Can-Am 250cc bikes

[rob love]

Never easy to find in the first place, here is one of approx 80 Can ams the Cdn military bought.



http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehi...AdIdZ477726264

[Robin Craig]

Blast!

No money but all the ambition

R

[rob love]

I am not certain this bike is Canadian Forces issue. The pannier racks are different, and it does not have the BO headlight or tailight, nor the SMG bracket.

I won a sealed tender auction for two of these back around 1987. Seems to me the winning bid was $325 each.

[chris vickery]

Does anyone out there have a serial number range for CF purchased Can-Am bikes? Specifically the manuafacturer serial numbers. A CFR list would be great too, especially if it co-relates to the frame serials.

[maple_leaf_eh]

I found the same vehicle database viewer that others are using. There were more than one type of Canam m/c. For instance there are three types of 250cc bike. We would need to be more specific to fully interrogate the data.

[rob love]

I have been looking at the photos of the bike again, and it may well be Canadian. The rack sitting way high up behind the seat is the identical rack that the normal Cdn 1978 bikes had, and it appears to have the brackets on the left side for the SMG bracket. It is the lower brackets that are different from what I am used to.

There was a second purchase of bikes (I think it was a dozen or so) in 1980. I do not have parts manuals for that year, so perhaps they had the later rack with the fibreglass panniers, and over time it got moved to this bike?

Is Scotty is searching the serial on the EDR viewer, we'll know soon enough.

[chris vickery]

Rob et al. The bike is now mine. I need to do some digging. An agreeable purchase price was made, the bike is in nice shape.
Indeed, the smg holder is absent as is the B/O lighting and rear turn signals.
From what I have come up with, not all CF bikes were so equipped from factory. The switch is present for the B/O lighting. I am still concerned though with the pannier rack, it appears Brit. The bike prefix on the serial (8960) confirms it is a military MK1, procured in 1978 under FVE22A/36.
What I need to know is the serial number range for the 78 bikes purchased by the CF so I can determine if mine is for sure Canadian and not British ordered.
Unfortunately, Scotty B is away from his station until late June.

[chris vickery]

As a new owner of an ex-military Can-Am motorcycle, I am seeking out other MLU members who own or have owned the same. Looking for links to web forums, parts, technical advice, pics in service etc. Looking for the elusive gurus... I am aware of a couple already but looking for more.

[rob love]

Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh

I found the same vehicle database viewer that others are using. There were more than one type of Canam m/c. For instance there are three types of 250cc bike. We would need to be more specific to fully interrogate the data.

Terry
I would suggest that your list reflects the following re DND motorcycles:
120101 could be the TRW, although I am not sure. (qty 6 shown)
120102 will be the 1978 can am. (qty 78 shown)
120103 will be the 1980 can am. (qty 10 shown)
120104 will be the Armstrong (qty 86 shown)
120105 will be the kawasaki kl250 (qty 77 shown)

If you were to dwelve into the 120102 ECC, you will find the applicable CFRs and serial numbers of the 1978 Can-Ams.

[mike mckinley]

Originally Posted by chris vickery

As a new owner of an ex-military Can-Am motorcycle, I am seeking out other MLU members who own or have owned the same. Looking for links to web forums, parts, technical advice, pics in service etc. Looking for the elusive gurus... I am aware of a couple already but looking for more.

Chris,

two online sources of info are the classic can-am website, and the canned ham website. there is also a chap in the u.k. who sells parts for the military bikes. mechanically, they are the same as the civi 1976 t'nt 250. parts are available . that engine was used by atk motorcycles into the 90's. the weak link is the bosch or typanium cdi box. i have restored a few civi t'nt and mx series can-ams, so if you got any questions.......i think i have copies of the canadian military manuals for these...i'll have a look.
also, the oil tank is the back bone of the chassis, which has/ had a foam element installed near the banjo bolt, where the oil line leaves the frame, heading for the mikuni oil pump. these break up with age and will plug the lines, starving the engine of oil, seizing the piston. be sure to blow it out. don't get the urge to do away with the oil injection either because the system feeds the cylinder and the crank bearings....the bearings will die in short order without the pump. the forks were made in spain by betor...seal kits are readily available, two seals per fork. bing carb parts are very expensive and can be hard to find. husqvarna used the same carbs on their 250's. the fork rake is ajustable from 27 to 31 degrees. despite what some people think, the can-ams were way ahead of their time.

[servicepub (RIP)]

With the ECCs you can submit an Access to Info request, at a cost of $5, asking for the CFRs for each.
Clive

[chris vickery]

Just wondering if serial #877 is on the ECC list and if so, the applicable CFR#???

[maple_leaf_eh]

The EDR warriors can stand down. I ran the ECC and checked the serial numbers. Chris' is outside the range of Canadian motorcycles. Well outside. His is serial number 877, and the highest Canadian number is in the middle 700's. That one was disposed of in Germany.

[chris vickery]

Terry, thanks again for the help, much appreciated.
Its a cool bike nevertheless.

[chris vickery]

My New (new to me) Can-Am is now home!
A few minor issues to attend to then hopefully she will be ready to ride.
Overall the bike is really decent.

[chris vickery]

Sooooo, who is hoarding the military Can-Am parts in Canada????

[rob love]

Not sure there was ever that great a hoard. I recall seeing some new in the crate frames at a surplus dealer in Saskatchewan, and there was some forks and smaller parts laying under a cover at the local milsurp yard.

[chris vickery]

Thanks Rob, seeing as we only had 78 bikes I would not expect much but thought I would throw it out there. A friend of mine had a few NOS frames.
Having examined my new toy closely, I am fairly confident to say that it is an ex-Belgian bike;
It has a few characteristics which differ from the British or Canadian contracts.
I am fortunate enough to have obtained a copy of both the British and Belgian parts manuals with my purchase.
This might be another reason why the pannier racks looked off to you.
Mine has the 4.00-18 rear tire and 3.00-21 front tire by Metzeler. The pannier rack also has foot rests attached. These wheels are the dead giveaway as the british contract used Dunlop tires 3.50-19 front and 4.00-18 rear. The British pannier rack is almost the same without the extra foot pegs.
I also ended up with an NOS seat in the box which differs from the Can/Brit bikes in that it is a leather cover with strap across the middle as shown in the parts book. Currently mine has the typical Can/Brit seat.
The other rather odd thing is the luggage carrier. My manual shows the British version which is what I have and not the Belgian version.
I am making assumptions that this is the Belgian version based mainly on the wheel size and tire brand thinking that the Brits would not likely be stocking such an oddball size in inventory considering their 5000+ bikes were all 19"/18" respectively, so not likely a swap of wheels in the motorpool.
The typical Brit parts like the seat and luggage rack may have been an add on or may have been from factory as well.