Harley Davidson....

Thinking about one of those ex-army Harleys, are they fucking rubbish, or
worth a squirt for a grand?
--

Nige

R1
MX5

 

It's the latest clit bike so one would certainly suit you.

Be prepared for a lot of home mechanic work and check that it starts
both from cold and (more importantly) when it's nice and warm.
Googling will lead you to plenty of forums full of weirdo ex-military
enthusiasts who think anything the army has binned must be worth
having.

 

Couldn't you just stick a Harley badge on the R1?
It would be just as authentic.

Steve

 

ahhh, **** that then...

 

i dont give a **** about the badge, i give a **** about the bike...

 

I've just picked up an MT500 (the Armstrong version, just before H-D got
the contract in 1987). I paid £621 from ebay - bit of a gamble as it was
a shit advert with shit pictures.

http://www.milweb.net/features/mt350.php

It's a very long time since I had a trials type bike and both of those
were 1970's era machines - anyway, this is a bit like them but not a two
stroke and more powerful, and more indestructible, and more green, and
noisier. Pretty simple to maintain and straightforward design.

It's also cheap and army surplus - always a plus point in my book.

I've not tried it off-road - I'm sorting a day out with an acquaintance
of mine who does that sort of thing - but I'd imagine it to be a bit too
heavy for any real rough and tumble stuff.

I think I may have now got the knack of starting it first time every time
but we'll see. Oh! How I've just made a rod for my own back...

It handles well enough and can carry a fair bit of corner speed and I've
had worse brakes - but that may not be much comfort for people used to
post 1978 bikes.

They seem to have an enthusiastic internet following - plenty of help and
data online.

Fine for terrorising town and, hopefully, fine for its intended project.

 

Does it have the rifle carrier?

 

No, I think only the 350s have those. TBH, they look pretty useless.

The earlier 500s have canvas panniers and frames capable of taking a 20l
Jerry can. Marvelous!

 

Heh. I liked this bit "This motorcycle has the potential to be very
valuable with the right restoration work." Yeah, right.

 

I don't disagree but, for some reason, I just like the idea of a
motorcycle with a rifle carrier.

 

Strange items .. "XXL Helmut", you get a fat German as part of the lot.

 

"Minor leaks. "

--
Gavin.

Moto Guzzi California Aquila Nera
Suzuki GSXR600K1
Twitter: http://twitter.com/gavin_wilby
Blog: http://www.eekafreek.com

 

sweller said

I think I may have now got the knack of starting it first time every
time but we'll see.

Old Redneck saying

Never Brag on a Harley or your kids
Sooner or later both gonna let you down

 

Great advice, cheers.

****.