I used to live a couple of miles from the Rickman brothers’s shop in New Milton in the 1960s. They had a row of these competition engines lined up against the left hand wall. Way out of my price range then, although I did buy a 1955 Matchless G80 from a chap who worked there. It had been rebored and had a new big end, and it cost me £15. It was a great bike, the first of the three AJS and Matchless heavyweight singles I owned during those years. They were excellent value for money then (I’d paid £15 for my first motorcycle, a 98cc James Comet) and still are today in my opinion.
We Yanks do love your quirky limey bikes. Have a '57 G80CS in the queue for my next project. Please don't diss the Colonials or the Prisoners down under, as you effers would all be speaking German if it weren't for the likes of us.
