MT-500

1999

Harley-Davidson MT500

Military

Dual Purpose Motorcycle

NEW

(Meaning never registered)

HISTORY

  The development of this Harley-Davidson MT500 ( M-50 military term) was started by an Italian company called SWM Motor Works. They used an Austrian engine called the Rotax which came in 350cc and 505cc sizes.  After winning several trials championships and two world championships, the company liquidated.  In 1984 Armstrong of Bolton, England bought the rights to SWM Motor Works.

   A military version of the motorcycle was developed for use in the Falklands for the British Army, for desert use by the Jordanian Army, and for the Canadian Army to use in mountainous areas.

   Armstrong made this motorcycle from 1985 to 1989.

   In 1989 Harley-Davidson bought Armstrong primarily to have the rights to the Rotax engine which was used for their dirt-track racing teams.

  These motorcycles are very rugged and can stand extreme desert temperatures, rocky terrain and harsh environments.  They can even stand “torrents of fording water” as the operation manual states. However, they proved not good for military use because of two problems.  One, the heat from the engine was easily detected by enemy forces using infrared scopes.  They tried blocking the radiation by adding front Panniers, (Storage case) but to no avail.  The other problem was the use of gasoline for the bikes instead of diesel which was used primarily by the military.

  In 1998 Harley-Davidson lost the military contract because they went to what was called a ONE fuel Army. Diesel.

   Harley-Davidson  produced;

   About 3500 MT350’s from 1995 to 1998,

   20 MT500’s in 1995

   278 USMT500’s in 1999

   278 USMT500’s in 2000. (Although only 156 of the 2000 models have been accounted for)

  The bikes were never offered for sale to the general public.  Most of the pre 1999’s were used and then auctioned off by the military. A few were offered to military personnel. The 1999’s and 2000’s left were sold to a few select Harley-Davidson dealers, collectors and museums.

Making this bike one of the rarest and lowest production motorcycles ever made by Harley-Davidson.

   It is still possible to find a Harley-Davidson MT350 or MT500.  Most of them are in England, some are in Canada and a few in the USA.  There are some in pristine condition but most of them have been well used and unfortunately, customized with paint, chrome and cosmetic changes.  There are also some mid to late 1980’s tagged with the Armstrong name that are less valuable because they are pre Harley-Davidson. The price of a nice USED MT500 have been seen selling for around $10,000.00

   This is one of the few known (never registered) MT500’s in existence.

                                      $17,500.00

Contact;  Stuart Tielens

                18718 E Amar Rd.

                Walnut, Ca.91789

                626 964-9755 cell 909 239-6199

                WalnutTrueValue@earthlink.net