Canadian army 1986 Armstrong MT500 (76)

[Frédéric Lapierre]

So here's some pictures of my Armstrong MT500. It was one of 86 (I have been corrected) electric start bike purchased by the Canadian army in 1986 (number 76) .
Came with all the tools and accessories with only 5113km.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi

While the photos are interesting their size makes the text unreadable. Plus it takes a long time to down load.

Please resize down to the normal size for MLU.

Cheers Phil

[Ed Storey]

Armstrong 485cc MT500 Motorcycle ECC 120104, I have 86 recorded as being acquired by DND; 1 in 1985 and the remainder in 1986.

Lucily for you, yours, No. 76 was CFR 78569; it was suplused in 1995 having spent its complete service life in 5 CF Depot, Moncton.

[Frédéric Lapierre]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

Armstrong 485cc MT500 Motorcycle ECC 120104, I have 86 recorded as being acquired by DND; 1 in 1985 and the remainder in 1986.

Lucily for you, yours, No. 76 was CFR 78569; it was suplused in 1995 having spent its complete service life in 5 CF Depot, Moncton.

Wow thanks a lot for the info on where it was back then. So if I understand it was never really used. That would explain the amazing condition. I tried to look up the CFR at work on DRMIS but I got no returns. You obviously know what you're doing more then I do haha.

[Frédéric Lapierre]

I wonder how many of those 86 are left around in working condition. The army must have scrapped a few and private owners must have wrecked some too.

[SteveJ]

I have recently restored SN60
They are a fine ride. I use mine all the time. Yours looks to be in great shape.

[Frédéric Lapierre]

Originally Posted by SteveJ

I have recently restored SN60
They are a fine ride. I use mine all the time. Yours looks to be in great shape.

Yes I did see yours when I was doing some research it look new if you ask me.
I wanted to write the original CFR on the bike and I was wondering if the side panel was the original spot for it or its just something you decided to do? Was it done on both sides? I'm trying to restore mine to be 100% original.
Thanks.

[Ed Storey]

The CFR for motorcycles is only found on the licence plate and is not painted on the sides of the machine.

[Frank v R]

Hi Frederic, just noticed that the number on the side of your M-38A1 is not correct , it should read 67-07929 , you have used your serial number,

[SteveJ]

Hello Frederic

I put the number there. When I got the bike one side panel was painted khaki drab and the other was plain plastic. I cannot verify either side covers are original to the bike. Under the paint were the remnants of some numbers as I had very little info and found very few in service pictures of the bike I chose to do what I thought best. The only other markings were the letters MP in white stick on letters on the back fender.

[Frédéric Lapierre]

Originally Posted by Frank v R

Hi Frederic, just noticed that the number on the side of your M-38A1 is not correct , it should read 67-07929 , you have used your serial number,

This jeep belongs to the guy I bought the bike from. I'll let him know. So I assume 07929 is the cfr?

[frichtie]

Congratulations. Your MT looks amazing.
I had two of those in the past. One very complete that i sadly sold to a museum in Quebec.(i was married back then...)
The british Armstrong didn't have electric start.
On top of your right side pannier frame, you can see some holes that were pre-drilled to install a mounting bracket for the then in use 9mm Sterling smg.
I'll try to find some photographs of it somewhere....
Now all I have is a canadian klr250. A wholo lot more reliable but it's just not the same...

[MacRae]

Looks great! Way nicer than mine. I'm currently working on one and having a couple strange issues. One being a mystery oil leak the other being the throttle pulls or dies when I turn the handle bars. It's routed the proper way so I'm thinking the guy who owned it before me ordered a new cable from the UK and accidentally got one for an MT350

[SteveJ]

Which carb do you have? Is it the original AMAL or has it been changed to a Mikuni or dellorto?
Mine had a tiny oil leak from the secondary filter cover in behind the chain guard. I replaced the Oring and it that took care of it.
Which SN do you have? Mine is #60. I just finished restoring it last spring. They are a cool bike and a nice ride. For parts Force Motorcycles in the UK. Lichfield in the UK has some stuff too.

[MacRae]

Steve,

I'll get all that info for you tomorrow. Seems my oil leak comes from the top of the head somewhere. Drips onto the exhaust where it comes out of the cylinder while running. It's driving me nuts, thinking it's coming from one of the valve covers or the in-frame oil tank itself. It's odd though as the oil reservoir gets really frothy so I'm worried it's a blow by problem causing it. The parts that were in the shoe box when I bought it came with a Force Cycles invoice- but the oil cap for example was for a 350... so I suspect the guy ordered parts off the website and accidentally ordered some 350 stuff, like the throttle cable maybe as it's brand spanking new

[MacRae]

Originally Posted by SteveJ

Which carb do you have? Is it the original AMAL or has it been changed to a Mikuni or dellorto?
Mine had a tiny oil leak from the secondary filter cover in behind the chain guard. I replaced the Oring and it that took care of it.
Which SN do you have? Mine is #60. I just finished restoring it last spring. They are a cool bike and a nice ride. For parts Force Motorcycles in the UK. Lichfield in the UK has some stuff too.

Was in a rush and forgot to check the carb type! Doh!

Here's some photos for reference.

[MacRae]

Forgot this one. Seems the cloth wire protector is wet the whole way up. Not sure if it's wicking from higher and dripping into the skid plate or the other way

[Frédéric Lapierre]

Originally Posted by frichtie

Congratulations. Your MT looks amazing.
I had two of those in the past. One very complete that i sadly sold to a museum in Quebec.(i was married back then...)
The british Armstrong didn't have electric start.
On top of your right side pannier frame, you can see some holes that were pre-drilled to install a mounting bracket for the then in use 9mm Sterling smg.
I'll try to find some photographs of it somewhere....
Now all I have is a canadian klr250. A wholo lot more reliable but it's just not the same...

Is it at "l'épopé de la Moto"? I've seen it before lol. As for the Sterling machine gun I have an airsoft copy in the mail and I've found a mounting braket for it :P

[Ed Storey]

C1 SMGs were no longer in service when your Armstrong bike was introduced into the CF.

[rob love]

Are you talking about the Armstrong or about the KLR250 Ed?
I believe there was an overlap of a two or three years for the Armstrong MT500.

I went to 3RCR in the summer of 1987, and within a month or two we got the first of the C7 rifles in Canada. Germany already had them, and since the RCR were rotating over the next year, they got the rifles a little early so they could fully train on them. And reserve units did not get the new rifles until about 1990, so their FNs and SMGs continued until then.

[frichtie]

Originally Posted by Frédéric Lapierre

Is it at "l'épopé de la Moto"? I've seen it before lol. As for the Sterling machine gun I have an airsoft copy in the mail and I've found a mounting braket for it :P

Exactly. That's the one. And the Sterling was with the CF until 1988-89.

[Robin Craig]

I know its a bit of a necropost but McRae was the half size plastic jerry can your idea or a genuine CF usage idea by happenstance?

[James P]

Originally Posted by frichtie

Exactly. That's the one. And the Sterling was with the CF until 1988-89.

Sterling ?? Sterling ?? what is this Sterling ?? you speak of in the CF who used the C1 SMG (yeah yeah, I know it is a Canadian built version..........but lets call it the right thing).