Matchless G12 CSR Vintage Classic British Bike

MATCHLESS G12 CSR Classic Vintage British Bike
A short ride and description of my bike on the way to squires cafe
Classic vintage bike
Filmed with GoPro Hero 9 media mod and Rode lavalier

[@vidviewer100]

My first bike, when I was 15/16 years was an AJ 650 so I loved this; hearing the engine and your very interesting commentary. The AJ I bought in my youth for a very cheap price blew a big end in the first 2 weeks, damaging the crankcase as well. I new very little about mechanics then but a school friend nicknamed 'Grebo', who spent all his spare time rebuilding engines for his side-car racing hobby, kindly helped me rebuild the AJ engine. Grebo did most of the work but I learnt quite a bit about MC engines in the process. I'd love to buy one of these again but now that I live in Australia that could prove tricky. Thanks again for this interesting video from Sydney, Australia

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

Because they are underrated, they sell on the cheep side compared to Triumph Norton and BSA When my father bought mine, it had a m31 engine but we got the blown CSR engine with it. i rebut the CSR engine the crank add starved of oil ,a bg end nut had loosened off and it had lost oil pressure. Love the bike, one of my favoured bikes. Cheer YB

[@vidviewer100]

@@yorkshirebiker1293 Do you know why they had 2 brands (AJS & Matchless) for the same models?

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

@@vidviewer100 i think matchless bought AJS years ago but kept it running along side. I think a few bikes was the same. Other than that no i don't

[@turboslag]

As soon as you set off I thought, those roads seem familiar, then when you turned off left, of what was the old A1 I knew it was the road to South Milford and Sherburn! Then although you turned right, which is a road I'd never used, I guessed you were off to Squires for a brew! I used to live in Sherburn and the coffee bar was a regular haunt, I moved just before it moved to it's current location. If you've lived in the area since the 70's, I bet we've been at the coffee bar at the same time on occasions, without realising it! Nice machine you have there, very special that it was your dads. I do have a Matchless in my collection, a '55 G80S, I think the marque is very underated. We also share another make in common, Vincent, I have a '52 Rapide, under restoration, but only 1 previous owner and it has alot of history with it. I'm down in the west mids now and don't get many opportunities to travel upto Sherburn due to personal circumstances, but one day I hope to move back up there as it is the best area of the country I've ever lived. Who know's, we might get to meet up at Squires sometime!

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

Yes i say gods country, I've been fancying matchless 500 trials for a spell. You will love the Vin.

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

A 1961 cool same year I was born. Of course I wish I looked as good as the motorcycle.

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

2 years after me, and its faster than me😁👍

[@lesmontgomery6498]

A trip down memory lane. Had a 600 version g11csr when I lived there mid sixties . Still riding at 79 yrs cheers

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

A much under rated bike ,love mine was my dads. i hardly ever have to work on it other than regular maintenance . Hope i'm still riding at 79 all the best Pete

[@lesterhall5310]

Very beautiful bike looks like new, love it. Here in Australia with a collection of Royal Enfield's at the moment, great not to have to worry about the weather but missing some of the old classics.

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

And I would like some of that Australia sun on my back😃😃😃

[@probewizard]

I used to have a 59 G12 in black, loved that bike, rode it in all weathers, commuted, the lot. Was my first big bike. Regret having to sell it. Thanks for the vid, it brought back fond memories and yours looks good in red too. I hunted high and low for a con rod when I had to replace one, pre internet lol. Impressed you found 2.

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

yes i lovely bike. very under rated. Just rode it to my mothers and forgot to turn on the oil, so just cost me a bottom end rebuild, and two more rods. Sorted the oil pump and removed the tap from the oil line. just got over it , and stopped kicking my self.

[@probewizard]

@@yorkshirebiker1293 Oh dear, better off with a wet sump than that. Glad you managed to sort it out.

[@icedidi]

I have to say that engine sounded smooth as butter.

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

it was my fathers bike and its one of my favorite bikes

[@bigdog594]

At 15 I went straight from a push bike to one of these😳PO delivered it under the house,and I started it up and rode off down the road.Maybe my parents had me well insured 🤔Those were the days 1967 and I’ve had another one since,and have a g15 now.I’m hanging out for some company to start making them again like RE and now BSA.As someone said ,you never forget your first sex and in my case my first bike😎

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

Remember mine HWJ51C Triumph Bonneville. I bought Triumph's new 120 Bonneville owned it 5 weeks😒mate has the g15 working on the engine is a pain, he wont let me have a go ,so no comments on that one. The G12 it a lovely bike nowt bad to say about it.

[@ianlawrie919]

Fabulous video, Fabulous bike, Fabulous knowledge and insight, Fabulous ride and you set a fretful mind at ease about E10 👍🙀😸

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

just run a full tank through my 850 commando with no alterations, could not tell any notable difference so we will see how it goes. YB 👌👍😁

[@barryroberts8927]

A nice bike it seems to do well with modern traffic .well documented.

[@peterbarber5395]

Great video and lovely bike. I am in the process of restoring a barn find AJS 650 Model 31 in Canada. Hopefully it will turn out as nice as yours, which looks and runs pretty sweet. As a former Yorkshireman now living in Canada, it was nice to see the great scenery and twisty roads. The problem with older bikes and especially ones that are overseas, is that the parts are not as plentiful, and unfortunately on my bike a couple of parts are not original, or from an AJS/Matchless, but the frame, engine and gearbox numbers all match. Where in Yorkshire are you from?

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

I live just 10 miles outside Leeds, my is mstly standard as it was my fathers and been in the family for 50+ years, part ae easier for Triumphs and Nortons, but can still get parts from the owners club and such. Thanks YB

[@alloomis1635]

i had a g15, and a lot of bikes later. should have saved my money, the g15 was the one i remember. simple, rugged, fast enough. matchless made some good bikes. shame they didn't realize that the 3 bearing crankshaft makes 270 degree orientation easy, and greatly reduces high speed vibration. might still be in business.

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

That can be said of loads of British bikes, a mate had a g15 he never was keen i thought it looked the dogs

[@robertashton3234]

Eyup, i just watched this in New Zealand and as a yorkshireman from ulleskelf with 2 bsa A65's it made me feel homesick for Sherburn and Squires. brilliant.

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

Don't know when you moved to New Zealand but i assume you know it moved to Newthorpe Inn, not sure when , i remember it been in the village Anyway glad you enjoyed it

[@johnmartin7158]

So awesome to see these bikes still running. Ak NZ.

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

@@johnmartin7158 The way the English gov is going down the green path i am not sure for how long, Hope it's not in my life time that they are forced off the road.👍😊

[@johnmartin7158]

@@yorkshirebiker1293 Hi ! I am 64 now now and am only too aware of what you are saying..Hope to pick up my new bike today. 2022 Triumph Bonneville T120 Matt Black / Graphite. Gold line series. Wish me luck. I often wonder in years and years to come, how we are going to keep the vintage bikes going. I guess gotta just live for the day. Have you been to NZ ?

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

@@johnmartin7158 Had T120 a couple of years back , replaced it with RS1100 Honda, My mate keeps saying i should do a review on his 120 scrambler. No I have not been to NZ, wife retires next April so have some plan's in the pipe line. I am a couple of years younger than you, its a ache's and pain's in the cold weather in the UK, so hope to have some time in warmer clim's during the bad weather. Any way hope you enjoy the new Triumph, and good luck.

[@tonylees9597]

loved your video ,i have my dads old ajs model 30 , smokes like an old train, got loads to do to it ,hope one day i can get it like yours.

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

dont know if you do your own work but check if its had the barrel fitted wrong way round, there's a oil feed in the barrel , if you read the manual it say it was deleted later, ive not explained that very good but if you read you will get the gist of what i mean, but once sorted they are a great bike good luck

[@tonylees9597]

@@yorkshirebiker1293 Yeah trying to do most myself, took top end off checked and cleaned oil ways, barrels looked clean, lot of movement in pistons, don't know if it is standard size as couldn't see any markings, got scared to remove barrels, so put it back together for now, should have watched me dad more.

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

@@tonylees9597 unfortunately pistons are a bit awkward to get, as some are much to heavy and upsets the balance. but i'am sure you will sort it

[@martinowl]

A cracking looking bike, seems to run really well, nice one.

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

You've it it on the head, it's under rated

[@keithmoore5224]

nice to hear a northener very nice bike west cumbrian now in thailand

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

Wish i was some were a little warmer with the bike of course. YB

[@andrewcopley9894]

your thoughts on the e10 are interesting, My other half works in a fuel station her boss went round forecourt other day sticking E10 stickers on the pumps ,When she spoke to him about it he said he was told to put them on by the supplier they could not say when it would be E10 there was a shortage of it . I suppose there just covering there backs. i have read a lot of forums that claim some brands of super are ethanol free even though the pump states E5 . Just another question what about winter storage, or do you take your bikes out all year round .

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

I am a member of Vincent owners club and one of the members contacted Esso and they say no ethanol in there super

[@annettedicken1055]

Hi our Andrew, hope you both are well. Next time your down, we all should meet up at coffee bar, including our Susan.x

[@alfred-vz8ti]

looks like matchless was trying to carve off a little of the bsa rocket goldstar market. not sure which was first. good idea, in both bikes.

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

I think the G12 CSR was supposed to compete with the Bonneville T120. Matchless did a tuning kit, with twin carbs and high comp pistons. My G12 is much smother then than the T120, but not as fast as the T120's I've had.

[@alfred-vz8ti]

@@yorkshirebiker1293 with the go-fast kit, g12 definitely in t120 league. maybe the 2 into 1 pipe clips a little off the top-end. but they offered a g15 in the states, cubic inches compensates for everything. i think amc could have done better, with proper management. they had some good machines to work with.

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

@@alfred-vz8ti I would of liked a go on one of the tuned G12's. One of my mates had the G15, but never managed t get a leg over it. I remember you needed to be strong to get it on the main stand. I've always said the matchless's were under rated.

[@lottierose8668]

i have a 62 g12 but has some rattle at cruising speeds around 40/45 mph ,looking for someone to strip my engine to find out what it can be

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

they are an under rated bike , love mine. Finding people to do work now a days is not so easy. if it's te bottom of the engine it's normanly a knock or rumble. any good luck

[@lottierose8668]

@@yorkshirebiker1293 thanks for info , suppose first thing to check is the top end , maybe piston slap ,its a little smokey and plugs slightly oily

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

you may be right

[@fireblade95]

Easy enough to do , you just need a manual , skill , enthusiasm and a load of cash!

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

@@fireblade95 That's me done, I've no money no skill and definitely no money, are I've got the manual, so one out of four

[@fireblade95]

Sounds smooth! You near Barnsley ? Accent 👍

[@yorkshirebiker1293]

Cheer's about 15 mile further north 👍👍