Thursday, 23 February 2017

Matchless G12 de Luxe (1959) Specification, Wikipedia, On road Price

Posted By: ygshhd 10:14 Leave a Reply

Matchless G12 de Luxe

This is a Matchless G12 de Luxe from 1959, when little more than fresh paintwork and new badges would have been enough to turn it into an AJS Model 31. The motorcycling public's loyalty to one or other marque made such 'badge engineering ’ worthwhile, although both makes of bike were produced at the Matchless factory in south London.

HIn many ways the story of the Matchless parallel twin was typical of the British industry: repeated increases in engine capacity and power, though not always a better bike as a result. After being introduced in 1949 with a capacity of 498cc, the engine was enlarged over the years, mainly to meet the demands of the American export market. The original G9 became the 592cc Gil in 1956, and three years later the G12 was created when the motor was enlarged again, this time to 646cc.

Plenty of riders were impressed with the result. ‘Docility and high performance make a rare combination,’ said the tester from The Motor Cycle. ‘Top-gear tractability you can have, speed you can have, but both? Yes both! In the latest 646cc Matchless G12 de Luxe you can. A bulldog with all the get-up-and-go of a greyhound, this is the twin to which everything comes alike, whether it be a gentle potter about the lanes at 30mph [48km/h] or a blast along the M1 at 80mph [129km/h] on half throttle.

Not every rider was as enthusiastic as that tester, but the G12 was a competent and reasonablypopular machine, with lively acceleration, a top speed of just over 1 OOmph (161 km/h), and excellent handling. It was also acceptably reliable, at least in Standard form or as the De Luxe, which featured a quickly-detachable rear wheel and uprated ignition system.

Over-developed engine

Fastest of the G12 family was the CSR, which had a higher compression ratio, siamesed exhaust, narrower seat and alloy mudguards. The G12 CSR was good for a top speed of 108mph (174km/h) but suffered from vibration and poor reliability, and was regarded by many as an example of an engine being developed too far.

There were significant differences between the G12 family and rival parallel twins - though very few between the G12 and the AJS Model 31, which were essentially the same bike. Matchless was a famous old south London-based marque whose cofounder Charlie Collier had won the single-cylinder race at the first ever Isle of Man TT back in 1907. The firm had taken over its rival. AJS of Wolverhampton, in 1931. Left: The G12’s sound handling combined with a broad spread of power and reasonable turn of speed to make the twin an enjoyable bike to ride, especially in this De Luxe version. The more powerful and sporty CSR model was faster, but vibrated more and was less reliable.

The combined firm took the name Associated Motor Cycles (AMC) and later acquired marques ncluding Francis Barnett, James and, in 1952, once mighty Norton. AJS and Matchless were most closely linked because, in a blatant example of ‘badge engineering’, almost identical machines ■ ere built at the Matchless factory in Plumstead ~nd marketed under both names. The Matchless 500cc G9 differed from the AJS Model 20 by little more than paint (typically red for Matchless, blue tor AJS). The Gil was the Model 30, and the G12 the Model 31.

The main difference between the AMC engine -r.d the other British twins of the period was its -entral crankshaft bearing. Designer Phil Walker’s mention had been to stiffen the bottom end, to Juce high-rev vibration. In fact the Matchless/AJS motor shook to match the worst of ~em. and some experts considered its extra bearing - Hindrance rather than a help.

Despite that the G9/Model 20 was a pleasant <e. with plenty of mid-range performance and a -'Pectable top speed of 90mph (145km/h). That .ubility remained when the engine was bored-out 'u2cc to create the G11/Model 30. As the engine . a d not be bored-out any further, a new long- \e crankshaft was developed for the 646cc 2 Model 31. The larger engine’s unreliability in - . a CSR form did not deter AMC, who in 1965 produced a Matchless G15/AJS Model 33 powered by the 750cc engine from the Norton Atlas. But by this time the firm was in financial trouble, and production ended in 1967.

The Matchless ‘winged M’ badge was well known in the 1950s, when the firm had expanded under the AMC name to take over rivals including Norton, as well as AJS.

The Gl2’s engine differed from other British parallel twins mainly in having a central crankshaft bearing, which did little to reduce vibration. This 646cc motor was developed from the previous Gil’s 592cc unit, using a lo ng- stroke crankshaft.

Specification Matchless G12 de Luxe (1959)