Yanmar Moto Guzzi

Many thanks to Mitchell Green from down Tampa, Florida way who sent me details of his great looking Moto Guzzi conversion. The bike dates from 1971 and has been fitted with a Yanmar 3GM30 Diesel engine which gets about 65 to the US gallon. Mitch tells me he will be improving the top speed of 74 mph and adding a gun mount in the near future. Mitch is on FB and as of March 2020, this bike is up for sale.

I think you'll all agree that this is a very well proportioned motorcycle. A look at the left side of this Moto Guzzi Diesel Conversion. Suzuki GSX Yanmar

Here we see a machine constructed in 2006 by Richard Coles. Based around a Suzuki GSX 250E, this motorcycle has had its engine replaced with a 406cc Yanmar L100 (taper shaft). Gearbox is a 3 speed pre-unit affair with the shift lever fitted up by the tank. Read the build report on the main page of this site.

Another Diesel Motorcycle from the U.K.

Royal Enfield Yanmar

This machine has at its heart a 750cc V twin Yanmar engine. This picture was taken at 2004 Rally. The engine cover came off later but I only have that on video. I'll try and post when I can.

RE Yanmar 750. The 500 relates to what it was.

CB300RSD

Derek Walters recently unveiled his Diesel motorcycle to the British public in via the pages of Old Bike Mart. It consists of a Yanmar 308cc engine fitted into the frame of a Honda CB250RS. Brakes, wheels and gearbox (cut out from oringinal engine) are all Honda. However the seat and tank are from a Suzuki GS125.

Derek was inspired to build the machine after meeting Ernie Dorsett on a Steam Boiler Course. The engine can revto 3600 rpm and top speed is around 50 mph. Mpg is in the region of 120.

This bike was recently featured in the Old Bike Mart.

CB400 Yanmar

A pleasant surprise for 2005 here. Sam Brumby informs me he has built 2 Diesel powered bikes and this is one of them. A CB400 powered by a Yanmar 275 engine. Sam tells me he built this machine in a week back in April.

The engine is started with the pull start seen here on the right hand side.

Diesel Wiesel

This machine was built (I think) by Bernhard in Germany and consists of a 1 cylinder Yanmar engine of 406cc fitted into a Suzuki Marauder Frame.

The Diesel Wiesel - what a great name. To find out more go to the homepage here.

The Romanian Karpaten Diesel Motorcycle

The frame is a Dnepr but I have no idea about the origins of the engine (unless its a Karpaten).

Honda John's Kawasaki Yanmar Diesel Motorcycle

My forum name is Honda John, but I go by....John. My first project was based on a wrecked KZ400 that my friend picked up as a parts bike. I traded him a box of carbs and got a solid roller, minus engine, wiring loom, tank, and seat (all the easy and cheap parts to replace). I bought a clone of a Yanmar L70 from Ebay, welded in some extra frame lugs, and mouted it on a chunk of heavy duty C-channel that I milled down.

As a recent college grad with no money, and since I wasn't planning to put it on the road anyway, I didn't use a transmission or stretch the frame in order to keep the cost down (the fact that the frame is twisted and the rear swingarm is seized helped too). I installed a massive custom rear sprocket and used a centrifugal clutch on the output shaft. Its great for messing around in parking lots and rides like an old Rupp mini bike, but it can't do hills at all. I will definetely figure out a gearbox next time around.

Anyway, I'm happy I stumbled on this forum. Its good to know I'm not the only person out there with too much free time!

Shots of both Johns Clutch and rear sprocket. Thanks John!

Kurt's Diesel Motorcycle

I'm kurt and live in belgium. I have been busy all winter building my own diesel bike using a Husqvarna TE350 as donor bike. I bought a Yanclone 9hp engine and streched the frame and reused the original engine gearbox. Other parts used are from Honda, Triumph, Suzuki and even truck parts (head light).

Kurts Diesel Motorcycle. Cheers Kurt!

Petter Holte's Moto Guzzi Diesel Motorcycle.

This is my project for the winter of 2009. The bike is a Moto Guzzi California 2 1985 and the engine is a Yanmar from 1986 taken from a termoking ageregat.





Petter's Winter project, this fabulous California Diesel motorcycle.



Sam's Turbo Diesel Motorcycle

Checkout Sam's turbo Yanmar powered Dieselbike. Its a 3cyl, 958cc. Engine has been totaly rebuilt with preformance in mind. Turbocharged, injection pump modifications, pump timing advanced, all parts to spec. Turns at 4000rpm, lots of fuel, boosts 8psi under moderate load. Cool! One of the youtube videos. Partial build thread here.

Brett's 1984 Kawasaki Conversion.

I'm grateful to Brett for forwarding on details of another creation (he has also built the orange lombardini dnepr further up the page before this). Originally it was a 1984 kawasaki 454 ltd frame. It now has a Winsun 22 hp 812cc diesel engine with “automatic” (CVT) style transmission. Twin tank biodiesel/ svo system including pump, inline veg heater and switching valves. The gearing as she was set up for the client in Utah: Top speed- 72 mph, 138 mpg consistently. There are frame modifications, dual batteries, custom paint, "Harley" style dash which hides the fuel pump and inline heater, also keeps the veg temp gauge and switch, changed from a belted final to chain for ease and range of gear changes.

Brett builds custom bikes and is based in Portland. You can contact him via the forum. His Nick is 'Roverthetop'.

Kerry's Diesel Yamaha Motorcycle

Here is my diesel motorcycle that I designed and built about 4 - 5 years ago. It is a 440cc, 10 hp diesel generator engine from China mounted on a 1982 Yamaha 650 Twin frame. Note the drive consists of a variable speed belt drive that first goes up to a shaft with bearing and sprocket that drives a chain that then turns the second shaft and sprocket that drives the rear wheel. I had to do this because it was impossible to run the power directly to the rear wheel due to the fact that the rear fork pivot was in the way. The bike has a top speed of 55mph with this gearing and gets from 100 - 135mpg. It runs on diesel or biodiesel (either B20 or B100). It is running on B100 now. It has been running very reliably since I built it with virtually no maintenance necessary.

Kerry Appel

La Junta, Colorado

USA

Kerry's 440cc, 10 hp Yamaha conversion can do 135 miles to the gallon.

Peter Hedman's Diesel Motorcycle

Originaly constructed by Michael Schuurbiers from the Netherlands, this Honda diesel conversion is now owned by Peter Hedman who is based in Sweden. The motorcycle started off life as a 1987 vintage Honda CMX Rebel complete with a 250cc petrol engine. It now has at it's heart a 418cc diesel Yanmar-clone engine complete with a CVT drive system instead of it's original gearbox. Pete's Website and blog.





Righthand side view of the CMX Rebel Honda diesel motorcycle.

A shot of the CMX Rebel showing the primary drive CVT side.



2002 KLR Diesel 418cc - Built by David Sparks.

(originally seen on craigslist in Aug 09)

This Diesel powered KLR, with its good looks and neat build it is proving to be something of an inspiration to other builders located on our forum.



This motorcycle was built from a KLR by David Sparks of Little Elm, Texas. He states: "I'm using a Yanmar clone 418cc diesel engine, with a Comet 40 series convert/drive. It's both electric and pull start. At this moment, it only has 375 miles on it and still in the break in period. The top speed is about 65MPH with an average of 130MPG. I've run it on bio diesel and regular diesel. Both seem to suit it just fine. David has recently (2010/2011) sold the bike to Guy Compton.

David tells me the shots were taken on his driveway back in 2009 and that it's funny to see the bike up here on the website! Thanks for the updated information, David!

Yanmar MZ

This machine came to the 2005 Hamm Rally. It appears to be a Chinese Yanmar engine inside an MZ Frame.

Brian Rutherford's MZ Yanmar Diesel Motorcycle

I live just outside Edinburgh in Scotland and have just finished my diesel MZ (they are never truly finished are they ?). It started life as a 1972 MZ 250 ES TROPHY that a friend gave to me a long time ago (5 years plus) . Then one night at my local rally bike club ( SPECIAL K ) I was discussing what to do with the TROPHY and how it was so ugly it was good. Another friend said that he had two Yanmars living under his bench at work and that they were going to be scrapped, so that was how the project began.



So one sorry looking MZ, two Yanmar LA 100 engines (one for spares), a box of comet cvt parts bought from e-Bay and the project was on. It was always going to be a long project because of other commitments: wife, children, friends, work, my other bikes and rallies. I have made as many parts as I could myself and what I could not do, my friends helped or the internet has proved me with. My friend Davey at spectrum bike paints (07788904946) did the subtle paint for me.



Your site has proved to be a very good source of ideas and information on what can be done.



Here is a list of parts I have made.



Main engine cradle

Battery box

Primary cover

Front brake anchor

Back brake arm

Front sprocket cover

Number plate



There are parts that have been modified originals or from other bikes but the list is quite long. I also wired it myself so I am not so sure about how long before the lights stop working.

Brian Rutherford's MZ based Diesel Motorcycle.

Dean's Bio-diesel Honda

In the Summer of 2006, Dean bought this 1985 Honda Rebel and converted it to a 10 Horsepower Single Cylinder Yamar Diesel powered motorcycle. He also put an automatic belt driven transmission on it. He gets 140+ MPG and uses Bio Desiel.

Visit Dean's business here: http://www.specmotors.com/dean.html

Dean's bio-diesel powered Honda.

Kawasaki Diesel Bike using Yanmar Clone 406cc engine.

The following text was used to describe this bike when it went up for sale on eBay. The bike was originally located in North Garden, VA, United States.

"This is a diesel conversion motorcycle built from the frame up using a 1982 Kawasaki 550 LTD. It is titled as a Kawasaki 550 LTD. The original frame was modified to accept a DEK 10 HP air cooled diesel (Yanmar clone) and a Comet 500 CV belt drive transmission-jackshaft assembly. This involved removing the forward half of the engine cradle on the stock frame and building a larger cradle to accept the new components. A professional welding shop made all welds. The completed frame was primed and painted using a high-heat ceramic-epoxy spray paint. The front forks were rebuilt using new seals with the addition of fork boots to keep out road dust. The steering stem bearings were removed, cleaned, and repacked; the swing arm received similar treatment. Brakes are original, with the front master cylinder and caliper being rebuilt prior to reinstallation. The wiring harness was custom built (one circuit at a time) and mapped-out for future reference. All lights except the headlight are LED (brake/tail) or LED-ready (turn). The seat pan was custom-cut from the original pan and professionally upholstered. The gas tank (purchased from Coyote-Gear) is mounted rear of the seat; it is a spun aluminum DOT-approved 3-gallon tank with a bottom main outlet and a separate return. There is a fuel filter and an associated cut-off valve rear of the engine’s injector intake pipe. The engine can be turned-off via this valve or by completely rolling off the throttle (which shuts off the fuel injector pump). The exhaust system features a custom-made header and flange (again professionally welded) and a chrome megaphone muffler. The bike has a manual (rope) start and an electric starter (supplied as stock on engine, I have not wired this in). Engine has a compression release for easy starts. The charging system is rated at 150 Watts. This bike is fully functional. Purchaser might choose to make further refinements, for example: selecting a larger rear sprocket, connecting the electric starter, etc. This is a good bike for a person who likes to tinker. Similar designs have attained 140 mpg and 55-60 mph; I have tested this bike on my driveway but have no high speed data or miles per gallon data. Included with this bike is a copy of my journal documenting all aspects of the project (e.g. costs, material sources, schematics), a CD containing photographs taken over the course of the project, and a second (commercially purchased) CD with extensive information on diesel bike design, making bio-diesel fuel, etc. This bike represents the culmination of 2 years of design and research and several hundred hours of build-time; it could well serve as your entry to the world of diesel motorcycling and design. I built it purely for the challenge of creating a diesel bike and never intended to keep it once finished." Bikes VIN is: jkakzfc11cb505599.

Ben's 1980 Honda CB750C Yanmar Diesel Motorcycle.

Ben's 'John Deere' styled Honda Diesel Motorcycle.