The first Diesel Superbike: the Star Twin ThunderStar 1200 TDI

“Well, it drives like a normal super sport gasoline bike. The biggest difference, except for the sound, is the amount of torque you have at your disposal at almost every rpm. This results in that you do not notice in which gear you are, since it accelerates so hard in every gear.”

Why did you made a racer and not another model?

“Because racers and super sport motorcycles are the most challenging and difficult machines to develop. That is why we chose to develop a sports bike. It is easier to transform a sports bike into a touring machine or an all road model, than the other way around. And we have racing blood pumping through our veins.”

There are others who have or are constructing diesel engines in motorcycles, what makes this machine different?

“We are the first, at least to our knowledge, who have successfully made a diesel motorcycle which has the same level of performance and weight compared to gasoline versions. Other known diesel motorcycles have or too little power or have a weight above 300 kg.”

Will this model go into production?

“Probably not. This is a real prototype and is constructed like one, so it is not economical to make a large series of this machine in this state. For example, a very new casting method, called CAD/CAST has been used to make the prototypes crankcases.

“Perhaps we will manufacture a small series of machines like this ourselves, but the possibility also exists that the bike will be produced in cooperation with another company or companies."

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