For Sale May 2001
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Here is a unique opportunity for Harley, military and dirt bike and
multi-purpose bike collectors alike. The very first Harley-Armstrong all
purpose cross country machine made for the Canadian Military. In case you
did not know Harley bought the Armstrong company in 1986 in order to have
access to these fabulous machines which acquitted themselves with honours
with the British army in the Falklands campaign and were subsequently used
in the Gulf war and Kosovo.
You can still purchase a brand new model of this ilk at your Harley
dealer although they are made in only very limited numbers for public consumption.
This particular bike was purchased by me in 1995 as a group of several
which were auctioned off by the Canadian government. I chose to hold on
to this one because of the 0001 serial number as in all my years of collecting
I had never owned a prototype much less seen such a number. Mind you the
Canadian Army only had 84 or so of these.
Most of these machines were not cosmetically pristine in spite of their
low mileage although 0001 is above average in that respect. The engine
# is approximately 300 digits above the frame # tag and I am not sure if
that is an anomaly or not. All of the old TRW Triumph side valve military
motorcycles that the Canadian Government auctioned off years ago came with
a spare engine. The fact that only the Canadian bikes had electric start
in 1986 and that only 84 were made would seem to substantiate this. Therefore,
I would presume it was the same case with the Harleys.
As you can well imagine, the military are notoriously hard on their
machinery. Only the Canadian bikes were equipped with electric start ,
their English brethren relegated to being ankle twisters. I have ridden
this machine only sporadically and the odometer indicates a mere 3200 miles
which reminds me of the fact that all of the other Canadian units were
equipped with speedos calibrated in Kilometres, something else unique for
0001 and a blessing for potential American owners. The bike runs very well
although there is a trace of blue smoke, nothing excessive but I suspect
it could use rings as it sat in storage for 9 years at Canadian Defence.
Another of these that I sold locally was seized from sitting and the gentleman
that purchased it found that the rings were the culprit, something easily
rectified as Rotax engines are used in many other machines as well (e.g.
BMW). The big bonus to the successful bidder is the multitude of spares
that go with the bike including a near complete rolling chassis! Many of
these machines were purchased solely for their robust Rotax OHC 4 valve
engines which Harley and privateers alike favour for their flat track racers.
As a matter of fact, rumour has it that that was one of Harley's main motivations
for buying the company -- instant access to an unburstable design, which
they are now wringing a reputed 85 horses out of in racing trim.
In fact the whole design of the motorcycle is somewhat illustrious as
it was world champion SWM Company's chassis that Armstrong uses. Getting
back to the spares, I would estimate many many thousands of dollars worth
of new old stock and excellent used. There is a brand new flywheel magneto/alternator
(the bike is designed to be rideable with no battery) brand new seat, new
brake shoes, cables, one shock, 1 fork slider, carb bodies, cables, electrical
components, kick and shift levers, hand levers, lights, engine covers etc.
etc. (I have only seen one of these Rotax engines apart and believe me
they are a work of art, lots of precision cast magnesium, 4 valve overhead
cam etc.) I don't have a detailed inventory but everything goes with the
bike for the one final price. Also included is a copy of the original workshop
manual and parts catalogue, a rider's handbook, and photos of possibly
this machine taken at a Canadian Forces base, a copy of the original invoice
from the Canadian Government and the current Ontario ownership papers with
which a US Title should be easy to obtain.
Contact Barry William Brown oldmillxxx@rideau.net for more information.
(remove the x's)
Armstrong MT 500 Specifications
PERFORMANCE
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Acceleration : 0-100k.m.p.h (60 m.p.h.)
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Max speed : 150 k.p.h. (93 m.p.h. )
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Braking distance : 50-0k m.p.h. to rest 13.1m
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Turning circle : 4.25m (14ft)
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Minimum constant speed : 3/5 m.p.h. (5/8 k.p.h.)
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Water crossing : 0.5m (20 inches)
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Fuel consumption : 53m.p.g.
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Range : 150miles approx
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
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Dry unladen weight : = 161 kg (354lbs) 42%front, 52%rear
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Kerbside Weight unladen Fully Fueled: 170kg (375lbs)
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Max. width : Across handlebar : 835mm
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Max. length : 2140mm
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Wheel base : 1445mm
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Ground clearance : 220mm (8.6 in)
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Fuel : Low octane (2 star) petrol
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Fuel Capacity : 13 liters ( 2.85Gal)
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Oil Capacity : 3.2ltrs (0.7Gal)
ENGINE
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Type : Air-cooled single cylinder four stroke single overhead Cam
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Displacement : 481.3cc
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Bore & Stroke: 89mm x 77.4mm (Rotax normal stroke
is 79.4mm)
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Power : 32 B.h.p @ 6200 RPM
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Torque : 38 Nm @ 5500 RPM
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Ignition : Solid state, auto advance, independent of alternator/battery
system
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Lubrication : Pressure feed to engine and g/box. Dry sump with integral
filter
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Carburettor: 30mm Amal
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Air Filtration : Large paper element
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Gearbox : Five speed integral with engine operating through multiplate
wet clutch
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Transmission : "O" ring chain running on hardened steel sprockets
5/8" x 1/4", 17/47
ELECTRICAL
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Battery : 12 volt 5 Amp/Hr 14A/hr battery
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Alternator : 190 Watt 3 pole
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Headlight : Main beam/Dip 45/40 Watt. Park light 5W
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Rearlight : Tail light 4W 5W. Stop light 10W (operated by front or
rear brake)
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Direction Indicators : Front and rear 21W
CHASSIS
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Frame : Welded steel box section, oil carrying with sealed taper roller
steering bearings
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Sub frame : Welded steel tubular section bolted to main frame
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Swing Arm : Welded steel box section with sealed needle roller pivot bearings
and cam type chain adjustment
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Sump Protection : Pressed steel
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Seat : Single seat (emergency pillion rider capacity)
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Forks : Marzocchi conventional
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Dampers : Ohlins
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Wheels : Front 21" (90-90 41.54S) Rear 18" (400x18-64R) - Akront
spoked rims.
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Brakes : 140mm front & rear drums
M. & C. Motorcycles of 110 Cricklewood Broadway, London NW2 are parts
suppliers for Armstrong and Can-Am Bombardier ex-military motorcycles.
Some of the information on this page is from http://www.euro-auto.freeserve.co.uk/index.html
[Harley-Davidson 1913] [Triumph
WW2]
XR750TT
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