Total Motorcycle Community Forums

ceemes wrote:Ever run across the Bombardie dirt bikes the CAF used? My unit had three or four of the suckers......all stored away gathering dust, coz the damned things never could get started....even the mechanics gave up on them, but that didn't stop someone from trying to get them running.

We had a few of them over in Germany in the Artillery Regiment, used by Dispatch Riders. As I recall, they worked quite well but needed a lot of maintenance. Mind you, those Dispatch boys weren't known to be easy on them.

I was in Calgary in '87 when the first of the British made Armstrong 500's showed up. They were a bit wonky, what with the kickstand on the right and kickstarter on the left, but most of the riders I talked to really liked them. Here's a (lousy) pic of one I took while on RV '87...

What was the off road military Harley that they used? I saw them at the Barber Museum once and my M/C instructor said if he were to get a "duel sport" that is what he would want. Haven't heard much else aout them though.

I love the idea of a "factory recommended weapon."

I found mention of the XA 750 on several sites, and read this little snippet as well -

http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/Cont ... cale=en_US



Something interesting to note is that this bike is not a V-twin, but instead an opposed twin with a shaft drive. BMW? Hmmmm....

Anyway, beside the XA, the closed thing Harley had to a an offroad backe would be the XRs. Like this one -



There is also a custom made bike from Mert Lawill that is a XR1200. I have to say, I really like that bike. But I don't think they made any of these for the military.

But in the earlier days of motorcycles, everything was offroad. There were not so many catagories. If you think about it, there weren't so many paved roads either!

Regarding the Enfield, my father-in-law has one these in the 500cc flavor, and he had little problem keeping up with me. He has one prior to them adding the electric starter, which has only been offered for the first time a couple years ago. I guess these things are someone a standard sight in India.

Took a little digging, but this is what I was thinking about.

http://www.realclassic.co.uk/snarley.html

Scan, I love the XR. Just don't tell my uncle that. He is an AHRMA racer and races vintage Triumphs BSA's and AJS's.

fireguzzi wrote:Took a little digging, but this is what I was thinking about.

http://www.realclassic.co.uk/snarley.html

Yep! I was just about to post a similar website when I spotted your response. They also had a 500cc version made under the Harley badge, too.

jonnythan wrote:I love the idea of a "factory recommended weapon."

Seems that I've misquoted that, actually. The "basic armament" is the 7.62mm PK machine gun, as detailed here...

http://warfare.ru/?catid=247&linkid=2342

Gummiente wrote:

fireguzzi wrote:Took a little digging, but this is what I was thinking about.

http://www.realclassic.co.uk/snarley.html

Yep! I was just about to post a similar website when I spotted your response. They also had a 500cc version made under the Harley badge, too.

Yeah, Harley badge, Rotax engine. Hey, the new Buell has a Rotax engine. Go figure.

jonnythan wrote:I love the idea of a "factory recommended weapon."

If it was an option at my dealership that would be great

scan wrote:

I want one..... anybody else.....?