Royal Enfield Motorcycles Taurus
Royal Enfield in India was the only manufacturer that has built a diesel motorcycle in mass production.
An industrial diesel was installed in the frame of the British-based Royal Enfield. However, due to pollution laws, this bike is no longer produced. Initially street mechanics were mounting this engine in used Bullets, like retro Royal Enfield Bikes, with the 350 cc retrofit engine. On seeing the success of these bikes; Royal Enfield started manufacturing Bullets with the diesel engine and named it the Taurus.
The Taurus was available with an electric starter. A Saharanpur based company, Sooraj Automobiles produce diesel motorcycles with Royal Enfield gear box fitted with Lombardini 325cc diesel engine. The company advertised fuel efficiency of 80kmpl, and most of them are still in running condition. With competition getting intense, India's oldest motorcycle manufacturing company, Royal Enfield, is exploring newer segments, with the idea of bigger engines and diesel variants. Enfield is planning to bring diesel-powered bikes back into the Indian market, a project for which work is on.