What have forum members been up to?

[Jordangbr]

Did it take a lot to convert the bike to left hand drive for the German roads Joerg?

[Ernie Lazenby]

The bike has undergone a restoration, but I can't tell when. It was first registered in Germany in 1991, then sold to an old bikes enthusiast in 1992 who owned it until last year when he died. It looks like a AJS 16M and the manufacturing date was estimated to 1946. Both frame and motor numbers indicate 1947 though - but the motor number also indicates the sister model Matchless G3L. I will have the AJS&Matchless owners club check the factory papers, maybe they can find out details.

Optically it's in good, restored condition, professional paint job. Technically I can't tell yet. It runs, the motor sounds good, no mechanical noises compared to some youtube videos of such machines. I have to check the magneto and also the dyno, no battery installed and both front and tail lights are disconnected. Its missing a speedo cable and the front tyre is almost 30 years old, rear is new, but a Mitas. The rims are painted silver - they should be either black or chrome - depending on the year.

So there is some work left to get her going again, but so far it doesn't look bad. Ran her up and down the road in front of the house already

Excellent machine Joerg. Never had an AJS. My favourite was a 1958 BSA Super Rocket 650CC. Sold it when I got married in 1969 to my current wife(no plans to change her any time soon!) Wish I still had it, they go for silly money now. I was a 'biker' in my youth, for 4 years in the late 1960';s and early 1970's I was a police motor cycle patrol officer riding Triumph 650 Saints- got paid for doing what I loved, riding motor bikes. Of the original 6 man motor cycle section from that time I am the last man standing, the rest have passed away.

Have you had any other motor cycles?

[JfromJAGs]

Did it take a lot to convert the bike to left hand drive for the German roads Joerg?

1947 = no brake lights, no turn signal lights. As far as I know the only change is the position of the rear mirror - its supposed to be on the left side in Germany, while on the right side in the UK. Gas, brakes, gear shifter - all stay where they are. The only difference to 'modern' bikes is the position of the food brake and the gear shifter: brake is on the left side, gear shifter on the right. But thats not British bikes only, I got an Italian Moto Guzzi Nuovo Falcone 500 from 1976 which has it the same way.

[Richie]

I always wanted a norton with the girder type forks and the gear shift on the fuel tank

Painted in desert colours

[JfromJAGs]

Have you had any other motor cycles?

I do own a Moto Guzzi Nuovo Falcone 500 from 1976 which I bough in the early 1990, but only ran it one or two seasons. Due to problems with the carburator its standing since then. Its a but ugly too.

Some years ago I bought a Quantya, which is an electric cross training bike, its converted to a Super Moto for road use, but the range is with 35-50km very limited. I wanted to use it to drive to work, but only did a few times.

An AJS is in my mind for at least 25 years, since I first saw one in a vintage motorcycle catalogue.

[fibo74]

Any southerly forum member off to Brooklands tomorrow for Auto Italia day?

@richie - JPS rotary engined Norton for me, Trevor Nation style...

[captain sparkle]

Any southerly forum member off to Brooklands tomorrow for Auto Italia day?

@richie - JPS rotary engined Norton for me, Trevor Nation style...

I think you'll see (&, of course, hear!!) them all on this little compilation vid I made a couple of years ago -

[fibo74]

[Filtertron]

Servicing and restringing this old girl.

[mtskull]

Servicing and restringing this old girl.

Nice. Gretsch, I presume?