder diesel or a small 4 cyllinder diesel as well.

Unfortunately the EPA is really being a bear like you said. The DEF and EGR systems are entirely unnecessary on a diesel and actually make it more likely to fail and harder to troubleshoot. Government knows best though, just like the auto start/stop technology on vehicles.

I have a diesel car that was the last run of diesel cars in the US since the volkswagen incident. This was mostly due to the toshiba controller being common on a majority of the cars. Could get minimum 10 more mpg with a delete, around 100 more hp, and around 200nm more torque. Plus I can see when its smoking something isn't right. I think diesel would be a better future for cars than electric, I would also like to see diesel/electric hybrids though where the diesel engine just charges the battery and runs full bore all the time at peak efficiency.

[TJS-Garage]

I think you need to do a cross country ride with this bike! With the amount of Miles that are on it now it hasn’t even burned through a whole tank of diesel yet. Thats crazy!

[PaulSchofield-pb]

I have an Ex-Military Polaris D-BAT 6x6 400cc diesel. The engine is a Yanmar. The battery power problem is solved by putting a 12V car battery in the front sitting across the front axel. Always starts even when left standing for months. It's in the UK and I paid GBP 1500 (USD 2000) for it back in 2020. The torque from the engine and 6x6 drive is amazing. The fuel economy and pulling power along with the weight it can carry ticks all the boxes. We use it on or small holding and have a bunch of equipment to fit it. Sprayer, Fertilizer spreader, Pulls a large rake, Pulls a large flail mower, Pulls a 1000kg IBC water butt. Put generator in the back when needing mobile power units taking across the fields and all the tools you might need. EMP proof. Can't believe there not main stream work machines, where you need torque, power, economy and reliability with heavy lifting cargo capacity. That said I also have the 2000 year Polaris Big Boss 6x6 500cc Petrol. Does everything the diesel does without the economy and is super scary fast but not EMP proof and only has a standard motorbike battery. Both machines are low maintenance, no electronics and easy fix. Both bikes are keepers. My friends thought these were toys initially, now they think otherwise and all want to buy the set-up from me ! E.P. Barrus Ltd in the UK still make Yanmar single cylinder diesel engines for generators.

[farmerrambo]

Wrong Fred. Hayes is the diesel bike guy. The Fred you pictured is the astronaut that didn’t mess with bikes. But great video 😁

[tedthoman]

Nice presentation, and nice diesel sound from "the AK-47 of Motorcycles"...
There are parts Anywhere in the World for the stock gas version.
Had only 2 issues with one in 50K miles : "O" ring in the water pump letting
the oil & coolant mix [ easy fix ] and a wire broken from vibration, buried deep in the
wiring harness, where 2 wires were joined to 1 wire w/ a little crimped brass sleeve....
[ under the gas tank ] 40-50 MPG @ 60+/- cruise....

[billybobsnorton]

I love the idea of a multi-fuel go anywhere bike. A single cylinder diesel will never impress anyone with its performance. If there was one available on the market, what would it cost? I live in Montana, on the edge of the Beartooth Mountains, so just this idea appeals to me. I am subscribed and enjoy your brief devotional offer every episode.

[Friedbrain]

I used to run the big rigs so a diesel motorcycle would be fantastic to have! Would love one of them. Once it quits accelerating is the moment to shift up is correct. Doesn't matter the rpm if it quits accelerating then that's it.