1980 Yamaha XS650 runs on vodka and sets new speed records in Bonneville

Michelle Liew

September 4, 2018

We might have just found a substitute for fuel and it is none other than vodka. Yes, you read that right. A modified 1980 Yamaha XS650 has been converted to run on recycled vodka. With that, the bike managed to score a new record at the Bonneville Salt Flats Speed Trials.

The bike, named ‘Sudden Wisdom’ after the distillery’s rye whiskey, is hand-built by Ryan Montgomery, owner of the Montgomery Distillery based in Montana. Ryan had began planning for the event last winter after he made a decision to try out land speed racing. The bike exceeded its original target of 98 mph (157.71 kmph) and achieved an impeccable record of an average of 113mph (181.85 kmph).

The fuel is made by recycling the heads from the distilling process, hence it is a clean-burning ethanol. The heads would be thrown away after the distillation process as they are of no use. Ryan spent months mastering the technique with the help of his friends at his garage as he did not know the exact process needed for the bike to run on the vodka waste, Ryan had no previous experience of building a race bike, and nor had he ever raced.