Author Topic: 1955 Matchless G9  (Read 3470 times)

Offline Oggers

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1955 Matchless G9
« on: January 07, 2019, 12:59:24 PM »
Anyone have any views on the above? I have seen a nice original fully restored one going for sensible money.....

Offline Rex

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Re: 1955 Matchless G9
« Reply #1 on: January 07, 2019, 01:26:11 PM »
Nice bikes in my opinion. Some of later AMCs bikes look too staid but the G9 is all up together in my eyes. Long-term owners seem to love them anyway.

Offline iansoady

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Re: 1955 Matchless G9
« Reply #2 on: January 07, 2019, 02:23:16 PM »
They have the centre bearing crank which either reduces or increases vibration depending on who you believe.

AMC twins were never as popular as the big 3 but as Rex says owners like them.

The AMOC has quite a good forum: http://www.jampot.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=3&sid=32b3620efe8b5147e4ebe840ab080f18

Loads of workshop manuals etc at Christian's Archive: http://archives.jampot.dk/

Oh, and Steve Surbey at http://www.amcclassicspares.com/ is a goldmine for used parts and info.
Ian
1952 Norton ES2
1986 Honda XBR500
1958-ish Tre-Greeves

Offline john.k

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Re: 1955 Matchless G9
« Reply #3 on: January 08, 2019, 02:11:02 AM »
The G9 should have been the perfect bike for the careful owner.......they had oil filters everywhere......unfortunately,put one in the hands of the average idiot who owned old bikes in the 60 and 70s,and they suffer.........the meehanite crank didnt resist dirt very well,or reduced oil supply caused by neglected and blocked filters...........so its very common to find cranks ground 060 under ,and more.............IMHO,the other main problem was the forks didnt wear well ,and were easily bent......the stantions apparently a very soft steel.............other problems were cam and tappet wear,IMHO,caused by too strong valve springs........strong springs needed for the 7000 odd revs the horsepower was quoted at...................the B52/GB gear box was ok,but nowhere as good as a AMC box.,and the splined clutch adaptor is often loose on a worn mainshft spline....which means primary chain runout,...same problem as Nortons always had in that era.

Offline Oggers

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Re: 1955 Matchless G9
« Reply #4 on: January 08, 2019, 09:11:19 AM »
John K - all useful stuff - thanks. Apparently this one has just been rebuilt, and I have a degree of mechanical sympathy. Box is a Burman - I think....

I quite like the look of them - aesthetically pleasing, twin OHC, bit of charactor

Offline Rex

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Re: 1955 Matchless G9
« Reply #5 on: January 08, 2019, 09:38:57 AM »
"OHC" you sure?

There's a test of one in this month's Classic Motorcycle too.

Offline R

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Re: 1955 Matchless G9
« Reply #6 on: January 08, 2019, 09:39:42 AM »
twin OHC   ??

Some sort of misprint, for sure...

Offline Oggers

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Re: 1955 Matchless G9
« Reply #7 on: January 08, 2019, 10:38:14 AM »
Twin OHV :o....mistaking it for the other new fangled things.....

Offline john.k

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Re: 1955 Matchless G9
« Reply #8 on: January 09, 2019, 02:49:55 AM »
The box is a Burman,yes.....but the B52/GB was only in production for a couple of years,as AMC had spent a lot on their own plant to make the AMC box.,fitted from 1957...........The Matchy twins were pretty bikes,but never wildly popular............probably because of the T bird and A 10...both 650s,for the same money.

Offline Mark M

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Re: 1955 Matchless G9
« Reply #9 on: January 09, 2019, 09:33:44 AM »
Or Enfield's Twins!
REgards, Mark

Offline john.k

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Re: 1955 Matchless G9
« Reply #10 on: January 09, 2019, 11:20:09 AM »
Nope,..Enfields were never popular because of the appalling gearbox........full of false neutrals.......I remember when we sold the very last TT Interceptor............the guy was back next day complaining about the gearbox.....But the boss didnt give a toss.........we were also selling the first Suzuki 4x4s......a "jeep" for $750 ,out the door.With a marvellous 750 twostroke 3.....Couldnt keep up with the demand.....the little things would go anywhere,just bounce across the sand that would bog a Rover.....You will never find one now ,though ....the thin metal rusted away while you looked .......We cleared out the last Velo Thruxton and Enfield TT ,so the space could be used for Suzuki cars......As I remember ,the last Thruxton was sold for $700 to clear it.,reduced from $1150......which is about what i took home every week on comissions from the cars......About 5 years later ,the Suzuki franchise was sold for millions.