Matchlesses

[Greybeard]

.

[Colsbeeza]

Matchli???

[Brian]

Is this some sort of trick question, I cant see a single Matchless in that photo.

[olev]

Are they specials?
None of the rigid aj's or matchy's I've ever seen had a full width front hub.
cheers

[BSA_54A10]

8 Bikes all registered at the same time ( consecutive rego numbers ) has to be a special order for some one ( Police ? ).
So yes they probably are a special order made to customers specs, and bigger front brakes again suggests Mr Plod  .

[groily]

They're all '54 models with a one year only 'non-barrel-shaped' full width hub. Fitted to the rigid and sprung singles and to the twins.
See catalogue (Matchless) pic from '54. Couldn't quickly find an Ajay one, but it's just badge engineering.
My own '54 500 twin (Ajay) has the same hub / brake. Prior to that, single-sided.
In Matchie speak G3L = rigid and G3LS = Sprung, and Ajay equivalent were Model 16M and 16MS at 350, (or G80 and M18 et 500).
Last year of the rigids (I think - but IKBA about the singles really).

[Greybeard]

Is this some sort of trick question, I cant see a single Matchless in that photo.

Are they AJS's?

Update:
Yes Neil, you can see they do not have the 'M' tank badge. 😎

[Topdad]

back in 1966 we were given a similar bike ,500cc AJAY been left in the back garden when Son left home and some yrs later parents got shut. We put it in our collect shed and left it for a couple weeks by then Bruce decided it should be started or at least try. Petrol was sloshed into the tank oil added and plug cleaned 2 kicks later it started much to everyones amazement .Itv remained as reliable but was responsible for a Bruce having a very close call. We took it down to crosby beach on my outfits board so we could run up and down below the tide line .Everything went well for a few runs up and down final run and Bruces is giving the thing the gun when the front wheel found a deep bit of soft sand the bike stopped dead bruce shot into the air and we ran expecting blood ,I can still hear the thud as he hit the sand but miraculously nothing broken .We all got the bike back to base and bruce to the pub where He decided to sell asap which we did .Got about £10 for it so everyone happy , it may still be running ?