AJS/Matchless never marketed versions of their all conquering off road competition bikes, their so called competition bikes were an insipid compromise between road/competition, maybe pretty but failing by either criterion. The privateers stepped in with Andy Bamford being one of the foremost. This frame is about as light as a heavyweight frame can be and looks gorgeous. The engine is something else again. It started as a 350 but I bought a NOS 500 alloy barrel and head and took it to big single guru, Stuart Tonge for conversion. Thought that would be straightforward but the bill came in at £ 1500. For which he:
Stripped down completely including splitting crankshaft
Replaced TS, big end and little end bearings
Fitted new 8.5:1 piston, polished con rod and re-balanced crank
Fitted scrambles cams Overhauled oil pump
Did his wizardry on the valves and intake tract.
I had the magneto rebuilt and fitted top spec Amal 938 Concentric etc.etc.
The result is a bulletproof engine, smooth throughout the rev range, torquey at low RPM and exhilarating when it comes ‘on cam’.
The bike comes with a working alternator so could be a punchy Gold Star type road bike or something for serious twin shock competition.
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AJS 500 Works Replica
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