Other military motorcycles Harley-Davidson WLA

harley copied bmw r71 produce xa model.

harley-davidson provided motorcycles army during world war , earlier excursions against mexican bandits pancho villa.

during world war ii, army produced specification motorcycle bmws used german forces. meant shaft drive, boxer engine, , several other features made bmws exceptionally reliable , low-maintenance machines. harley-davidson produced xa based closely on bmw. though excellent machine, 1,000 produced. due new features , low production, xa expensive, , time clear jeep army s general purpose vehicle of choice; less advanced cheaper wla considered sufficient limited roles.

other motorcycles produced hd world war ii included army , canadian versions of big twin el family, ela , elc, army version of ul, ula. these produced home front use, , not in large numbers. consequently, rare today.

indian, harley-davidson s major competitor @ time, produced war-time model, indian 741, , longitudinal v-twin shaft-drive model, indian 841.

harley-davidson later produce mt350e, after acquiring british armstrong company in 1987. these dual-sport machines, capable of both on-road , off-road service, powered 350 cc rotax engines. mt350e redesign of 500 cc armstrong mt500, reduced weight, added electric start, , upgraded pollution standards. mt500 began italian swm xn tornado, armstrong acquired rights in 1984 when swm liquidated, , modified military use assistance ccm. mt350e saw british , canadian service, , still in use.