1952 Matchless G9

[LouieMCman]

Looking at a 1952 G9, don't know much about them, any comments on anything related would be appreciated. What are the weak points or common problems?
Would like to see some pictures also. Thanks.

[AFJ]

Looking at a 1952 G9, don't know much about them, any comments on anything related would be appreciated. What are the weak points or common problems?
Would like to see some pictures also. Thanks.

I think you will find most of the information you are looking for at the following web sites:
www.jampot.com
www.amoc-parts.com
http://archives.jampot.dk

The 1952 models usually had painted gas tanks whereas the previous years had plated tanks. Supplies of chrome and nickel were expensive and hard to get because of the Korean war.

AFJ

[LouieMCman]

Good Info, thanks. Bought the bike, I guess I'll learn as I go!

[AFJ]

Good Info, thanks. Bought the bike, I guess I'll learn as I go!

A dealer who stocks some Matchless parts and manuals on this side of the Atlantic is Walridge Motors in Lucan, Ontario, Canada. www.walridge.com
Good luck with the G9, they were a very nice motorcycle.
AFJ

[LouieMCman]

New winter project.......

[Steve Swan]

Nice complete old Matchless ! always been intrigued by those mufflers. look like megaphones.... but they ARE oem Matchless. Do they appear to have much baffling ?

i had a G15 back in the day. it was a smoother running unit compared to the N15, which i also had if i recall correctly, the rod's big end had a shell insert. this was known to be a weak area of design. i imagine dirty oil, over/under revving were contributing factors to failures. the G9 may not have lower end issues since it is a 500 and the G15 is a 750.......

[AFJ]

Louie,
That is really a very stock '52, right down to the "argenized" (silver paint) wheel rims instead of the previous - and later - chrome plate.
AFJ

[AFJ]

Steve,
There were two different 750 Matchless engines. The first G15 model was the G15/45 with the Matchless-designed motor which had been 500cc (G9), 550cc (G9B), 600cc (G11) and 650cc (G12). After about 150 or so G15/45 750s were made, the new G15 with a Norton 750cc Atlas engine came out. This G15 was produced in G15CSR (street) and G15CS (street scrambler) versions and for Norton dealers the N15 was produced in the N15CS version. It was basically a G15CS badged as a Norton.
AFJ

[Steve Swan]

Steve,
There were two different 750 Matchless engines. The first G15 model was the G15/45 with the Matchless-designed motor which had been 500cc (G9), 550cc (G9B), 600cc (G11) and 650cc (G12). After about 150 or so G15/45 750s were made, the new G15 with a Norton 750cc Atlas engine came out. This G15 was produced in G15CSR (street) and G15CS (street scrambler) versions and for Norton dealers the N15 was produced in the N15CS version. It was basically a G15CS badged as a Norton.
AFJ

ah, the memory of my advancing years. i had a G12 and an G15. the G12 was smoother running than the G15. the 12 was a Matchless. the 15 was a Matchless with the Norton engine in it.

[BoschZEV]

After about 150 or so G15/45 750s were made, ...

To add a little to this, 212 total were made along with 8 spare engines, with slightly different cycle parts for the 1962 and 1963 model years. I have one of the latter, although in need of restoration.

[AFJ]

BoschZEV,
You aren't lazy like me, who rather than reach for Mike Partridge's fine book on the G15/45s which was in a bookshelf across the room and get the correct number made of 212 simply worked from memory that it was "150 or so" and that when Mike wrote the book 9 years ago, 67 bikes or parts thereof were still known to exist. Glad that Mike did the book - I believe that you gave some assistance on the information in it.
AFJ

[BoschZEV]

You aren't lazy like me,...

Want to bet on that?

Actually, I have Word files with the essentials on each of my bikes with copies of those files on my iPhone. Since I'm never more than the width of a cotton shirt from my iPhone I didn't have to reach across the room for Mike's book to get the precise number.

The fact you wrote "150 or so" told me you had access to the correct number but didn't want to take the time to look it up, but at the same time you didn't want to quote something incorrect. Hence, the "or so." I highly approve of this approach.