Is the Army still using dirt bikes???

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

Hey there,

Just wondering, is the Army still using dirt bikes for cav/scout teams? I got the DML “US Light Infantry” set for the figures and wasn’t sure what to do with the bike for a current diorama. Also, I know it was supposed to be released, but did DML/Shanghai Dragon or anyone else ever release the Desert FAV?

Thanks!

2

I’m not sure if the infantry ever “official” adopted that practice.

I can tell you the Air Force is widely using ATV’s for scouting, patroling, and haulling.

I always thought the dirt bike was a concept, not an actual practice, left more to special ops forces.

Someone in the Army could better comment.

3

I don’t know about the US Army, but the Aussies are using them… Check out this Land Rover Perentie:

http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~lloyd/4/LandRover/Perentie/

Here’s a description of its accesories:
Truck, long range patrol, light, FFR, winch, MC2.
This mean looking machine is open and without doors. It carries spare wheels recessed into each side of the bodywork, a machine-gun, and a rear-mounted 250cc motorcycle.
Loa 6020mm, height 2050mm
Approach 42°, departure 33°, ramp-over 150°
Weight 4230kg, laden 4840kg

4

Yes, the Army uses several different motorcycles. I am not sure of the civilian make and model.

5

Major G,

Thanks! A further question… are these motorcycles carried by M3 CFV’s? I’d heard somewhere (back around 1991or so) that the M3 had the ability to carry one and often did in the scouting role.

thanks again!

6

Check out this page
http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/klr-2250.htm
This is the civilian Kawasaki KLR 250 in fatigues.

PS The U.S. uses Kawasaki and the Brits use Harley-Davidson, what’s wrong with this picture?

7

Claymore,

Thanks for the link! There are some good shots and I a bunch of good info I needed. Now comes the hard part… finding the markings of those bikes serving in Iraq NOW. 3/7 Cav has to have some of em!

8

The 82nd Airborne Scouts were using dirt bikes as late as 1988. I almost hit a couple in a CUTV once.

9

Around '89 when I was at Ft. Stewart GA, our scouts tried out the motocycles. They were suppost to trade in their Bradleys for armored humvees with racks on the back for the bikes. It never happened thankfully because if it did, it ment more hummers for me to take care of.[xx(]

10

I don’t know about the U.S. Army, but I do have a picture from Operation Iraqi Freedom that shows British forces were using motorcycles in the desert.

11

The canadian army uses motorcycles for its combat pathfinders. Easier to get around in than an aging Iltis.

12

Yes, dirt bikes are also used in spec ops units like the Ranger Regiment used for scouting, they are grouped together in a single company in each battalion, usually Alpha Company

13

US Army Rangers, SPEC OPS, and Air Force Para-rescue (PJs) use them quite a bit. Make and model has varied over the years. I’ve seen Kawasakies, Harley’s, and one other that I was not quite sure of. Even saw some 82nd Airborne guys jumping with folding mountain bikes (pedal power!!).

“Dirt” bikes were used in the Panama invasion, first Gulf War, and currently. Although, I haven’t seen any recent pictures of them in Afganistan or Iraq, it doesn’t mean that they are not there!

Targetdriver

14

if I can remember from reading in a magazine, soldiers I think?
one of the bikes is a 4 stroke Kawasaki KX 250 or the 450?
really good bikes to I might add, I ride a 250 KX, it hauls some A**!!

15

Redleg,

Yeah, the Kawasaki KX250 seems to be the most prevalent and thankfully that’s the one that comes with the DML “Light Infantry set” Mine’s built now, just needs detailing!