Café racing motorcycles may be acknowledged as the first ever sports bikes and even new ones are built in strict accordance with the original style, which is cool, but when it comes to the future something has to change. This concept bike right here is a good way to do so. Called the Metalback, it was designed by Jordan Meadows, who has thought at combining the original look of café racers with that of vintage WW2 fighter planes in order to achieve this.
The thing is supposed to be powered by a V4 diesel engine burning biodiesel, meaning that fuel efficiency – not just power and torque – was taken into consideration, not to mention anything about the recycled aluminum frame and bodywork.
This patent drawing indicates that Yamaha is planning to develop an inline-four intercooled and turbocharged diesel engine. Furthermore, various technological solutions have made the subject of the patent application filled by the company’s officials.
The intercooler will be located above the engine or concealed in the frame and a turbocharger will be mounted adjacent to the cylinder head, protecting the parts, ensuring a compact design, but, most of all, minimizing turbo lag.
What makes this news even greater is the fact that Yamaha plans to develop turbo-diesel powerplants even for entry-level sports bikes such as the FZ6 drawing that we’re looking at, while the R1 and R6 can only dream of a modern oil burner and the implicit better fuel consumption.
