2000 H-D MT500
A Harley with one cylinder? What is this, 1905? No it’s the 2000
year model Harley-Davidson Military bike. Originally built by an English
company called Armstrong, the new Harley is powered by a 500cc air-cooled
Rotax engine from Austria. While not setting any records for power or
light weight, the MT500 is a durable, easy-to-maintain, rugged on/off
road bike that solicits stares and comments wherever it goes. With its
machine gun holder and two large storage containers acting as body armor,
the slim single has a look all its own. Everything from the handlebars
to the disc covers and chain guards are painted olive drab and you would
be hard pressed to get any glare or reflection off anything other than
the headlamp.
The
heart of the unit is the Rotax motor. Similar to the engine used in the
Harley dirt track racers, this simple engine adds a balance shaft to make
it smoother than its racing cousin. Rotax singles have been used in many
bikes and many forms of racing; the list of hop items is a mile long.
And that’s good, because the army spec’d the bike with a super
quiet muffler and lowly 26 horsepower. Racers have gotten as much as 65
horsepower from these Rotax units. The internet is a good source of information,
with many companies offering high compression pistons, larger carburetors,
pipes, etc should you decide you need to go a little faster. The army
probably didn’t want its soldiers popping wheelies and jumping dunes,
hence the restrictions. Understressed to this degree, this little engine
will probably go 50,000 miles with just a couple of valve and ring jobs
now and then. Exactly what the army wanted.
The rest of the bike is more or less like a late 70’s Yamaha XT500
with about 70 lbs of bracing added. The bike weighs in at 370 lbs dry
which is heavy for a dirt bike but quite light for a road model. Most
of the weight appears to be in the solid chassis and swingarm, the super
strong luggage rack and storage container. Though fitted with a kick starter,
the bike thumbs to life easily with the electric start and I never opted
for the awkward left side kicker. Didn’t stop in at any bars that
required showing off. Pretty much no sound escapes the four foot long
muffler. This will be unsettling to most Harley riders but it is repairable
with the aftermarket. The clutch is easy to pull and the disc brakes front
and rear are of adequate power with a good, predictable feel about them.
Uncle Sam was looking out for his soldiers’ butts, as the seat is
super wide and comfortable. Getting sent on a 200 mile reconnaissance
mission would solicit no complaints from the hindquarters.
The
MT500 is a super little chugger, making neighborhood runs a breeze and
even extended freeway runs at modest speeds comfortable since the counterbalancer
in the engine really does its job. This bike would actually be a blast
fitted with a Russian Ural sidecar, (kind of end-of-the-cold-war joint
venture) though you would need an extra 10 horsepower to keep up with
complete Ural rig. Everywhere I rode, the bike brought second glances
and smiles, some genuine and some nervous. “Why does that man have
a submachine gun on his motorcycle?” you could sense a few of them
asking.
If you’ve ever thought of getting a second bike for short store runs
or for local commuting, the MT500, while a little pricey, fits the bill
nicely. It will probably last forever and not disintegrate in value like
your average Japanese dirt bike with lights. Parts should always be available
even if Harley ditches the model in the future when the army demands diesel,
electric, solar, or whatever. MSRP on these units with all the accessories
is $9,999 but most dealers are giving them up at $8,200 to $8,700. The
ones without the forward panniers and gun holder go for about $500 less.
Kinda fun, definitely different.
- Mark Barnett