MT Riders Club

You does the 500 usually sell for a lot less than the 350? Is it down to age and people wanting an electric start or is it not as reliable as the 350?

350 is easier to start with the electric start, and easier to stop with discs rather than drums.

Don't underestimate the advantage of the electric boot. There are some than can happily start an MT500 everytime with ease. I'm wasn't one of them and ended up in A&E with a torn calf muscle.....

aledwt wrote:You does the 500 usually sell for a lot less than the 350? Is it down to age and people wanting an electric start or is it not as reliable as the 350?

I've got one of each and prefer the 500 because of the extra power and also because the seat is 1" lower. The 500 is 10 years older than the 350 but this isn't really an issue since both have been fully restored and only done relatively low mileages (20,000 km vs 10,000 km). I have no problems kick starting my 500 but the LH kickstart is definitely not ideal - I always have to get off the bike to kick it with my right leg! I also have no problems with the drum brakes but you do need to ride the bike with their limitations in mind.

However, for most people, the 350 is much more user friendly and therefore more sought after and commands a much higher price.

i wouldn't swap my 500 for a 350 , i appreciate the beauty of both bikes , but i love my armstrong, i even like kick starting her , after it being my daily bike for the last 18months she starts and performs like a dream , ,,there thats done it , i've just completely jinxed it now

then there's the hybrids

Dave.

I think it's the electric start that's swaying me. Always seem to be more 500s for sale in ebay. But ther is a guy in Yorkshire always advertising 350s for sale on the road for around 2000.

aledwt wrote:I think it's the electric start that's swaying me. Always seem to be more 500s for sale in ebay. But ther is a guy in Yorkshire always advertising 350s for sale on the road for around 2000.

The other thing I like about my 500 is the pannier frames and bags which are perfect for carrying all manner of things including 5L of extra petrol. I don't like the plastic pannier boxes on the 350 and so didn't bother to fit them when I restored it.

Each to their own, I love the look of the pannier boxes and scabbard. Of course you can fit a 500 electric start engine (or larger!!) if you have the funds.

I do not ride my MTs enough to be really proficient with their idiosyncrasies which means I have often stalled them at traffic lights after leaving a motorway or other long road!! I have to say the electric start is a real lifesaver when this happens!

First MT i ever saw up close was a 500, the guy who owned her said its mine if i can kick start it. Had about 10 attempts with no luck and had trouble walking for a bit afterwards.
The guy almost had a heart attack he was laughing so much as well as some on lookers, then he started it first time and rode off.

I prefer the 500 because of the stronger low and mid range torque. Over the last 3 years I've added an electric start and a twin leading front hub to cure the inherent 500 problems. It would have been much easier to tweak more power out of the 350. I wouldn't swap mine for a 350 but that's more to do with badge snobbery . . . . . I just couldn't bring myself to tell anyone I owned a Harley