2011 Altius Scimitar |
HDT is no spring chicken, the technology leaders for lightweight gas and heavy fuel/diesel-powered engines, they supply motorcycles to the US armed forces since 1982 when NATO began converting vehicles to operate on one standard fuel, Jet Propellant 8 or JP8.
Altius plans to begin by manufacturing 400-700cc multi-fuel motorcycle engines, which are also used for other applications such as power generation and construction. Altius will start production in early 2012, aiming for a high percentage of indigenization from the word go.
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| Altius scimitar |
The bash bar is but one indicator of the Scimitar’s utilitarian roots.
Ice broken and details dispensed with, let’s grab the handlebar of its first motorcycle, the 670cc on/off road Scimitar – christened after a lethal, thin and curved South Asian, Middle Eastern sword – to tell you how this unique motorcycle rides.Based on the proven Kawasaki KLR650 platform, a Scimitar looks like any multipurpose, on/off-road motorcycle, standing proud and tall on long-travel suspension with a broad, floppy mudguard high over its front wheel.
A sturdy bash bar wraps around the handlebar to protect the controls in the event of a crash. The Scimitar comes with solid feeling switches, nice levers and comfortable palm grips. Its compact, illuminated speedometer can be read in a choice of kph or mph and includes a bar-type tachometer, odometer, trip-meter and engine temperature gauge.
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| Altius scimitar |
A metal plate serves to protect the underside of the bike.
Everything on the Scimitar feels built to last, including its large rotation-molded plastic fuel tank, side and tail cowls. And as if the engine doesn’t already sit high enough, a solid drilled metal plate guards its sump. There’s the option of a heavy-duty pannier attachment and seating for a pillion.On to the interesting bit, HDT’s fourth-generation heavy fuel motorcycle engine that powers the Scimitar. All NATO and US military machines, from power generators to stealth bombers, run on JP8, simplifying fuel supply logistics. On road, this becomes one of few motorcycles to sip on diesel – or your choice of JP8, JP5, JP4, AVTUR, JET-A1, even Biodiesel thanks to multi-fuel technology.
The Scimitar’s 670cc, single-cylinder engine runs liquid-cooled, breathing through a triple-stage foam air filter element. It’s a four-stroke, wet-sump unit relying on indirect injection (IDI) of heavy fuel. You get 39.0 ft-lb of torque produced low at 3300 rpm.
You may be surprised to hear the Scimitar sounding close to any other big-single, perhaps slightly louder. No, it’s never refined, but still runs without much of the bothersome clatter you would expect from a diesel.
We don’t see the “Diesel” stamp on many of the bikes we review on Motorcycle.com. |
Twenty minutes in the saddle, however, confirm this is no petrol bike. The engine feels ‘heavier,’ taking its time to build revs and with tardy but predictable throttle response that takes some time coming to terms with. Acceleration and performance somehow felt disappointingly sluggish for a 670cc, 33-hp motorcycle, but the Scimitar pulls with steady perseverance, and its power feeds through in a stout, linear wave. The Scimitar is never going to be your bike of choice at the drag-strip, only offering a decent measure of smoothness as long as you don’t gas too hard, for doing so sends unpleasant vibes to the rider.
The gearbox is a conventionally toe-shifted five-speed unit, operating in a one-down, four-up configuration. Clutch feel is positive, surprisingly light and well weighted, and gears shift smoothly after you learn when to time each shift. The gear ratios, however, seem too closely packed, and we’d also have to wait before we can confirm the company’s claimed 93-mph top speed, which the Scimitar didn’t quite feel up to.
The Scimitar felt sluggish for a 670cc motorcycle. |
The Scimitar is big, a single downtube reaching downwards from its headstock to grab the engine, this supported from below by a sturdy cradle. The rest of the frame is high-tensile steel, with a removable rear section. Up front is a rubber-protected, long-travel fork, supported at the rear by a multi-link, adjustable rear monoshock. Needle bearings support the swingarm pivots. Alloy rims are held together by tough wire-spokes, and the Scimitar uses petal-type disc brakes at front and rear.
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| Altius scimitar |
A rider sits comfortably upright, but this is not a motorcycle for short people, as even my six-foot plus frame strained to keep both feet planted on the floor, despite Altius having grooved the otherwise flat saddle on my test bike. It’s this and the wide handlebar that provide a welcome commanding feel and nice leverage on the go, when the motorcycle feels light and steers with ease.
The suspension felt stiff on our test bike, although our ride was too brief to pass concrete judgment on ride quality. The Scimitar’s dual-purpose on/off-road knobby tires offer tenacious grip on the dirt but lacked confidence when cornering on tarmac, something Altius needs to consider, as civilian users need a bike they can also use on-road as well. Adventurers will be happy to hear the Scimitar is capable of wading through two feet of water. The brakes feel adequate.
Altius claims the Scimitar is good for 110 mpg when ridden at a constant 55 mph, but we would be satisfied were it to return 60 mpg at routine speeds.
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| Altius scimitar |
Several questions remain. What engine alterations are required before the Scimitar meets emission norms, and how much will these affect performance? How well built and reliable will an Indian made Scimitar be? Will Altius provide its bikes good retail and service backup as well as adequate quality, all of which could not be more essential?
At the outset, however, the tough-as-nails Scimitar does have great potential for India, as well as export markets such as the U.S. Altius has indicated a truly attractive price ($3360 to $3920) for its really unique motorcycle in India. Rural markets around the world could surely do with a solid, fuel-friendly motorcycle like this. And we can think of several urban buyers who would like one to stash one away at their ranch as quick local transportation and for the odd shopping trip.
Good potential and good pricing, there’s certainly more to look forward to from this quarter. It could be just a short while before you start seeing these Indo-U.S.-built motorcycles on American roads.
Has been present in this 2011 motocross that has different specs from another motor designed for the motor of war and soldiers who used sophisticated engine technology that has a different performance from other motor this motor was named 2011 Altius Scimitar.
Altius Automotive Technologies, a new company India Private Limited pioneered by the former head of Hyundai Motor India, BVR Subbu, in partnership with California Hayes Diversified Technologies to produce engines that sip on various fuels including diesel. HDT supply motorcycles for the U.S. armed forces.
2011 Altius Scimitar Models
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| Altius scimitar |
India plans include the construction of initial small displacement, multi-fuel engine motorcycles. Their first bike will be a 670cc on / off road sword, a deadly sword East, thin and curved South Asia, Central. The sword looks versatile typical, on / off road bike, standing upright in the long suspension travel.
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| Altius scimitar |
A solid bar wraps around the handlebar to protect the control, with good quality switches, levers and mirrors, then the sword also provides a good set of overcoming oil. Compact speedometer including a tachometer bar type and engine temperature gauges. Everything looks and feels built to last.
HDT’s fourth generation of heavy fuel engine power motorcycle sword. This will soon be the only Indian motor to run on diesel, or a choice of JP8, JP5, JP4, AVTUR, JET-A1, or even Biodiesel thanks to a multi-fuel technology.
The sword was 670cc, single cylinder engine to run liquid-cooled. It is, four-stroke unit even wet that rely on indirect injection (IDI).
The sword sounds like a single-major, maybe a little harder, no, never subtle, but still too noisy diesel without much bother. Twenty-minute trip but insisted this did not petrol powerplant. Acceleration and performance was slow for the 670cc, 33bhp at 5700rpm motorcycle, but pulled with steady perseverance. You get 5.4kgm low torque produced at 3300rpm. The sword was never going to be bike of your choice at the drag strip, and it was just smooth as long as you do not rev hard. transmission is shifted toe five-speed unit.
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| Altius scimitar |
Sword was great. There is a rubber-boot clamp protected during travel telescopic fork in front, sword provides a multi-link, adjustable rear monoshock. Alloy rims held together by a lattice-like hard wire commonly found in off road motorcycles, brake disc type sword using both front and rear petal.
You sit comfortably upright, but shorter riders will be fighting at such a high motor bike. On the go, the position ride height and handlebar width helps provide feel welcome and leverage ruled good. Dual purpose on / off road tires protruding offer tenacious grip on the ground, but lack of confidence when cornering on asphalt.
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| Altius scimitar |
At first, hard as nails sword does have great potential in India, where the road we pray for a sturdy bike like this.
Grab a copy of the 2011 May issue of Autocar India to read a comprehensive impression of just rising from behind the handlebar unique sword.
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| Altius scimitar |
2011 Altius Scimitar Specs | |
| Price (Ex-showroom, India) | 150,000 to 175,000 Rupees (approx. US$3360 to $3920) |
| L/W/H | 90.4/37.8/48.0 in. |
| Wheelbase | 58.3 in. |
| Curb Weight | 388 lbs |
| Engine | Single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, indirect injection (IDI), diesel |
| Displacement | 670cc |
| Power | 33 hp at 5700 rpm |
| Torque | 39.1 ft.-lbs at 3300 rpm |
| Gearbox | 5-speed |
| Front suspension | Telescopic fork |
| Rear suspension | Linked monoshock |
| Front brake | 280mm petal disc |
| Rear brake | 240mm petal disc |
| Tires (front-rear) | Dual purpose 90/90 x 21; 120/90 x 17 inches |
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