The smile says it all John.

My first boyfriend rode a classic Matchless in 1963. It was a classic then, and I loved riding with him. You brought me back good memories.🖤🇨🇦

What a beautiful machine, from an era of pure simplicity before the world went insane and so complex.

I can't wait to start mine for the first time. (Bought as a non-runner back in 1992.) Yours adopted such a beautiful regular beat straight off!

That smile after the start...priceless man!!

@dirtydave2691

4 жыл бұрын

I was thinking the same thing. Beautiful machine.

I have to join the comments and say I felt the pure relief and happiness in the first start up. I take it you were legging off to tell someone at the end too hehe. To much joy not to share. With anyone that will listen.

Great job John. She looks and sounds fantastic. The look you gave the camera when it fired up for the first time brought a smile to my face...I know that feeling!

Liked the smile after it finally started. Know the feeling!

The G3 was my starter bike in Canada. It would do 70MPH with a tailwind, but GAWD, it was a fun bike! I am now in my 60th year of motorcycling.

@stephenashcroft1001

4 жыл бұрын

Richard M. Kruse , and lets hope you have many more 😃👍 I'm only on 36years on the road so a bit of catching up to do 😄

My first bike ,Matchless 350 single with knobbly tires .Actually went for my motorcycle license on it , New Zealand, 15 years old. Paid $80 for it . Never forget it .

Yes!a very beautiful bike!and a proud owner!!👍Love the sound!

Sheer Brilliance, see the ol fella's smile, pure glee. Thank you for sharing your moment, hope you enjoy your rideouts.

Lovely. Brought back memories of my 1955 500cc twin Matchless (1968) . Wish I still had it!!

Had an identical AJS 16MS, a superbly capable motorcycle that despite having so little rated power, gave unfailing comfort, reliability and performance.This is the bike that if you gave to someone that was brought up riding only Japanese machinery, they would be totally won over with the slow revving , torquey motor - and the bark from the exhaust !.

That was my very first Matchless >> Ooooo . . . . rekindled Love for me !

His smiles says it all! Beautiful sound

Nice work, sir!

My father had one of these sold it for 10 quid before we left for Australia in 1965

Beautiful.. Brit iron rocks

The seat is a true saddle built way down the sides.

Beautiful video!

Why would anyone give a thumbs down? Unbelievable. Lovely bike, great condition.

You don't get a sense of achievement like that from just pressing a button. Respect.

@crankybear1236

4 жыл бұрын

You will when it doesn't start first push 😆

Had one as a kid for riding round fields. No compression release on it and a backfire on kickstarting could make a mess of your leg. I only kick started it once. Bump start every other time. Some fun on it

Absolutely first rate, Mr. Ward! The seat upholstery is perfect! Most 'restorations' of this vintage usually have poorly done seat coverings. I did a '59 AJS 18TCS (600cc Typhoon Competition Scrambler) a number of years ago from a pile of boxes and chassis parts. A lot of time spent chasing down NOS pieces like the tail light assembly and headlamp etc. Wish I'd never sold it!

I'm very impressed- I'd be good for three, maybe four kicks, tops… Then I'll be lucky to have enough energy left to wheel it back into the garage lol

Just Made My Day.🇬🇧

My dad now sadly past away always used to tell stories of his exploits as a young man with one of these beautiful contraptions

i had a g5 wonderful bike i believe the G3 was the better bike thanks for the upload

Brilliant your face said it all!!

Nice bike.

Oh yessss proud of you bros

That looks and sounds a treat, really does and can see how happy you are with it, nice one

Bought mine 60 years ago from Pride and Clark. It was nothing like yours!

That smile says it all😁 well done shes a bonny lass ... now get her out on the road where she belongs 👍

That's a really nice build,wish I still had one lovely bike to ride

What a beauty! All the aggro to get it going: valiant. Smile, when it finally gets lit: priceless!

Lovely job John! Sounds a treat too.

Fantastic

I know how ur feel sir🤩 smile from the deep ur heart

Great job , i linked through from your extensive web page showing the rebuild , fantastic work ,hope she has been running good and seeing some miles , I have got a 49 Matchless 500 rigid .

Yep... Its the smile. The smile

Getting the 30 grade oil right through the engine, prior to firing up, would have taken much turning over (plug out, of course, or exhaust valve lifter kept open) and a lot of kick start lever movement.. lol : ) The 1955 year model (my first ever bike in '68) was very similar with the so-called large 'jam pots' (rear shocks) but with an automatic advance/retard counterweight system fitted in a nice alloy casing (with the 'M' for Matchless in bright red) to the front right side of the lower case and projecting forward at about a 60 degree angle, making for (slightly) easier starting than the manual versions (??) Sometimes, if a backfire occurred the exhaust valve lifter (on the top of the left side of the engine) would 'jam open', robbing ALL compression and making starting impossible, until it was freed back into it's correct closed position. This feature meant that my stolen bike was immediately found abandoned by the Police after the thieves had backfired the engine on their return trip back home to Glen Innes, finding the bike unrestartable..!! The bike had been waiting for a rescue pick-up by a bike shop, after the clutch pushrod bearing had shattered, making disengagement impossible. It had been left in Albert Street outside the Law School early in 1970 overnight by the rather naive owner (your's truly) lol . . The charming thieves had 'crashed' the gearbox changes through dozens of times, and must have push started it in gear to start it when cold in the first instance, meaning at least two of them were involved. The Burman gearbox seemed just fine, nevertheless . . : )

It looks and sounds sweet. Love it.

This motorcycle is nice Sir. My father had a 350 cc G3L , the rigid model. Regards.

Lovely bike, well done that man 👍

I have found you after looking for some info on the Matchless 350. Your web page is fascinating. I know nothing about “old” bikes and would be quite likely to be conned if I tried to buy one. I have owned bikes from the mid 70’s usually fairly new.

Arise Sir Matchless.

really nice job

Amazing no smoke from the rebuild lubrication no necessity to adjust the carburettor or the ignition timing

@johnward773

5 жыл бұрын

I was surprised, too. New bore and piston, new carburettors and converted to coil ignition. Full story at www.whatfunnyhat.com/Frame_Stuff/Matchless.html

this my dreams moto

49 years ago I paid £19 for a 1956 AJS 350, 16MS; Sometimes I loved it bduf bduf bduf and sometimes it tried to kill me.

chuffed

We are in the same position Man!

Just found you. Nice! In my much younger days, I liked old British singles. Had a BSA B34 and a WDM20, Triumph Cub, and a Vincent Comet. Am puzzled why a Matchless that old has indicators.

@johnward773

3 жыл бұрын

Jan... I chose to fit indicators purely as a safety thing. I don't know where you are in the world but riding a relatively slow old motorcycle on the UK's crowded roads is dangerous enough without idiot car drivers assuming you're waving at someone when in fact you're indicating to turn right. The bike hasn't been altered or modified in any way to accept the indicator, and they can easily be removed if some future owner doesn't want them. The full story of this bike and my other bikes can be found on my web pages ... www.whatfunnyhat.com Thanks for taking the time to have a look at this small offering. John.

Looks and runs great. I would get rid of those direction indicators though.

@stevetaylor8698

4 жыл бұрын

Indicators certainly don't look the part but if you want to ride in modern traffic they do make life very much easier - and safer. Of course if you just want to keep her in a museum......

Beauty.

kickstarter works alot better when the clutch is engaged

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👌🏼

Great!! We have same bike on our channel

NICE SMILE 😂

Great sir

We plenty of British bikes , AJS, Matchless , Triumph , BSA, Norton, Sunbeam, Enfield, All vanished in 50 yrs

@frankmarkovcijr5459

3 ай бұрын

Just the companys,not the motorcycles.

Maravilha.

Matchless 5 horse power

Magestic

Pretty cool :-D

You came for 3:03

" matchless T-Shirt retroracingshirt "

I see my late dad again. Allthough he would wear a blue overall, yellow wooden shoes and a black baret. And of course our Matchless 350 had a sidecar. BTW, does it also leak oil?

@johnward773

2 жыл бұрын

I don't believe that you will ever get one of these old machines to be totally leak-free, but this one only drops a drip or two from the engine breather when she's stopped running. The chaincase, gearbox and crankcase are oil-tight.... for the moment!! :)

Sounds British.

Está mal la carburacion

Worst thing you can do is run an old bike on premium! they are designed for low octane fuels!

.

yes i agree he was very happy when he heard it per.

Sounds British.