The Matchless G9 is a British motorcycle made by Associated Motorcycles at the Matchless factory in Plumstead, London. Launched at the Earls Court show in late 1948 as an export model for the United States, it was known as the Super Clubman and remained in production until 1961.
Matchless G9 at a glance
| Maker | Associated Motor Cycles (Matchless), Plumstead, London |
|---|---|
| Launched | Earls Court show, late 1948 |
| First market | export to the United States |
| UK availability | from late summer 1949 |
| Name | Super Clubman (AJS Model 20: Spring Twin) |
| Front suspension | Teledraulic telescopic fork |
| Rear suspension | swinging arm; Jampot units from 1951 |
| Gearbox | Burman, new design from 1952 |
| Exhaust | megaphone silencers |
| Discontinued | 1961 |
Based on one source (English Wikipedia); the article is shorter than usual because the source covers the model only briefly.
History of the Matchless G9
Launch
The Matchless G9 and the corresponding AJS Model 20 were launched at the Earls Court motorcycle show in late 1948. At first the G9 was built exclusively for export to the United States, and Matchless did not offer it on the home market until late in the summer of 1949. From the beginning it had a Teledraulic telescopic front fork, swinging-arm rear suspension, a dual seat and megaphone silencers. The G9 was called the Super Clubman, while its AJS twin was the Spring Twin.
Refinement
The basic design changed little over the following years. In 1951 the rear suspension was upgraded to the Jampot unit — derided for its shape in The Motor Cycle of 28 September — and minor changes brought a new Lucas horn-push on the handlebar, a medallion badge in place of the old transfer, and rod-and-damper front fork damping instead of shuttle damping. The most significant change came in 1952, when a new Burman gearbox was adopted. The G9 was discontinued in 1961.
Design and features
- Modern chassis at launch: Teledraulic telescopic fork, swinging-arm rear suspension and a dual seat from the start.
- Super Clubman: the model name given to the Matchless version, with the AJS Model 20 sold as the Spring Twin.
- Steady updates: Jampot rear units in 1951, a medallion badge, revised fork damping and a new Burman gearbox in 1952.
- Export first: sold in America for almost a year before British buyers could have one.
Matchless G9 versions
- G9 (1948–1961): the standard Super Clubman.
- 1951 specification: Jampot rear suspension, Lucas horn-push and medallion badge.
- 1952 specification: new Burman gearbox.
- AJS Model 20: the same machine sold as the Spring Twin.
The G9 grew into the 650 cc Matchless G12, and the single-cylinder stablemate of the period was the G80. More Matchless motorcycles are in the Matchless collection.
Video: Matchless G9 1950
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Matchless G9, English Wikipedia: launch, equipment, changes, production end
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