Matchless G80

1946-1969. 498cc, OHV, air-cooled, heavyweight single

Why buy a Matchess G80?

Performance: 80-85mph.

Looks: Handsome rigids. Swinging arms are simply nice.

Reliable: Tough British built single. Not much goes wrong.

Sound: Traditional thumper. Early bikes are softest.

Spares: Pretty much everything is out there, new or used.

Re-sale: Steady demand. Moderate prices.

Investment: Not ideal. These bikes plod the market too.

Economy: 65-80mpg. Squeezing out more is possible.

Maintenance: Do it in your sleep. Mostly basic tools.

Tuneable: Not easily. Best buy a competition model.

Starting: Not ideal for weak knees. But manageable.

Gearbox: Burman boxes are cruder. AMC box is best.

Clutch: No dramas. Keeps a steady grip when set right.

Finish: Original AMC is great. With rebuilds, it's pot luck.

Street cred: Not too much. Will suit more "modest" riders.

Long stroke engine: Lots of chuff & grunt on earlier bikes.

Alternator: Fitted to later bikes. Sufficient juice on tap.

Magneto: Traditional sparks, but not on alternator models.

Matchless logo: The flying "M" looks better than AJS.

... and why you might want to sell one

Handling: 7 out of 10. Bikes need taming on faster bends.

Brakes: Adequate at best. You won't want to heat them much.

Lighting: Inoffensive. Convert to 12-volts for regular night work.

Vibration: Acceptable up to 55-60mph. Beyond that is a pain.

Weight: They don't call then heavyweight single for nought.

Teledraulic fork: Crude. Later Norton Roadholders are better.

Magneto: Under the carbs on early bikes. Asking for trouble.

Mechanical noise: Piston slap mostly. Some top end clatter.

Oil leaks: Weepy primary covers plus minor g/box leaks.

Carburettor: Twin set-up needs regular balancing/optimising.

Badge engineered: Some folk think it's an AJS.

Cylinder fins: Plenty have been damaged and bodged. Check.

Short stroke engine: Later bikes. Different vibe and feel.

Compression: Later bikes are a little harsher. Compare.

Candlestick shock absorbers/dampers: Not good. Leaky.

Jampot shock absorbers/dampers: Worse. Get over it.

Side stands: Not on all bikes. Check the parking arrangement.

[AJS Model 18 & Matchless G80 buyers guide]

▲ Bonhams sold this Bud Ekins restored Matchless G80CS in May 2008 in San Francisco. The price? £16,080. The "CS" stands for "Competition" and "Spring", as in swinging arm. Normally iron engines, the G80 competition bikes are all aluminium. Features include bigger valves and revised cams (all these bikes, and the AJS variants, are fitted with twin cams; one under each pushrod). Later, the 82.5mm x 93mm, 498cc engines would adopt short stroke dimensions (86mm x 85.5mm). Bud Ekins raced these bikes with great success in US desert competitions and made AMC a force to be reckoned with. The high price of this machine reflects the Bud Ekins connection. Note the Magneto in the forward "AJS" position.

▲ Other features on the Bud Ekins restored Matchless include the Lucas rubber battery; "Jampot" shock absorbers; aluminium alloy fuel tank and mudguards; removable headlight and tail light; off-road forks; off-road gearing; a Lucas competition magneto; and a "period correct" Amal Monobloc carburettor (which, we hear, Ekins preferred to the TT/GP types fitted to the production bikes).

Matchless G80
or AJS Model 18?

Talk to a Matchless man, and you risk a punch if you call this bike an AJS Model 18. So okay, the similarities between the two 498cc, OHV, pushrod, 4-speed singles are greater than the differences, and the bikes were born in the same Associated Motor Cycles (AMC) factory in Plumstead, South London. And they were even were constructed from (mostly) identical parts.

But the design was all Matchless. The AJS connection was simply an exercise in "badge engineering"; in other words, a commercial ploy intended to screw some cash from the pockets of the Ajay men who wouldn't be seen dead on a Matchless.

But Matchless or AJS, these are great bikes, albeit not without their foibles. They're simple, strong, good looking, reliable, economical and still fairly "affordable".

However, they have a well deserved reputation for knock-knock-knocking along at their own, unhurried pace and refusing to do anything even remotely spectacular. Unless, that is, you buy one of the competition models, in which case you've got a horse of a very different colour, and one that knows how to trot, canter and gallop.

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The rigid framed bikes look best (to our eyes anyway). But the swinging arms models ain't exactly butt-ugly. The AMC shock absorbers were rubbish until Girling came along. But the AMC items look right.

The bikes tended to get overly refined and simplified as the years rolled by, but the payoff was a more sorted (if outdated) design.

The engines started as long-strokers and ended as short strokers. And the feel is very different, so ride one of each before you buy.

And try the 350cc models too which are the Matchless G50s or AJS Model 16s. There are more of these around too. They're usually a little cheaper, and not much slower, and they're a lot more frugal. But they're all heavy at around 390lb.

The bottom line is that these are worthy and undemanding classic, traditional British singles.

We like 'em plenty.