Its in my blood

[fazersharp]

Here is my mum and dad on one of my Grandads bikes.
Does anyone know what bike it is, I dont.
Can I see vincent on the tank - but what cc ?

[Deefer666]

I don't think that's a Vincent, the swing arm arrangement is all wrong. I thought (and I am by no means an expert on brit bikes) had swing arms that were monoshock direct linkage like the RD350. Looks more like a Norton to me.

[fazersharp]

Its frustrating I just cant make out whats on the tank. In the family I know that 1000cc was mentioned - whether the cc has morphed as it was passed down I dont know. And if it was that bike I dont know eitrher.
perhaps a date would help which is between 1945 and 1954--- ish   

[Deefer666]

Vincents were a v twin or a sloping single, that looks to be an upright engine. That would more than likely make it a 500/650cc at the biggest. But looking closely at the engine I would have said that what you have there is a Norton model 50 (350cc) which would be mid 50s the suspension set up is too late to be 40s

[celticdog]

It could be a Vincent Viscount going by the rear suspension, beautiful pic and beautiful bike fazersharp, thanks for sharing 

[Deefer666]

Not a Viscount, the engine is wrong. That's an upright single the Viscount was a v twin. We need an old duffer to tell us what it is as it's more than a bit before my time

[dazza]

An old duffer you say..... Red will know

[fazersharp]

Is the fish tail exhaust a clue at all ?

[fazersharp]

Just googled norton model 50 and it doesn't look like that, the 50 has a slightly angled rear shock but my picture shows almost upright shocks, also the norton seems to have a panel section on the tank like a knee grip section, also the tank in my picture looks higher and slopes down sharply whereas the norton is flatter, and the headlight mount looks different.
It would be really interesting to find out what the bike was. 
 

[Red Ceri]

I'm not as much of an old fart as Red98 but I think it is either and AJS model 18 or Matchless G80, I think the long push rod tubes give it away


.[smg id=2778 type=full align=center caption="AJS"]

[esetest]

Matchless 350 perhaps.

[darrsi]

Matchless 350 is certainly looking favourite i think.
Strange thing is the more i looked at them they all had very slight differences, as if they've been personalized/customized, none really looked identical.
The one in your picture for instance has a fairing, which it would seem was quite rare.

Can't find much about the number plate, other than it was first registered in Oxford.

[red98]

:lol :lol :lol ...old duffer,cheeky foccers  :lol


iam with red ceri...AJS 18....matchless comes a close second.    great piccie :thumbup

[Dave48]

The registration sequence "SWL" was issued by Oxford starting in April 1952 so that should help with the date.

[darrsi]

:lol :lol :lol ...old duffer,cheeky foccers  :lol


iam with red ceri...AJS 18....matchless comes a close second.    great piccie :thumbup

Never realised how much alike the AJS and the Matchless look, they're almost identical.  :look

[fazersharp]

WELL DONE CHAPS  :thumbup

Did some googling on AJS model 18 Jampot single and overlay a photo onto my old one almost a perfect fit after a little distortion the get the perspective right. 
I think that Grandad was a major fettler so I wouldnt be surprised if he made a fairing and the screen was from something else and also looks like he made the fishtail "end can"

[darrsi]

The rear shock is the same as the Matchless.

[fazersharp]

Im pretty sure he had many different bikes over the years and wouldn't be surprised if he fitted Matchless shocks if the were better for 2 up. And he has fitted extra lights.
We think we are being all cleaver fitting r6 shocks to our bikes when people have been doing it for 60+ years 

[esetest]

My dad had a Matchless 350 and 500 , i will see if  i can get a picture .

[Rob R]

Jampot suspension dead giveaway- AJS/Matchless.