MOD freedom of information result! But what does it all mean?

[FordPrefect]

After a bit of a wait I got a reply from the MOD today regarding my MT350, so I've more of an idea of its life and also the army reg number.
Can anyone else decipher the bits that aren't blindingly obvious?



zoomable image here: https://imgur.com/hff164F

[Wirralman]

Ashchurch Storage Depot
1 Assault Group Royal Marines for a year
School of Transport ? Sounds like rider training for a month

Disposal after 6 years ?
MTs were written down financially over 6 years , theoretically disposed of at 10 years but some bikes are reported as being in service for 13 year

Someone would have some explaining to do if disposed of under 6 years An absolute guess but it might have taken a hammering, salt water perhaps and then a hard time on rider training before being quietly put into store until it could be sent for disposal with no awkward questions

[FordPrefect]

Hmmmm, it's certainly had an interesting life. Thanks Wirralman.
I know it wasn't road registered till December 2012, which had lead me to believe it was one of the last to sold off. If it really went for disposal in 1999 where did it spend the intervening years I wonder? It's certainly not showing any signs of having had a particularly hard life, nothing like those Can Ams in that video posted a while back!
All very curious!

It also raises the question, were the Royal Marines as apt at injuring themselves on the bikes as the Army lads?

[Wirralman]

I know it wasn't road registered till December 2012, which had lead me to believe it was one of the last to sold off. If it really went for disposal in 1999 where did it spend the intervening years I wonder?
All very curious!

It also raises the question, were the Royal Marines as apt at injuring themselves on the bikes as the Army lads?

Back the day MTs could be bought from the military disposal agencies for a lot less than they are sold for today They were sold in three categories
1 Asking price set by Disposal Agency
2 Auction, highest bidder
3 Tender, you bid what you thought would secure the bike and hoped no-one else put in a higher bid

Buyers
A Dealers, there were a few, snapped them up and have dribbled them out for sale
B Breakers, who bought them and broke them for parts
C Individuals, some bought far more than one !

If you bought yours from a dealer, then your bike will probably have just been held in stock

When you buy from the disposal agencies, you have no obligation to register the bike until you want to ride it on the road Some bikes have been used by farmers on their own land so no need to register and MOT

Don't underestimate the demands on miltary drivers and riders Sometimes you have to tackle terrain and conditions that is against your better judgement.( I've driven 12 tons of armoured car on public roads peering through 3 small periscopes ) So military riders will fall off, but they are challenged quite a bit....

[FordPrefect]

I'm not underestimating the riders, I'm just going on what I've been told by numerous ex army guys who always come talking to me when they see my bike. The most common tale they tell is that the bikes didn't see much use as "they didn't like letting the lads out on them because they mucked about and ended up in the infirmary."

[Wirralman]

I'm not underestimating the riders, I'm just going on what I've been told by numerous ex army guys who always come talking to me when they see my bike. The most common tale they tell is that the bikes didn't see much use as "they didn't like letting the lads out on them because they mucked about and ended up in the infirmary."

In your own words a 'tale' Military bikes have been used for decades They had practical use. If they didn't, they would never have been bought

Whilst there will have been larking about and accidents there will have been many miles run doing a variety of duties Which makes for more interesting conversation, the uneventful or the out of the ordinary ?

[Monkey104]

I pissed my boss off and was sent on an mt accounts course for my sins.
The mt I ran had 6 mt 350s. I ran the mt for 3 years before I was let back in to the fold. The only time those bikes moved is when I took them out for jolly or I rode them the half mile yearly around to the garage for their service.
Having said that I was on excercise in Poland for 6 weeks and I lived on that bloody thing! Route recces, tank escorts, route maintenance etc. I couldn’t wait to get rid of it.

[Wirralman]

I pissed my boss off and was sent on an mt accounts course for my sins.
The mt I ran had 6 mt 350s. I ran the mt for 3 years before I was let back in to the fold. The only time those bikes moved is when I took them out for jolly or I rode them the half mile yearly around to the garage for their service.
Having said that I was on excercise in Poland for 6 weeks and I lived on that bloody thing! Route recces, tank escorts, route maintenance etc. I couldn’t wait to get rid of it.

I was very greatful to guys like you, I once needed a Saladin at short notice. Mine was burnt out one day, picked up a replacement the next, it was in excellent condition