1951 AJS Model 18 Review

Автокөліктер мен көлік құралдары

A video review of an AJS desert sled from the 50's. Working without a script or much of a plan, I did get a few facts wrong (when AJS was founded 1909) and the first name of the Stevens brother it was named for -- that being Albert not Alfred.

Пікірлер: 40

  • @paulallen3557
    @paulallen35577 ай бұрын

    Beautiful machine. I think the AJS/Matchless big single is the best-looking engine there is.

  • @Jackthelad966
    @Jackthelad96611 жыл бұрын

    Love your bike and the way you handle it , my first bike was a matchless G3l from 1955 stripped and i wrung its neck all the time with no complaints. That was in 1978. Now i ride a sportster from 1996 everyday! Cheers!

  • @TerryClarkAccordioncrazy
    @TerryClarkAccordioncrazy9 жыл бұрын

    Handsome machine with a lovely sound, it looks like it'd be really fun to ride. Makes me wish I hadn't sold my old M20.

  • @Roadghost88
    @Roadghost886 жыл бұрын

    Love the styling. Sounds great too. Wish they were still around.

  • @richardpope3063
    @richardpope30635 жыл бұрын

    Desert sled, yes. The handle bars for sliding leveredge, and body lean. A lot of fun together when new and plenty about. I like my 1940s-early 50's BSAs. .

  • @bored9969
    @bored996910 жыл бұрын

    I've also got a 1951 18cs, ready to restore and a huge box of spares Slightly different though mines got Jampot rear suspension Loved the sound!

  • @JustPlainBill0

    @JustPlainBill0

    10 жыл бұрын

    Very cool. The "C" indicates it's an off-road, competition model, the "S" is a swingarm model (mine was a road bike with rigid rear end - a plain Model 18,). I have a '54 Matchless G80CS (similar to yours) awaiting restoration too. Great old bikes.

  • @Ojoe2010
    @Ojoe201011 жыл бұрын

    Lovely bike with a lovely sound as well, just great! :)

  • @auerswo
    @auerswo13 жыл бұрын

    this video definitly deserves more views, keep up the good work!

  • @thra5herxb12s
    @thra5herxb12s8 жыл бұрын

    Letting the kick start lever slam back like that cracks the casings after a while. I miss my old 500. I commuted to work on it every day for 6 years and shined it up at the weekends to impress the girls, none of them would get on the back when it was covered in mud and oil.

  • @davidbostock6776

    @davidbostock6776

    6 жыл бұрын

    thra5herxb12s Ditto, I learned the expensive way on a1970 Triumph Daytona. Let the kickstart lever up with your foot, don't let it flap back by it's spring. Also valve guides failed on that bike, and one of the coils. With Lucas being the prince of darkness, the moon outshined the headlight at night.

  • @jblackmore9928
    @jblackmore99289 жыл бұрын

    AJS was named after the eldest son because he was the only in the family with 3 initials.

  • @simoncowles2426
    @simoncowles24262 жыл бұрын

    Beautiful bike Sir.

  • @JustPlainBill0

    @JustPlainBill0

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you kindly

  • @billybobwombat2231
    @billybobwombat2231 Жыл бұрын

    Beautiful lines

  • @davidhayter8516
    @davidhayter85162 ай бұрын

    Pretty bike.

  • @antiposerposerclubriot5852
    @antiposerposerclubriot58525 жыл бұрын

    I have matchless 1956,g3ls, 350cc 1956....you can change the carburetor with suzuki TS 125 1998 - 2000....same diameter... Or u can order originally amal carburetor but is too expensive 😋, i think british bike from 1948 - 1960 its a good production era, cmiiw

  • @bobsyeruncle4841
    @bobsyeruncle48413 жыл бұрын

    super old Brit bike still going strong

  • @JustPlainBill0
    @JustPlainBill013 жыл бұрын

    @olive1913 Glad you enjoyed it. I'm working on improving the content and technique of my videos about old motorcyclles.

  • @allanherrera9549
    @allanherrera95492 жыл бұрын

    Beautiful 💖💖💖

  • @JustPlainBill0

    @JustPlainBill0

    2 жыл бұрын

    Glad you enjoyed it. I own and love new and classic bikes; but except for a retro Ducati Scrambler (looks like one I lusted after in the '70's) classic designs say "motorcycle". New designs just say "get outta my way".

  • @allanherrera9549

    @allanherrera9549

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@JustPlainBill0 like 12 years ago buy all disassembled engine and transmission from a ajs m18 that was in santiago of chile, and was impossible get the nuts and bolts so talk with machine shop and they do for me all new bolt in a metric size, and transmission was with no clutch I get a Japanese engine and adapt the clutch and for discs I made from aa dry clutch the pads, and many others parts, for ignition get a distributor from a 2 cilinder Daihatsu and for points plate that was all made by my. Tha oil pump was missing, try to replicate the original but doesn't work and then I put a electric gas pump for put oil pressure and it works, yes ! Well for frame i get a 1956 Jawa frame that adapt too, well finally it runs , there was super difficult to get partes for British bikes that was my moto experience 👏🏻 😀 👍🏻

  • @JustPlainBill0

    @JustPlainBill0

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@allanherrera9549 An amazing story Allan! I love it. It is possible to get British nuts and bolts now using the internet and sites like eBay.

  • @lordemed1
    @lordemed12 жыл бұрын

    I'll buy it! 😁

  • @JustPlainBill0

    @JustPlainBill0

    2 жыл бұрын

    Sorry, you're about 10 years too late.

  • @auerswo
    @auerswo13 жыл бұрын

    im currently working on a simson s51 (east german gdr fabricated 2-stroke bike) to transform it into a nice desert sled. might upload some pictures when i get finished. but the frame work is a pain in the ass, especally the shocks :(

  • @auerswo
    @auerswo13 жыл бұрын

    @JustPlainBill0 i got a Simson S50 B2 from 1979. yeah well i thought about that too, but you got a upper sitting position on this bike and for riding in the forest you will need some nice supension too feel comfortable. Here in Germany they are also very strict with modelling vehicles in generall. so i got to keep it in line :(

  • @JustPlainBill0
    @JustPlainBill013 жыл бұрын

    @olive1913 Hadn't heard of Simson - looked them up (AWO, MZ) and see that before the comunists made them make moped, they made some great enduros and won lots of Six Day events. Interesting company-- which model do you have? Post videos. You can replace the shocks with solid struts to make the back end rigid.

  • @martynlegg1042
    @martynlegg10428 жыл бұрын

    Love this, I have a '51 16M in the road trim, simply the 350 version of yours. Such an underappreciated bike, thousands made and now as rare as rocking horse poo! www.jampot.com/ An excellent source of spares!

  • @gregcollins2178
    @gregcollins21789 жыл бұрын

    I came across a 1951 AJS. Looks similar to yours but cant figure out which model it is. Turns over apparently, possible barn find? How much do these value? Thanks for the video!

  • @JustPlainBill0

    @JustPlainBill0

    9 жыл бұрын

    greg collins The year of manufacture, model number and and serial number are stamped on the engine case (which houses the crankshaft). First two numbers are the year, second two number are the model, and last set of numbers are the serial number. For example, 51/16/12345 is a 1951 Model 16, SN 12345. (A model 16 has a 350 cc single cylinder engine, Model 18 is a 500 cc single.) If you find the numbers but they don't fit that schema, let me know. In 1963 they went to a single set of numbers to provide the same info.

  • @gregcollins2178

    @gregcollins2178

    9 жыл бұрын

    thanks a lot. Im trying to get more info from him. Hes not asking much.. but no idea the condition... looks like everythings there by pictures. Looks old and beat though...

  • @JustPlainBill0

    @JustPlainBill0

    9 жыл бұрын

    greg collins If you want to continue the discussion, shoot me a mail at plain-bill@hotmail.

  • @gregcollins2178
    @gregcollins21789 жыл бұрын

    51-16M is what he said it is. Is it worth a couple hundred? Isn't running.. looks fairly weathered..

  • @KapteinOpel
    @KapteinOpel6 жыл бұрын

    Albert not Alfred. After a certain year model its pretty much the same bikes as Matchless.

  • @ericseckman6138
    @ericseckman61386 жыл бұрын

    Is it for sale ?

  • @JustPlainBill0

    @JustPlainBill0

    6 жыл бұрын

    It was sold several years ago. I leave the video up for people interested in old British bikes.

  • @gregcollins2178
    @gregcollins21789 жыл бұрын

    Email sent thanks!

  • @truethought369
    @truethought3692 жыл бұрын

    I really Hate it, when people say: British Bikes Leak oil. This is so "NOT true"! Motorcycles only leak oil, after a cowboy Mechanic has about 3 spanners and a Big hammer to make stuff fit. Sorry, but I have heard this for years, all it does is undermine British mechanical engineering! I have built many British bikes over the years, none of which "leaked". It is really simple, because the design is simple, does not mean you can throw it together like a toy. Reface all the Casings, check crank end to end float. Get the whole engine dynamically balanced. Use modern machining, so you don't let the side down. These engines were built to last for a very long time, the only problem was they appeared so simple! So every cowboy could buy a few tools and thought he could fix his own bike??? Here's an old saying that I was told when very young, "A little Knowledge is dangerous, - & if you are not sure, - Ask". Please don't take this personally, but You do have a very nice bike, please look after it. PS, if you did what I suggested, you would be amazed how smooth it would run. Thanks again & have a great day.

  • @JustPlainBill0

    @JustPlainBill0

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for a very thorough and thoughtful analysis of the problem and the solution. I don't agree that the cause was simply "cowboy mechanics". I'm sure you're aware that Britain's manufacturing/machining equipment was worn out by the end of WWII and consequently, their ability to make the same part the same size twice in a row was problematic; This was responsible for most of the difficulty English motorcycles made in 1948 and for years afterward to hold oil. Rebuilding one the way it should have been done in the first place is a great solution. Thanks again.