classic motorcycle forum

Motorcycle Discussions => Identify these bikes! => Topic started by: VintageBike on January 16, 2007, 01:57:34 AM

Title: 1920's bike needs identifying..
Post by: VintageBike on January 16, 2007, 01:57:34 AM

Folks,
I need your help again.  there is another bike in the galleries that I've been asked to identify - but I can't....
It's at http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/Bike%20Directories/Period%20Pictures/pages/tom_motorbike.htm

Any suggestions please?
Thanks in advance...

Nigel,

Title: Re: 1920's bike needs identifying..
Post by: Blue on January 16, 2007, 08:47:38 PM

looks like a triumph side-valve of some sort ... possibly an SD 550cc?

Title: Re: 1920's bike needs identifying..
Post by: 33d6 on January 17, 2007, 06:44:12 PM

That's a very easy one Nigel,
It's an L series Matchless. It is the great grandaddy of all the so called 'Heavyweight single' Matchless and later on AJS.
It started out as a 350 (69x93 bore & stroke) and then was bored out to 82,5mm to make the 500. Matchless then kept updating it year by year, making an ohv version of the 350 and later the 500 and kept on updating it until the factory folded in the 60's. By then about all that was left of the original engine was the gudgeon pin and little end bush. Once you know the code you can follow the parts numbers for these throughout all the years of production.
I'll have a careful look at the photo and see if I can be a bit more precise as to the exact model in the series and  the year.
Cheers, Bob

Title: Re: 1920's bike needs identifying..
Post by: VintageBike on January 17, 2007, 07:06:14 PM

Bob,
thanks very much!  Can't help feeling i should have got this one myself...   :-[

Title: Re: 1920's bike needs identifying..
Post by: Rick_Parkington on January 20, 2007, 06:50:58 PM

Looks identical to the one in my 1925 MotorCycling Manual, see also Tragatsch Encyclopaedia p203 for an 'enclosed' version. Rick