Classic Motorcycle Fails the AJS Model 18 Statesman

[@lisahughes5319]

I had a 65 model 18S and it was just like riding an armchair. Really comfortable and would make a really relaxing long ride to anywhere. Oh, I miss the old girl!

[@bikerdood1100]

Lovely bikes

[@noahwail2444]

Nice to se, and hear. My first big bike was a M 18, 1954. I bourght it for the money I got for my confirmation in 1974, and used it for speedway on a local track we boys had made at an industrial area by the harbour. What wonderfull memories it brings back...

[@bikerdood1100]

They were great bikes but the company sold them for too long after fashions had changed unfortunately

[@gwwayner]

These days when retro is all the rage, this bike would sell all they could make. A simple big single is so nice on a back-road cruise. People are losing interest in race-bike motorcycles that are unusable on public roads and are complicated and expensive to maintain.

[@bikerdood1100]

Very true. Hence the new BSA I expect

[@williamnethercott4364]

I think you've got it just about right. I own an AJS from 1961 and there's nothing wrong with the quality of the bike or the soundness of the design, its just built for a market that had ceased to exist at the time. IMO, by the end of the fifties, AMC management hadn't a clue what they were doing, which grew worse as they pointlessly mixed and matched components in the sixties, making a mess of the good bikes they had and riding rough-shod over brand loyalty as usual. Tragic!

[@bikerdood1100]

Oh AMC the company that didn’t bother waiting for the Japanese invasion it just shot itself in the foot without any help

[@williamnethercott4364]

@@bikerdood1100 I feel sorry for the workforce. They clearly knew how to bring quality products to market but were completely misdirected. Sadly, the foot-shooting analogy works well.

[@johnwood4448]

Continuing building a 1950's bike in the 60's is the sad story of the British motorcycle industry,a case of the industry telling an increasingly more sophisticated buyer what they must have rather than what they wanted,unlike the Japanese manufacturers who listened to their market,were willing to invest in R&D and marketing,leading to domination that market. Paradoxically Royal Enfield has learned the lesson of the Japanese and is now creating a market for a modern retro range of bikes which is proving very popular with the buying public. What goes around comes around eh? BTW,thanks for a very interesting channel,much appreciated

[@bikerdood1100]

Well certainly when applied to AMC after the death of Charlie Collier they seemed to loose all direction and relied on Norton profits to stay afloat. They continue to spend money on a single which had no market. All the other British manufacturers dropped these bikes years before. Still if anyone is in 5he market for a Classic single they are very good

[@johncrispin2118]

Yep a pretty accurate assessment agreed an excellent machine. A pal in our club has one ; it is unrestored and runs extremely well .

[@bikerdood1100]

They were indeed very good but were around for just too long Still good news for potential owners today

[@admiralbeez8143]

Bert Hopwood’s book, Whatever Happened to the British Motorcycle Industry? is a great read on the topic of AMC. Hopwood ran AMC’s Norton division and tells of the disfunction at head office.

[@bikerdood1100]

Is indeed And it’s notable that ultimately it wasn’t the Japanese that were the problem but the collapse in the UK bike market in 1960 We went from more bikes than cars in the 50s to making up 1% of all road users today. The Japanese dominate a dead market with punny sales in reality The cares Over protective parents but most of all of course a market flooded with cheap cars that exploded during the late 50s and early 60s As for AMC they just remedy suicidal Piatti 2 strokes Investing too much money buying up other companies instead of investing internally,they were very late to the 650 club Poor marketing, they were seen as old man’s bikes Good design s built in a very outdated plant And worst of all their terrible relationship with the press ( utter stupidity)

[@davidahugill99]

Looks like Royal Enfield have now cornered the single cylinder market . Yes AMC made some very good singles , but evolved too slowly. I’ve still got one , but they never even got rid of the dodgy spring back side stand ! The short stroke model did indeed come too late 😢. Cheers DH

[@bikerdood1100]

Terrible spring side stands remain on some Italian scooters, speaking from experience and on 70s Guzzi’s. Why ?

[@davidmarshall40]

The spring back stand is safer than forgetting to put it back up. Also in some countries , if the stand doesn't have a kill switch or spring back the bike wont pass it's test. Just saying.

[@Martin_Schorr]

On my Matchless and AJS it was no problem to fix the spring in such a way that the side stand didn't swing back.

[@colvinator1611]

I'm halfway through the build ( out of spares ) of a M18 / G80 bike. Don't know what it'll be yet though the cases are M18. Last time I rebuilt a Matchless was 1966 ! It was a G12. I think it will be done next year ??

[@bikerdood1100]

Good luck with the build, be interested to know how it turns out

[@54macdog]

Cool video. I love the AMC bikes.

[@bikerdood1100]

They made some lovely machines, they just seemed not able to modernise they systems unfortunately

[@dalewyatt1321]

Looks good, was obviously sorted but just not modern enough for the times. Sounds familiar sorry to say.

[@bikerdood1100]

All too familiar unfortunately

[@philmuskett265]

Great bikes but as you say sadly left behind.

[@bikerdood1100]

AMC can’t even blame Japan because their self inflicted troubles started before the Japanese invasion

[@admiralbeez8143]

Meanwhile in the late 1950s you could buy a 300cc Honda C75.

[@bikerdood1100]

Honda didn’t appear with the rusty mopeds in any number until the 60s So frankly who gives a Shit