Anyone have any experience of these?

Witham Tenders

I haven't ridden one myself but I have seen a lot when I've raced enduros organised by the forces.

They are bloody heavy things but built strong. I think the design ethos was "why use one piece of metal when we can fit three or four in the same place"

I get the impression that they are over-sprung on the rear. I've followed a few and they bounce all over the place on the rough stuff. Maybe a sussy re-work would be in order.

They must be tough though to be sqaddie proof and I've seen them fitted with front & rear paniers. You could always put your tent in the gun holder

I think this is an objective review of the pros and cons of the Harley-D (but "real" H-D owners don't like to admit who made this bike!):-
RealClassic.co.uk: Harley-Davidson MT350E

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Dave

Thanks for the info. Might be worth looking at as a winter hack if the price is right.

I had a similar thought, but the prices that I have seen for MT350s in good condition have been too much, IMO, for a 10-12 year old bike: it may be that they are in too good a condition, being for collection purposes/restored rather than for riding!

Does anyone rate those forward panniers - the ones attached to the frame just behind the front wheel?

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Dave

I certainly do! Keeps the weight low down and forward, I carry my tools in the bottom of one and my lock/chain in the other. Give some weather protection and a tremendous carrying capacity when used with rear panniers as well. Also give protection to the bike if it falls. They are reasonably light when empty, but flexible and strong.
They get in the way a bit when green-laning in muddy ruts, but then so would any panniers.

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If you think you are too small to make a difference you have never spent the night with a mosquito.

There is a lot of information about these bikes on this site.
MT Riders Club Forum
The 350 is a very sturdy bike, well built, reliable when maintained properly and a very capable luggage carrier. The 350 is a bit underpowered but does come with disk brakes and electric start (as well as a kickstart)
The 500 Armstrong is an older model, with drum brakes and no electric start, but otherwise very similiar.
Armstrong were supplying the 500 to the army when Harley took over the manufacture and they continued with basically the same design.
The Rotax engines are virtually bullet proof and were also used in CCMs, Aprillia, MZs to name a few. They have the advantage that all the Rotax engines in the range, 350,500.560.604,640 have the same physical dimensions and are interchangeable, with one drawback that an electric start can't be fitted to a 500 frame without a bit of cutting and welding to the front frame member.
It's now a popular upgrade to fit a larger engine to the 350 chassis.
The bikes are heavy for any serious off-road work, but they are ideally suited to dual-purpose use and green-laning and certainly no heavier than many of the more popular adventure style bikes.
Withams are well known ex-army surplus auctioneers who sell these bikes without any preparation from £400 upwards. You may be lucky or you may get one which has parts missing and needs a full rebuild. Force motorcycles in the midlands, Ivy Leigh in Liverpool and LMS also from the midlands will sell them reconditioned with a warranty, but they are nearer £2000.
Privately the good ones go for around £1500.
I would happily set off on an extended trip with mine. In fact that's why I bought it. I've had it now for nearly 2 years and I'm currently in the process of fitting a 640 engine to it.
It's got no chrome on it to go rusty, no exposed aluminum to corrode, no shiny painwork to go dull. It doesn't get washed or cleaned for months. It looks scruffy and cheap so doesn't stand out, but it's mechanically sound.

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If you think you are too small to make a difference you have never spent the night with a mosquito.

Hmm, the concept itself sounds great but I'd be a little wary of leaving it painted khaki green and the trying to cross borders in some of the more militarily sensitive regions of the world.

Suspected mercenary on a bike anyone?

Garry from Oz.

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Garry from Oz - powered by Burgman

Dragging up a really old thread here!

Did you get the 640 lump nailed into the MT? if so, did/does it go OK? any hassles etc?
I'm looking for a laning bike, although you don't see too many MT's now, I'll probably go DR350/DRZ400 or XR400, but still open to other ideas.

That was a while ago. Yes the engine went straight in to the MT350, but it's not as easy to fit an electric start engine to the earlier MT500. As far as I know all the Rotax engines of similar design are interchangeable regardless of capacity. I just had the exhaust, carburettor and connection to the air filter to sort out. It went like stink and would have been ideal for an overland trip with the bigger engine, but I would say a bit heavy for green laning when compared with the likes of a DR350. Very robust though.
mtridersclub.co.uk if you want more info.

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If you think you are too small to make a difference you have never spent the night with a mosquito.