“Track” was a Dutch brand of diesel motorcycles. The Track was designed and developed by Erik Vegt. His company was called “Track Dieselmotorfiets” and the production team consisted of four people. Erik Vegt had a company (EVA Products) in the past where he adapted motorcycles for long journeys and participation in (desert) rallies. These motorcycles had to have a large fuel tank and extra muscular suspension, which did not benefit the driving characteristics off the beaten track.
Diesel engines are more economical with fuel
But in terms of weight and engine characteristics, until recently they were not the ideal power source for adventurous riders with the ambition to travel off road. Star Twin from Loenen has also focused on the production of engines with a diesel engine block. But at the Loenen company, the approach was to change that old-fashioned diesel into dynamic diesel. The Thunderstar - the project is still developing - is an extremely sporty superbike.
Erik looked for ways to solve these problems and found them in the use of a light diesel engine. In the meantime, the power delivery of such diesel engines had improved considerably, partly due to the application of Common-Rail Diesel Injection (CDI). Still under the company name EVA Products, the development of a diesel motorcycle started in 2006. In the same year, a first prototype was completed, and in 2009 the magazine “Motor” published a test with this motorcycle.
A three-cylinder diesel
The heart of the Track is the 800cc OM660 three-cylinder turbo diesel from Daimler (Mercedes). The engine block is also used in industrial applications such as air conditioning generators, in boats and in the Smart car. The most important modification for the Track diesel motorcycle is the installation of its own engine management system. EVA Products has also applied a lower (flatter) crankcase. In the Track, the engine delivers a power of 45 hp between 3000 and 4000 rpm. The maximum torque is 100 Nm at 1800 rpm.
Erik Vegt spent three years perfecting the model.
For the design, the builder called on a designer from Aprilia and Alfa Romeo and that resulted in a pretty cool design. The engine consumes 2,5 liters of diesel per 100 km and thus has a power of 45 hp. That is a realistic, usable ability without the megalomaniac approach of the fellow competitors. Power is transferred to the rear wheel via an automatic transmission with centrifugal clutch, a CVT developed in-house and cardan shaft. The CVT ensures that the engine always transfers maximum torque to the rear wheel, so that you always have maximum pulling power. Acceleration power is highest between 60 and 120 km/h, exactly where you need it. The secondary transmission is via a cardan. And for diesel motorcycles, there was-there was no special user rate.
If you drive slowly, you can do almost 30 km on a liter of diesel. In theory, this means that 19 km can be driven continuously with the 570 liters of fuel.
End of story
Track Motorcycles built the last four bicycles from April 2013 and then the curtain fell. In a news report on the site, Track reported that they have been unable to find enough customers to remain a viable business. In order to comply with regulations, they must sell at least 100 bicycles per year. That did not work. And that is why it is still teeming with BMW GSes
The number of tracks that are registered in the Netherlands is at least 12 pieces and they are all registered as self-build. This can be deduced from the structure of the frame number. Unfortunately only known to RDW.
Erik Vegt has apparently also received a number of numbers from RDW in order to be able to obtain a type approval. But it ended there. I never told you this when selling, but probably knew.
After many calls and emails to RDW, it appears that no more diesels are registered since 2016. One of these can be found with an AMK reader in Flanders. And he gets his Track but not on license plate ...
Just had a look at the RDW, there are now 4 registered as a self-build brand, the first of which in 2008. In addition, with the Track brand, 7 pieces, but none of them only have a type approval number. Then import abroad becomes a problem
As a track owner I can report that the bike is made with technical ingenuity. Technical ingenuity and business ingenuity often bite each other, even in this case if possible, although I have deep respect for how far this project has come.
Diesel is in the damn corner, that's correct. I throw in renewable diesel or GTL (synthetic diesel from waste products) and with virtually no sulfur or soot and a consumption of 1:33 on average, I do not feel at all guilty.
The fact that this “diesel” is 50 cents per liter more expensive than the polluting variant is also political because 70% of the price is excise duty. The emissions of modern diesel are no longer measurable. The death knell has more to do with a boost for new sales than with actual environmental gains. Green is now just marketing.
Is also necessary because a good diesel will only last 1.000.000 km. Well what do you still have to earn on. Incidentally, technically, I really like the electro revolution. The lies with which they are pressed down the throat less so.
@Dennis
Well yes, as good as fresh off the press. Although Belgium is not yet experiencing the crisis, it is now threatening due to a recent court decision.
It will make me wonder. Then the German border remains, where the nitrogen crisis is still seriously delaying. We will see who will be responsible for everything. Although that seems to be clear in advance. Time will tell.
Thanks for the tip Dennis
Hello Dolf.
Unfortunately, we have to find out that Eric Vegt is not cut from the right engine wood and that he continuously tries to enlighten everyone in all areas, not only the end users and enthusiasts, but also all companies at home and abroad no longer want to have anything to do with Eric. .
When we have found out which suppliers have been there and contact us, the conversation stops as soon as the word Track and Eric Vegt is mentioned.
I now know 15 owners and nobody wants to do any business with him anymore. That says enough.
The nitrogen crisis doesn't stop at your borders, Maurice. Flanders now also has it ..
You're right, Peter. So much negative has been written about diesel that politicians believe the nonsense themselves. First everyone on the gasoline. And hopla, fat tax that gasoline. At the time, LPG was hot, where the fiscal turning point could be reached earlier than with diesel. And hopla,…. there the government was there again with a lie that LPG driving would be very polluting for the environment. Then we got the clean diesels. They were so frugal that even tax benefits could be forgiven. And hopla,…. the government quickly put a pile for that too. Then VW was the first to be caught with cheeky diesels and the fence was gone. An enforced nitrogen crisis over it (which strangely enough ends at our national borders) and the end is completely lost.
I am curious when the first internationally driving electric truck will be there.
I fear that I will not experience that again.
Diesel may no longer be 'hot', but without it? ... we can do that economically
You can't argue about taste, but here is a beautiful modern-looking engine for me and so much negative nonsense has already been written about diesel that you almost believe it, I am a truck driver and would like to see how they ever get electric with the same allowed maximum weight, we can all drive Rizla or Mascotte, that weighs nothing (oh no smoking is also in the damn corner)
A close look at a race variant and see (and hear) drive at the demo races in Hierden
in the spring of 2019, cool!
Do have photos but cannot post them, but below a link to a movie
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUvwdjB9p8A
With regards
Frans Tempelman
Hi Rjab
'Does not work, does not exist'.
The writer of the article has already shown a lot of fun there! So: "Why nut?"
And for the long distance, Diesel idd is simply nicer and much more economical than driving petrol.
With all the respect and good intentions of electric driving. That one can demonstrate with the so-called emission-free vehicles how emission-free they are. I remember something of having to charge at the mains where the power in Germany, after the nuclear power stations have been closed from Merkel's brown coal power stations, and here in the Netherlands mostly from coal and hardly less polluting biomass power stations, where entire forests have to be flattened elsewhere. 🤨 The modern Diesel is really not that bad at all. Not even as cheating diesel. However, they should not promise anything that they do not deliver. That's what the riot is about. Not whether Diesel is that bad now.
A Diesel bicycle is a statement. But watch out! What is allowed in NL today may already be strictly prohibited by decree tomorrow. After all, we live in NL with a business cabinet. So pazzop!
Thanx Maurice.
I will carefully take a look with all (lack of) understanding. Or such a swap could be.
Thanxxx !! Followed this story from the outset. As a business diesel burner, I think that diesel is much better than petrol for the distances. It was a very interesting bike, even seen it once in the wild when visiting the VUmc. Perhaps something for the US soldier's choice because of diesel as the standard fuel.
What would of course be very nice for the true long-distance evening hour driver is the possibility of a diesel to heat salad oil, for example. I thought I had read about that possibility with regard to the Track. Not sure anymore (something about memory 🤢).
Of course we had the Polish fellow who fetched a shopping cart full of salad oil for the weekend return trip to Poland.
For example, could a Subaru boxer diesel be tinkered with under my GL1100?
I keep finding it a great bike according to what I read. Too bad they are no longer being built. But if the lack of customers hadn't brought Track to its knees, the government would do it now. Diesel has been denounced. Diesel is 'out'. Diesel driving, if it continues, will soon be equivalent to banned possession of weapons or even several years in a detention center.
This while Paris is a lot less far away due to Diesel. I think that Track is a 'cool' bike. Very unfortunate that I have never been able to drive it. If only for a defensible high purchase price, which in no way diminishes the raison d'être of that oh-so-beautiful motorcycle. But still, it is no longer being built. Too bad.
…. Just shed a tear….