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 Unfortunatley, the article focuses on speed, not efficiency. Article here.

A 130mph Biodiesel Motorcycle Hits the Streets

by George Delozier, March 26, 2008

Extreme motorcycle modification is nothing new. So when Michael Sturtz decided to make an extreme motorcycle with a diesel motor, not much was said, until now.

Sturtz and his team from an industrial-arts group called the Crucible based out of Oakland, California started with an older model motorcycle. They found a diesel V6 from a BMW and began the painstaking process of merging the 2. After spending over a month rebuilding the frame, running hoses and cables and designing a biodiesel friendly fuel system, the computer locked up. A built in security system flagged the car as stolen and only after some "hacking" and a few calls to BMW could the problem be remedied.

The team is hoping to break into the 160mph range within the next few months. They aren't far off either as they have already reached 130mph. The speed comes from a chain gear system fitted onto the motor and the gearbox. The crank on the motor side has twice the number of teeth on the gear box side, giving a top engine speed of 8,200rpm.

The entire setup cost about $20,000 and took 6 months to build. The most interesting part? It's 100% street legal. 

Doesn't look all that comfortable to sit at a traffic light ... or look that attractive with the amount of smoke? Didn't we see this project before ... running on the salt flats or was that something else? 

Hmm, the only interesting thing about it is that they're using biodiesel.  As a motorcycle, it basically sucks in all respects - slower than many stock production bikes even though it's obviously designed strictly for speed, heavy, undoubtedly poor handling given the geometry, probably poor mileage due to using a V6 instead of a 4, and not the kind of thing anyone would want to ride on the street (regardless of its legality).  And yeah, it smokes a lot.

Bill 

Hmmmm. I bet I could do something with that. Maybe something like this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zINujts5oZM It doesnt look as bad as a Boss Hog, or cost as much to run as a K2 jet powered bike. That setup isn't for street. Aside from the fact that Ca requires mirrors,(not really street legal) its set up for drag racing. A street worthy bike could be fabbed up. Would make an excellent trike!