classic motorcycle forum
Motorcycle Discussions => British Bikes => Topic started by: mightyoxmusic on May 09, 2016, 09:40:26 AM
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Can anyone help with any information regarding this bike as i can't find anything about it.
AJS RS1 1957
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It isn't any standard AJS model I've ever heard of, so perhaps could you give more detailed information?
What do you know about it that leads you to believe it's a: "1957 AJS RS1"?
Do you own (or have access) to the bike, or is it something you've been told about, or perhaps trying to find out about a bike in an old photo?
If you have access to the machine or can answer the following questions?
How many cylinders?
What are the frame and engine numbers?
Engine cc if known?
Swinging arm or rigid frame?
Any photos of it that you can post?
A long shot, but a Lucas "SR1" magneto would have been fitted to some single cylinder AJS models of that year, so are you sure you are not reading 'SR1' (as RS1) off the magneto?
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As a long time AMC owner /rider I can say there ain't no such thing.
read the engine number, it will give the date, engine size, model, and do not be surprised to find you have a Matchless engine in it, or one from a different year.
can you post a photo?
and lastly the AJS/ Matchless owners club will give you chapter and verse and who it was supplied to and when. For a small fee.
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There was a Lucas SR1 magneto.
http://www.theodole.nl/Lucas%20SR1%20LI%20front.jpg
Fitted to Ajays and Matchies from mid 1950s, of the 350 and 500cc single cylinder types.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AJS_18
Does this help ?
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The original AJS company, way, way, back before Matchless bought them in 1931 and way before AMC was ever formed identified each years production with a letter prefix. By 1930 they had reached the letter 'R' so both the frame and engine numbers of all 1930 AJS commenced with the letter 'R'. That year they made the models R2, R4, R5, R6, R8, R9, and R12. I know this because I am copying it directly out of my 1930 Export Catalogue.
Not only that but AJS were one of the very few companies who really did have matching numbers for the frame and engine. If the bike is absolutely original the number on the engine should be exactly that as on the frame.
So, if you were to provide a little more information we might be able to help a little more.
Cheers,
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He says its 1957
therefore 1930 catalogues are not of much use,especially as after that AJS is the subsidary of Matchless.
I have never seen anyone mistake a magneto number for an model ID.
I'm suggesting the OP is either overseas or has imported a bike from some where far away where it is common practice to alter engine/frame numbers to suit local needs.
I have seen a lot of such things, and you'll find the Owners club has too.
A decent photo will clear it up.
No AMC single ever had matching numbers.
Its also possible the OP has an early genuine AJS that is much faked up, again to suit local registration. I once found a 'Dunelt' in Spain and the only bit Dunelt about it was the brass ID plate; I managed to ID at least 4 different marques on the bike, including two on the engine.
photo photo photo
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Thank you all for information i will get some pictures taken and post as soon as i can.
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Why do people these ask questions if they are not coming back with decent info? ::) ::)
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Sadly it's all too common. Even a simple "thank you" is rare (although provided here).
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Mini me if you read my post i did Thank people??
I have not put any more information as we have had family health problems and the bike is the last thing on my mind.
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pictures
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350cc 16MS I think rather than a 500cc Model 18S.
http://www.motorcyclesunlimited.co.uk/1957-ajs-350-16ms-classic-bike-for-sale/
What led you to believe it was an "RS1"?
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Looks like quite an original bike. The 350s are rather nice. You need only to glance at the engine number, on the drive side crankcase, just below the cylinder, to see if it's a 350 (with a "16") or a 500 (with an "18").
Hope your problems are working out.
Cheers
Leon
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Have found some numbers
MAG MK11A1154 42293A
Gear box M10331
Chas AA39200
Engine 57-16MS32541
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Thats more like it, you have a 1957 350 AJS.
I now suggest you contact the AMCOC who for a small fee will supply chapter and verse on it. they only need frame and engine numbers, things like magneto numbers are irrelevant, possibly they may even tell you to where it was first supplied.
They have masses of info, help and a good spares scheme.
http://www.jampot.com/default.asp
If it where my bike I'd clean it up and use as is.
BTW I never suggested a deficit of thanks; many of us older riders also have health problems, its one reason we are found sitting at a computer rather than on a bike :)
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Thank You for your help and replies we have now going to be selling the bike as it is for around £3500.00.
If anyone knows anybody that might be interested please let me know.
The bike can be viewed in London.
Thanks again
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Best of luck with that then.
Well built bikes though they are, the prices have always seemed to be lower than other similar bikes probably due to the somewhat stolid performance. I'd expect one to be in pristine (or at least, very good useable) condition for that price.
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an optimistic valuation I think.
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What sort of price should we be asking?
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Personally less than two thousand £ would be my guess.
Do you have a V5? does it run? does it even turn over?
If you have none of these that devalues it a lot.
Its a nice bike but not that special a bike, not rare at all and for that price you can get a very well set up ready to ride bike.
My advice to you is to either bung it on ebay and let it find its own value, or sell it via Kettering Classics who handle a lot of bikes for the owners club. They wills sell on commisssion for you.
My own personal pessimistic valuation, as a long term Matchless/AJS owner,on a bike in this state with no current V5 and a non runner is £1000-1200.
Why? because to put it back on the road overhauled but unrestored will cost that much again.
Mediocre old bikes are not the gold mine many people think they are. Except for the spares suppliers...It'll need new rims and ryres for a start, 5-600£, if the engine is stuffed, and it'll certainly be in need of a major overhaul, big end £200, then you need to get it fitted, piston £50, a set of cables 50quid if you can't make your own, it mounts up alarmingly.
not so many years ago a bike like this would have been broken for parts.
good luck with it.
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Thanks for your advise we paid £2200.00 i think we have got our fingers burnt. We need to make a small profit to cover expenses ect.
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Stick it on Fleabay with a starting price of say £1900, put plenty of obligatory"barn find" references in the ad and you may get lucky, but there's a valuable lesson here....to make money out of old bikes means research and experience.
Unless you chance on something really good, it's a game for enthusiasts only, and if you somehow believed that old Ajay was an "RS1" then that's clearly not you.
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Far too many of us have got our" fingers burnt" buying and selling old bikes, and thats just those of us who are supposed to know what its all about.
Rex advice is sound, put it on ebay with a truthful description and no BS. Lots of good clear deatail pictures will be a must,as is up todate V5. No docs is a very big turn off as its lots of hassle now to get new ones.
You may get your money back; as its in London you might do well, as you will have more potential buyers in the catchment area.
As a matter of interest why did you buy such a bike? hopes of investment?
You may have to steel yourself for a small loss, but who knows. Knowledge is not cheap to come by in these things.
here, similar bike similar condition.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MATCHLESS-1957-G3LS-FOR-RESTORATIOIN-/282044168210?hash=item41ab247812:g:HaEAAOSwiYFXGijw
a far better bike not much more that you were asking
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MATCHLESS-G3LS-1959-350cc-/262372487103?hash=item3d169e6fbf:g:EDYAAOSwfl9XBPvv
and another,the list goes on.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1959-Matchless-G3LS-350cc-Classic-Green-Genuine-11702-miles-AFS-/262454929925?hash=item3d1b886a05:g:JnoAAOSwMHdXRuEr
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AJS-MATCHLESS-600cc-1960-SAME-OWNER-FOR-OVER-30-YEARS-IDEAL-PROJECT-/162098852195?hash=item25bdd83163:g:jnEAAOSwZG9WliTF
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1955-AJS-350cc-single-MS16-Classic-British-Motorcycle-great-original-condition-/121990864262?hash=item1c6738dd86:g:2osAAOSwYHxWQ1Dl
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Agree with everyone else. I'm puzzled by the statement "We need to make a small profit" (my emphasis). Nobody needs to but everyone wants to......
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I've "needed" to make small profits all my life, I'm still trying to work out what went wrong :'(