The Armstrong MT500 is a British military motorcycle made by Armstrong-CCM Motorcycles in Bolton, Greater Manchester. The firm bought the rights to the Rotax-engined SWM XN Tornado enduro bike and developed it into the MT500 for the British Army. Electric-start versions were built for the Canadian and Jordanian armed forces.
Armstrong MT500 at a glance
| Maker | Armstrong-CCM Motorcycles, Bolton, Greater Manchester |
|---|---|
| Type | military motorcycle |
| Origin | rights to the Rotax-engined SWM XN Tornado enduro |
| Built for | the British Army |
| Electric-start versions | Canadian and Jordanian armed forces |
| 1987 | design and production rights sold to Harley-Davidson |
| 1993 | Harley-Davidson released the MT350E |
| Users | Canada, Jordan, United Kingdom |
| Successor | Harley-Davidson MT350E |
based on one source: the article is short because the English Wikipedia entry is brief.
History of the Armstrong MT500
The MT500 came out of the Italian enduro scene rather than a British military drawing office. Armstrong-CCM Motorcycles of Bolton acquired the rights to the Rotax-engined SWM XN Tornado, then reworked the machine into a military motorcycle for the British Army. The result kept the Rotax single and the enduro chassis but was prepared for service use, with electric-start versions supplied to the Canadian and Jordanian armed forces as well as to British riders.
In 1987 the design and production rights were sold to Harley-Davidson. The American company continued the line and in 1993 released the MT350E, the model that followed the Armstrong-built bikes in service. The MT500 itself remained in use with Canada, Jordan and the United Kingdom.
Design and features
- Rotax engine: the single-cylinder unit inherited from the SWM XN Tornado enduro.
- Enduro chassis: a competition-derived frame and suspension rather than a purpose-built military design.
- Electric start: offered on the machines built for the Canadian and Jordanian armed forces.
- Service life: used by three armies and replaced only with the Harley-Davidson MT350E.
Armstrong MT500 versions
- MT500: the standard Armstrong-CCM military motorcycle for the British Army.
- Electric-start MT500: built for the Canadian and Jordanian armed forces.
- MT350E (1993): the Harley-Davidson development that succeeded the Armstrong machine.
The MT500 is the only Armstrong motorcycle on the site for now; more military and civilian machines are in the Armstrong collection.
Sources
- Armstrong MT500, English Wikipedia: origin, users, sale to Harley-Davidson