A short sunday ride on my original and unrestored 1955 AJS model 20 500cc twin. This actual motorcycle is featured in Peter Howdle's book 'Best of British'.
Lovely. There’s something about watching/listening to an old bike riding to lovely scenery. Much more pleasing than a modern sports bike. Thanks for the upload.
When asked by AMC to review this model in the 1950’s, the great Bert Hopwood commented that it would break the company as it was very unlikely to break down and therefore they wouldn’t sell any spares.
They actually achieved a test of completing 100 miles around an oval track in one hour (meaning a continuous speed of 100mph for 1 hour) on the 600cc twin without failure of the engine. Quite a sales pitch at the time. A lot of bikes were flat out doing the Ton.
The record was set at the MIRA track near where I live by Vic Willoughby in 1958 on a G11CS which he allegedly rode from and back to his home some 80 miles away after completing the ride.
I had a 1952 Matchlass clone of the bike G9I I Was 17 at the time so it seemed great. I like to think that the exhaust note was more mellow! It had a three-bearing crankshaft. and this centre bearing was often blamed for the excessive vibration that reached the hands! it had a three-bearing can k
The problem was that they had put a ban on providing test bikes to the media because some journo gave them a bad review. They preferred to let their success in road and rally racing do the talking. But it bit them on the butt because the general punters were not buying competition bikes. Fun Fact. AJS was acquired by the Colliers (Matchless) in 1931. Making both under the name Associated Motor Cycles (AMC) from 1938. They later owned Francis Barnett and James, smaller commuter bikes like the BSA Bantam. In 1952 AMC acquired Norton. (Not the other way around). In 1962 the Norton Factory at Birmingham was closed and all Norton manufacturing was done at Woolwich and Plumbstead. AMC was later acquired by Manganese Bronze Holdings when they went bankrupt in 1966, choosing to cease production of AJS/Matchless in 1968. In 1969 the Norton Commando was released, but having been designed and built in the AMC factories with their staff, I like to stir up the Norton faithful and tell them it's really a Matchless with Norton badges. 😂
@@donparker1823 I have a G9, G12, G15 and a P11. (Maybe a G45 if I win the lotto). So you might say I have a passion for AMC bikes, or you might say I need counselling. 😅😂🤣
@@donparker1823 My wife said you can have as many bikes as you want, as long as I can have my perfect kitchen and garden. That's when I knew she was a keeper. 👍
About 10 years before my time. What is the small lever on the left? A choke? I thought the carbs would have ticklers. And a twin wouldn't have a decompress lever. Thanks. Beautiful machine.
Great bike & video. Many thanks. Quick question: are the bullet shaped pilot lamps on either side of the main headlight useful for anything? All I can think is that they were used for parking lights, but suspect that they would drain the battery quite quickly in that role.
