A wee Matchless project

[Rannsachair]

I loved my 18s. How I wish that I'd never let it go.

Me too, even though my last one was a bitsa of early 50s engine with manual advance and retard in a 57 frame:

 

[pedrobedro]

You'd like the local bike shop which is still called Bill Lomas Motorcycles but has now changed hands. The new owner Dave is running it as a museum as well as doing repairs and MOT and he had a Matchless in on Saturday. I'll take some pictures when I go past in the week show what he has in stock.

 

[RichardM]

You'd like the local bike shop which is still called Bill Lomas Motorcycles but has now changed hands. The new owner Dave is running it as a museum as well as doing repairs and MOT and he had a Matchless in on Saturday. I'll take some pictures when I go past in the week show what he has in stock.

Bill also had a shop at Milford - on the A6 corner next to the William IV pub. Mick relocated to Clay Cross, the shop at Milford was converted to a house.

John Cooper used to have one of his old Rocket 3 race fairings hanging from the roof rafters in Chandos Pole Street.

 

[Seadog]

Mine was an original 57. Bought for £45 in 1969. I restored it in 1972 and got it absolutely original down to the last nut and bolt. It did help that I worked Saturdays in a British m/c shop that came by all sorts when clearing other dealers. Sadly, no photos

 

[pedrobedro]

Bill also had a shop at Milford - on the A6 corner next to the William IV pub. Mick relocated to Clay Cross, the shop at Milford was converted to a house.

John Cooper used to have one of his old Rocket 3 race fairings hanging from the roof rafters in Chandos Pole Street.

Tim ran the shop in Clay Cross for a long time, Mike went years ago. Bill's old race bikes were in the shop up to a few years ago till they were auctioned off. I still WhatsApp Tim. I used to go out on deliveries when he sold bikes but after covid lockdown he never opened the shop up full time. Dave who has it now has quite a few old British and Japanese bikes and has opened a café in there as well. He is closed Mondays but I will call in this week and look what he has in. I was in Saturday and there was a TZR 125 on the bench.

 

[pedrobedro]

I just found a picture on my phone of a bike in the shop before Tim sold it, Square 4 quite a nice old example.

 

[pedrobedro]

Went in on Saturday for a look round.

 

[Rannsachair]

Went in on Saturday for a look round.
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Nice collection, I particularly like the prewar Sunbeam

 

[pedrobedro]

There are quite a few more. I just took a few pictures while I was talking to my mate.

 

[Rannsachair]

A step into modernity and my stiff joints (made in Taiwan)

seems to work nicely.

 

[graffian]

Can you see anything but your arm, with the mirror over the bars?

The mirror looks good. I am admiring the clamp, it fixes like a normal bar end weight does it?
I bought mirrors sort of like that, but they have push bike stem type mounts and they rock, not in a good way.

 

[Rannsachair]

Can you see anything but your arm, with the mirror over the bars?

The mirror looks good. I am admiring the clamp, it fixes like a normal bar end weight does it?
I bought mirrors sort of like that, but they have push bike stem type mounts and they rock, not in a good way.

The new mirror gives a great view. There is a split bush and tapered mandrel in the bar then the mirror clamps to it, seems rock solid.

 

[Rannsachair]

A good uneventful shakedown on the matchless today, even managed to overtake some modern bikes on the twisties......

 

[Robotstar5]

"scratching" on a Matchless in the twisties?

 

[Rannsachair]

"scratching" on a Matchless in the twisties?

It does not have much acceleration, so once I get above 55 mph I try and keep it there with minimal use of brakes and helps knowing the road well enough not to have to slow for the bends.

 

[DuncanCallum]

That Tarbert?

 

[Rannsachair]

That Tarbert?

Yes I like to get a cake and a coffee from cafe Cadora

 

[DuncanCallum]

Nice. I'm up in Taynuilt this week

 

[pedrobedro]

Another bike in the local shop, looks like a keeper, runs really sweet as well

 

[dobbslc]

I had a quick go on one of these yesterday, pic off eBay but the same bike.

It was nice to plod up the lane on. The fueling was really good with no snatch on and off the throttle which surprised me, I think this is the first fuel injected bike I've ever ridden!

There's something about a big single I like...