Chart of Military Motorcycles & Scooters

Motorcycles & Scooters have been used by the military since they became available early in the 20th century. Light and maneuverable, they displaced horses as mounts for scouts and messengers as well as for military police and other similar duties. They could travel without roads and had minimal requirements for fuel and maintenance. In World War II, they were heavily used by U.S. and Allied forces as well as by German, Russian, British and other armies. They have been largely replaced by jeeps, HMMWVs, or even ATVs in the modern period, although some remain in use by Special Forces, military police and for other special functions.

PFC Rogelio Guerra, vehicle operator with 3rd Bn 3rd Marines, riding an M1030 USMC motorcycle during Exercise Tandem Thrust 2001, Shoalwater Bay, Queensland, Australia, 15 May 2001.
PFC Rogelio Guerra, vehicle operator with 3rd Bn 3rd Marines, riding an M1030 USMC motorcycle during Exercise Tandem Thrust 2001, Shoalwater Bay, Queensland, Australia, 15 May 2001.

Today in WW II: 5 Jul 1943 Battle of Kursk (Operation Citadel) begins, last German offensive in Russia and largest tank battle [5-19 July].  More ↓
5 Jul 1945 In British election, Winston Churchill loses to Labour Party, Clement Atlee becomes Prime Minister.
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.

Chart of Military Motorcycles & Scooters

In this chart of military motorcycles & scooters, click on the photo link to go to the page of photos and information for the specific vehicle.

Vehicle Description Photo Link
Indian 640 1940 Indian Mod. 640 motorcycle, 45 cu. in. engine. 1940 Indian Mod. 640 motorcycle, 45 cu. in. engine
Indian 741 1940 Indian Mod. 741 motorcycle, 30.07 cu. in. engine. 1940 Indian Mod. 741 motorcycle, 30.07 cu. in. engine
Indian Tricycle 1940 Indian Tricycle 1940 Indian Tricycle
Harley WLA Harley Davidson WLA motorcycle, 45 cu. in. engine. Harley Davidson WLA motorcycle, 45 cu. in. engine
Harley MT500 Harley Davidson MT500 motorcycle. Shown is 1999 model set up for British MOD with full boxes, weapons case and map case.
Photo courtesy Chris Atwell, owner. 		Harley Davidson MT500 motorcycle
Matchless 3GL Motorcycle, UK War Department 1942 Matchless 3GL Motorcycle, UK War Department 1942
KLR 250 Kawasaki KLR 250 Military Motorcycles Kawasaki KLR Military Motorcycles
M1030 Kawasaki M1030 Military Motorcycles Kawasaki M1030 Military Motorcycles
Honda 250cc Honda military 250 cc dirt bike Honda military 250 cc dirt bike
Cushman
30 Series		 Cushman Model 32 or Model 34 Scooter Cushman Model 32 or Model 34 Scooter
Cushman
Model 53		 Cushman Model 53 Airborne Scooter Cushman Model 53 Airborne Scooter
Rokon Military Rokon.
Photo: Courtesy of Paul E. Schwartz. 		Military Rokon
KS750 Zundapp KS750 motorcycle, manufactured for the Wehrmacht 1940-44. Zundapp KS750 motorcycle, manufactured for the Wehrmacht 1940-44
Kettenkrad Kleines Kettenkraftrad NSU HK101 Sd.Kfz 2 (German)
(Small tracked motorbike)
1940 (Prototypes) - 1944 (army use), 1945 - 1948 (built with permission of the US military government for farm and forest use) 		Kleines Kettenkraftrad NSU HK101 Sd.Kfz 2 (German)
M72 IMZ (later to become "Ural") M72 (about 1944) Soviet military motorcycle. with DP light machine gun mount. See Molotov Cocktail web site. Photo: Courtesy of Michael Weaver. IMZ (later to become "Ural") M72 (about 1944) Soviet military motorcycle.
K750M 1964 KMZ (Dnepr), model: K750M, Soviet military motorcycle. 750cc flathead boxer twin engine, military 4 speed transmission with reverse. 1964 KMZ (Dnepr), model: K750M, Soviet military motorcycle