Matchless G12 CSR discussed and ridden up and back down Black Mountain to check all is well.

[@piearm1271]

Such under appreciated motorcycles. I’d be very happy with one in my shed!!

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Definitely agree!

[@oompah_your_dupa]

That was good fun watching you chase that car up the mountain! Lovely to hear a classic twin being put through its paces a bit.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks - the tyres and slightly dubious road conditions - a bit wet / greasy / loose chippings etc put me off until we were out on the Mountain, where conditions improved and visibility ahead was better, but the I realized I could 'reel him in' a bit and went for it a little!

[@chriswillis6941]

That was your best video so far, Paul. The bike surprised me as I've never "ridden" one before, albeit via your channel, but I always thought of Matchless/AJS machines as 'old-mans-bike', but your ride has surprised me. Great bike, fabulous video and such a beautiful country you live in. Thankyou.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thank you very much, Chris!

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

I am still running my dads, great bike very under rated in my opinion.

[@glaicogobbo4046]

I really enjoyed this ride on this very famous English machine. Going with a hot climb, forcing the parallel twin at the limit that allowed both the track and the tires and the insipient front brake. On the way back, risking the descents. Motor show. It seemed to walk in a calm rotation, it seems that with a smaller crown or gear ratio stretched. At 36 minutes of video a great danger. At 46 a somewhat risky overtaking. We were unable to watch the top speed on the straight due to the hitch in front of the motorcycle near the entrance on the return. Excellent behavior of both the pilot and the machine. Thanks for the years 2020 and 2021. I vibrated with the famous Twin with cylinders and heads separated by a small interstice of which I only saw in photographs. Thank you Paul!

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks again, Glaico.

[@coolhand1964]

I found with some of my singles replacting the carburettor studs with cap head bolds made for easier removal of the carburettor. Allen keys are easier to use as well. I like the BTH magneto as well. I have a '61 & 63' CSR (AJS & Matchy) in the garage as retirement projects. Thanks for the upload, it gives me the motivation to keep chasing the unobtanuium pieces for when the build starts.ok👍

[@marshall5741]

Beautiful!!! "Matchless" indeed!!! Thanks for letting us experience this.Was real Awesome.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jonphilipchildress3437]

Paul I'm 85 and loving this video....in bed in Virginia. I had

[@niallsommerville9941]

Very attractive, useable machine, with a sound I wouldn't easily tire of and a lovely spirited ride into the bargain. Perhaps the starting issue was more carb related. Enjoyed that, thanks.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thank you, Niall.

[@hermangibbs8163]

I never thought I would get to ride one,. Thank you, and please thank the owner.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks Herman, will do!

[@ianlawrie919]

Visceral video. Felt the ride like I was on it. Brilliant sound and wonderful gear changing. Superb escapade 👍

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks 👍

[@philrulon]

Nice ride on a nice bike. Seems to run just fine by my ear. Thanks Paul.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks, Phil!

[@alistairbernard9574]

Paul, a very interesting bike you featured. AMC Twins are rare and underrated. That was a Great ride you had even though the little Niggles you mentioned. 👍

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks, Alistair!

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

A beautiful high-quality British motorcycle with a fantastic engine from the age of when there was nothing better t h a n them. They were state-of-the-art and they looked gorgeous as well. And they sounded as good as they look.

[@sandeepravtale403]

You are lucky sir you ride all classic British bikes 👍👌

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks - I am very lucky, I know, but I try to share the experience of riding them with my videos.

[@francovance1]

By God that old girl can shift! - best riding video on KZbin.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Wow, thanks!

[@geoffgreenhalgh3553]

Great bike , great roads and a great test. More please.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thank you!

[@stewartellinson8846]

Well, that's all rather good and I'm glad you liked it - AMCs are lovely things and the big twins are much under rated. They were always overshadowed by BSA, triumph & norton twins but they're a great rider's bike. Sadly, i've neevr managed to get the brakes much above "decent". AMC never saw the need for a twin leading shoe at the front as their customers were always ahead of the pack ;)

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks, Stewart.

[@Coltnz1]

Get Ferodo green linings. You can also get the shoes shimmed out and then turned on a lathe to the id of the drum. Works wonders.

[@stuartwhite5658]

What a great bike & looks very "useable" on the country A roads. Enjoyable to watch & good to see London's version of the parallel twin in action!

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks for watching!

[@nikolaslarson6891]

Lovely bike! Gorgeous thump.

[@LaZoucheCustomshop]

Great machines and an interesting video. My father bought a G12 delux way back in 1960 as it was the last bike left in the shop and he felt sorry for it as the shop was closing down. Having owned a Triumph Tiger 100 previously, this was a heavy machine yet was stable when cornering, not like the 'whiping' effect of the Triumph though this was down to the tyres no doubt, he did say the Matchless was a plodder with lots of grunt but no real action, that said he did get 80mph on one journey and this was before he knew it had the better big end fitted as a lot of the early G12s were notorious for failures. His main headache in the later few years of riding was it would always run hot and could never work out a way to cure this as it was definitely fuel related? He still has it all these years later but age (86) and dementia now has forced him to stop riding, he still cleans it and lovingly cares for it as best he can for he has a lifetime of memories with it and my mum on the back as pillion, it's been to most of Wales, SW England and our original stomping ground of North London yet now it sleeps in a garage in the SW awaiting the day it will growl again. These machines become family and so hard to let go of even when age and the inability to ride them intervenes. My dad says "once a biker, always a biker" and"its nearest he ever got to flying" the passion never dies. I unfortunately never was a biker like my father but I rode pillion when my dad still rode and it has happy memories for me too.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

What a nice and touching story, thanks for sharing it.

[@LaZoucheCustomshop]

@@paulhenshaw4514 I've just been informed by my dad he actually got 97mph out of it with a pillion (my mum) but had to shut down as he thought it may suffer from valve float and as he wasn't used to it at that time being new to the machine at the time. Brakes are poor but using the Burman box to change down aids deceleration and made my dad aware that it's big ends (conrods) were OK and not one of the rubbish ones previously fitted to others of the same model.

[@williamnethercott4364]

Your dad knows what he's talking about! As a former private pilot, I have been saying for years that riding a decent motorcycle is the nearest you can get to flying without having to leave the ground. Best wishes to both of you.

[@jmyers9853]

a nice ride without the need for 10,000 rpm

[@bluesman3794]

Beautiful bike! Just needs to be ridden.

[@TrustMeiamaD.R.]

Very nice. I was leaning in on the corners and humming Hawkwind on the way down..as for the sheep..well!!! I found Stag's react favourably to a flashing headlight if it helps...😊 love from Downunder.

[@neillambourne8448]

Great.goin to watch this tonite .nice friday evening treat.....thankyou

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thank you for watching!

[@66jingle]

Great road that, I've cycled it a couple of times!

[@wdhewson]

Matchless' most handsome and purposeful twin.....................................

[@danmcneil7181]

Very enjoyable ride Paul. I've seen a Matchless except in videos but it's a good looking bike and sounds fine. They must be rare in this neck of the woods. ( Toronto). Thanks for twisties video. Cheers, Dan 🏍👍🇨🇦

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks, Dan!

[@amezcuaist]

My CSR used to soak up water in the seat foam.When you sat on it to ride . it would squirt water down and into the carburretor. I cut a hole in a plastic pot (open side down ) to protect the carb. Good gearbox. Easy to start .Too much vibration otherwise . I knew nothing about engines then .

[@shingerz]

Sounds bloody lovely

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks!

[@shingerz]

@@paulhenshaw4514 I've been looking at a g11 they look a nice bike like you've said in previous videos be careful what you but off ebay I've already been stung with a10 currently having a bottom end rebuild

[@philgreen5ges]

Watching the video atm Great ride with confidence on a new machine Excellent

[@johngriffith5231]

A great ride out,i think you enjoyed that.

[@SuperSeriouSam]

AJS and Matchless so well engineered , yet underrated and under-priced for the quality .

[@wdhewson]

Also, your best camera work while underway.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks, yes, it seemed to come out quite good all round for this one!

[@howardannetts1493]

Great to see an AMC bike a rare sight. Really makes me feel I should drag my AJS model 31 out of the shed after slumbering for many years. I have enquired many times over the years but struggle to find anyone interested in working on old technology this side of border 🥺

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks, Howard. Where are you?

[@howardannetts1493]

@@paulhenshaw4514 Reading Berks

[@paulhenshaw4514]

@@howardannetts1493 Ah, I see, although many have come in from further afield.

[@howardannetts1493]

Well, if you ever fancy having ago at another AMC let me know. My bitsa will need quite a bit more work than this rather lovely example 😉

[@paulhenshaw4514]

@@howardannetts1493 Thanks - I am snowed under for now, but let's not rule it out!

[@mickbrown8249]

Nice experience Matchless goes well thanks ,A10 BSA650 was the only similar BritishBike ive riden Capetown 76' Borrowed 4 7days, whilst fitting some mods onto my Honda k2...

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks!

[@SuperSeriouSam]

Second time i watch this . A lovely top rate bike , Its appears to be fitted with a older BTH magneto.

[@kafkastrial8650]

You have some nice B.roads Paul .Where I live all the old decent roads have been riuned now ?

[@billmago7991]

You will find out why the Japanese front brake is on it when you try out the OEM one...average is an overstatement, but other than that nice bikes to putt about on....the bike would have originally the Smiths chrono Speedo in the headlight with light switch to the side....I always liked how the pipes were a push fit into the dual heads,also no external oil pipes save for the feed and return , I liked the camed tappet adjusters

[@paulhenshaw4514]

As far as I know, this machine's instruments etc were all original, but the previous owner [also first owner] had various options and upgrades fitted back in the day.

[@grateberk6435]

Lovely bike. Was going to ask how it compared to BSA twin but you described that at the end

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks!

[@williamnethercott4364]

Engine sounds great! I think the AJS/Matchless twins get overlooked but I'm not sure why that is. Whenever I've seen them, they seem at least on a par with other British 650s, maybe better than some.

[@jonphilipchildress3437]

an ARIAL650 in Texas in 1963. Same? Seemed to rattle to much so I switched to BMW airheads. Where is Black Mountain?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Hi Jon, the Matchless is a different make to Ariel and they are not the same. The Black Mountain is in Carmarthenshire, Wales, between the village of Llangadog and the town of Brynamman. www.google.com/search?q=black+mountain+road&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b

[@thra5herxb12s]

I thought the front hub looked like a Honda XL from the 80s. I bought one for my Ariel but never used it, fitting an Enfield half width instead.

[@lesjones7617]

can i just arsk is that the A4069 gowing over the Black Mountain?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Yes, as seen on Top Gear sometimes.

[@nounoufriend1442]

Great looking bike , been looking at Matchless/AJS twins and singles think they are great value alternative to Triumph / BSA pre unit twins . I like the look of the CSR , as not keen on then full valence mudguards on other models CSR looks loads better imo with chrome mudguards . Is vibration much of a issue on the AJS/Matchless twins , they have 3 bearing crank don't they? heard causes little more vibration as more ridged crank

[@paulhenshaw4514]

This Matchless certainly ran very smoothly, as I recall.

[@annunaki69]

Beste Paul , weeral moei stukje van een opname en een kunstwerk van een afstelling van een motor dat start op de eerste of tweede kick , ik trek mijn hoed af voor U .

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Dank u!

[@supadonk1]

Think you ought to enter Pikes Peak Paul way to go, she sounded great.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks!

[@peter7624]

First kick start as well. I've never noticed the unusual head fins. Nearly bought one all those years ago but thought they were 600 not 650.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

I am not too well up on the models, but I think there was a 600 as well.

[@spamtr]

@@paulhenshaw4514 G9 - 500, G11 - 600, G12 - 650. It wasn't the big ends - it was the crankshaft on early ones. The later 650 nodular cranks were fine.

[@jaratt85]

It's funny how much that thing sounds like a Bonneville at idle. Wow, that thing must be geared insanely low to be running that kind of rpm but not going anywhere. (Coming back to it hours later, I guess it moves about as fast as Lunmad's Bonnie did with low compression, it just doesn't seem fast watching the stripes go by.) By the way, let me just say.. Sanctaidd shit, mae o'n Gymro! The funny part is I guessed it when I saw "ARAF" on the road.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

At a guess, the performance would be about the same as a Triumph TR6, or BSA A10 Road Rocket. Yes, it is Wales, on the stretch of A4069 that has been used on TV by 'Top Gear' and others over the years.

[@jaratt85]

@@paulhenshaw4514 I've actually never watched an episode of that show, American or Brit version. Welsh is definitely an odd language for my American brain, even gaelic makes more sense. I'm actually part Welsh on my mom's side, or as they used to say "Black Irish" I think I've also got some WAY back on my dad's side too. I've got all the bases covered: Welsh, Brit, Scott, Irish, Norwegian, Swede, Prussian, German, and Ukrainian... along with some Pennsylvania Dutch and northern US colonial/settlers blood thrown in for good measure lol, there's even some very obvious Jewish names on the list along the way. Oh and if you're wondering why I'm here, my dad has a 74 Trident and a 65 T120C, I've been raised around classic brit bikes and between them and Moto Guzzis I think they are the best sounding and most elegant bikes ever made. (oh and if that was TMI, sorry I'm autistic I can tend to be a bit intense)

[@iivaridark6850]

Great Bike! Thanks!

[@paulhenshaw4514]

thank you!

[@tonym4432]

Hi Paul nice ride , those corners seem a lot tighter on the way back down! Not that familiar with AJS/Matchless twins and for a minute thought there was fin damage on the right hand lower cylinder head but then saw it was the same on the other side so must be a design feature. One thing that concerned me a little was the dedicating the ride to Frank Westworth?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Hi Tony, I only dedicated the ride to F.W. because I know he is an avid AMC fan - nothing sinister and no need to worry!

[@tonym4432]

@@paulhenshaw4514 OK thanks for that Paul,good to hear!

[@peterd.1165]

Difficult to start when warm - Mag needs a new capacitor. Same problem with my Velo Venom - started easily when cold - but completely dead when warm

[@BilgemasterBill]

If you're gonna have a first go on a Matchless, I'd say that's the one to have it on. That's a lovely sweet-sounding ride, and handled itself with true aplomb, not only on the open road, but also in the plodding and cutthroat rush-hour traffic of Llangadog...or maybe that was just everyone stuck behind Grandma heading to the Chemist. Speaking of traffic in Llangadog, I noticed a peculiar road sign on the way into town at about 14:44: It looked like the blue silhouette image of some bird with an arrow directing straight ahead. What's up with that? Is that a poignant case of Nanny State interspecies overreach, with the local council trying to direct which way birds can fly through town? Do they need to wear those little diapers, too? You kind of rushed by the sign, so couldn't make out much more of it. As for that bike, while older magnetos can be fussy, it sounds to me like you may have cured those previously reported hot starting issues just by tidying up that carb--another likely cause of such woes. By coincidence, I'm led to understand that my own '67 Norton N15CS "Desert Sled" hybrid (identical versions of which were sold as Matchless G15CS or Ariel Model 30, only with different paint colors and badges), which was a weird American export-only model, used more or less the same frame as that G12 CSR, slotting a lowered-compression Norton Atlas 750 into it with some longer Roadholder forks. It was popular with your Steve McQueen desert racer types over here for a few years. Much as the famous Norton "Featherbed" frame was the very model of what a roadgoing frame should be, any off-roading was its kryptonite and would crack their headstocks like toffee, even with the later welded braces. By comparison, those G12 frames were damned near indestructible--just "toss 'em out of an aeroplane rugged". They've got lugged joints like a boxer's fists. Beautiful really...

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Hi Bill, that is near my Mother in law's house - it is a sign for the Red Kite feeding centre nearby. Red kites were nearing extinction around here some years ago, but there appears to be more of them in the sky than ravens, these days! They often circle in numbers above my home and the surrounding area. Back to that Matchless, I wasn't expecting it to impress me as much as it did - it is an all round very pleasant, capable and useable machine!

[@alfred-vz8ti]

in my youth when faced with a choice berween bonney, 2 carbs, gsr with one. i asked my self, 'howcan one be as good as 2?' it can't at max revs, but how often and how long are you at max revs? matchy frame heavier, and stiffer. which matters most.? reality is, if it's not a race bike, go with looks and comfort.

[@stewartw.9151]

I bought a Matchless G12 650 in about 1970 but not the CSR version. It was similar however to this, I got it from a chap who had owned it for some years but had cared for it very well. I paid 60 quid as I recall which was I thought, a bargain. Probably seems ridiculously small money nowadays. This was not long after I had seen the movie "Easy Rider" and since a Harley was not on my horizon, I tricked it out with the ape-hanger bars and a few other bits and pieces. Kewl, hey? Gotta say - do not ever do that, those stupid handlebars ruin a good bike handling wise! They did not last long!

[@truethought369]

If you helicoil the inlet manifold, & use bolts instead of studs, will make it easier to work on. Nose one, thanks.

[@alloomis1635]

i like the siamese pipe. "add lightness, and simplicate," someone said, seemed like a great idea. is it standard on 'gsr? ' if you want to use a bike like this on the highway, i'd be inclined to invest in a disc brake on the front wheel. don't let nostalgia get in the way of longer life.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Drum brakes can work as well as some discs, if set up properly, but this one needed looking at! I think the siamese pipes were standard on some CSR models.

[@janetmuskett3210]

Nice bike. What's your opinion on Siamese pipes. Can't say that I'm a big fan, really. I always think they make the bike look a bit 'unbalanced' somehow.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

I suppose there is a small weight saving, and possibly useful if a sidecar was fitted. Some even claim they increase power ...

[@chucksanford167]

I have Matchless 1958 G12 05878 need parts and info.& Help?

[@amelierenoncule]

As I, and my A65, followed you up the Mountain on A479 (A470 ?) I kept wondering why you seemed reluctant to advance on that 'Racer-X' bloke. Tempted I was to pilote past the two of you...but that would 'ave been unseemly and gauche. So I refrained. Anyways, I'm glad that you explained it at the summit. On the return ride, I couldn't help but imagine the 'Ton Up' boys making a right-proper go-of-it, downhill, and then quaffing a number of pints in Crickhowell... bragging on their exploits and near-misses. Maybe even their missus ! Are there many Biker Mishaps on that stretch of tarmac ??? During a holiday, perhaps ? i.imgur.com/TBRMnu2.png

[@paulhenshaw4514]

That road is the A4069 and has featured several times on the programme 'Top Gear' and in an Audi car advert, among others. There have been many accidents involving bikes, cars and other things over the years and I had an interesting 'near miss' with another motorbike on one occasion, when I was gunning it downhill and approaching the cattle grid after I took the bridge / corner just before it. I met a bike coming up towards me very quickly and we were lined up head on. Due to where we both were in the road, taking 'racing lines' we both had the same idea at the same time [thankfully] and passed each other on the wrong side - not something I want to repeat! [check around 34 mins for location].

[@amelierenoncule]

@@paulhenshaw4514 Aye, I see it. A dodgy bit to get called-out on !

[@warrenhumphrey9038]

Never knew Matchless made a 650..what year is that Paul ?

[@guysmith3146]

61/62

[@andrewgent5887]

IMHO AMC twins were the best designed, engineered and built motorcycles of the 50’s and 60’s. Why people are seduced by the supposed glamour of the Triumphs, BSA’s and Nortons is beyond me, on the plus side it does keep the prices down.

[@lottierose8668]

what type of magneto is that, they usually have lucas k2f mag

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Sorry, I am not sure to be honest - BTH perhaps?

[@باسلدحام-ر8ت]

راءع،،الدراجه،الانكليزيه،الاكثر،شهره،بالعراق،،اقتنيت،نسختين،من،بي،اس،اي،،،،لازلت،اتحسر،على،تلك،الايام

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

It is sorry that the art of kick-starting a motorcycle has become almost as extinct as cursive writing. I loved kick-starting my Ura l in front of all the Harley guys to show them how to start a real motorcycle. If you gave one of today's bikers yes gorgeous motorcycle I bet he would not know how to turn the gas on.

[@anthonybuckingham4646]

I really hope you are going to stop

[@paulhenshaw4514]

???????

[@anthonybuckingham4646]

It was meant for the video before that I watched sorry

[@anthonybuckingham4646]

It should say not stop