1963 Matchless G12 Cafe Racer
- Thread starter Union Jack
- Start date
cyclefreak
Over 1,000 Posts
Just noticed you are in Israel. What part are you in? I made several trips to Haifa back when I was in the Navy.
Union Jack
Active Member
cyclefreak said:
I'm from the center ofl Israel. I live in Petach-Tiqwa, it's near Tel Aviv.
Union Jack
Active Member
A little update...
I took apart the front fork:
but I have a little problem. I'm not sure how to disassemble the two part shown here: (I don't know how they are called in english, In hebrew they got the name "bottles")
Is it held with pressure? or may be screwed together?
I took apart the front fork:
but I have a little problem. I'm not sure how to disassemble the two part shown here: (I don't know how they are called in english, In hebrew they got the name "bottles")
Is it held with pressure? or may be screwed together?
two wheels of hell
Active Member
If they are like the Norton they are screwed together. I think they have a tool for this but I would try a strap wrench and lots of solvent. Good luck.
Union Jack
Active Member
two wheels of hell said:
Thanks!
I got the parts manual a few days ago. It is screwed toghether as you said.
Right now I'm waiting for parts. I got the gas tank and engine gaskets. waiting for the seat to arrive.
Next week (If the seat will arrive) I'm going to do the necessary adjustments in order to fit the gas tank and the seat. also going to take measurments for a new oil tank.
After that I'm going to clean the frame and send it for paint
Hoosier Daddy
Earache my eye...
You just don't see this everyday... I want to join in the fun!
I admire you for taking on such a project. Please keep the updates coming!
I admire you for taking on such a project. Please keep the updates coming!
Union Jack
Active Member
O.K... I havn't updated for quite a while, so it's about time
Seat and gas tank arrived. Yesterday I made mounts for the seat and the tank.
smokin' hot
I'm trying to find projects where the gas tank is held by a metal strap.
I also bought a new front fork since the original fork is damaged. Now I need to find 19" rim that will fit the new fork (I think the new fork was taken from Suzuki Bandit or somthing like that). Finding such rim here in Israel is not going to be an easy task.
Seat and gas tank arrived. Yesterday I made mounts for the seat and the tank.
smokin' hot
I'm trying to find projects where the gas tank is held by a metal strap.
I also bought a new front fork since the original fork is damaged. Now I need to find 19" rim that will fit the new fork (I think the new fork was taken from Suzuki Bandit or somthing like that). Finding such rim here in Israel is not going to be an easy task.
Union Jack
Active Member
Update!
When we started working on the frame we noticed that the steering neck is a bit bent. After we did some welding on the frame (as I showed before) I took the frame to a gut that has a machine that straights frames. 500 bucks for this job :'( but I had to do it.
Since I found out that the forks are damaged, I decided to buy a modern fork. I really don't know what the british people have thought to themselves when they decided to do everything more complicated. As expected, the new fork didn't fit the steering neck. Moreover, the place where the steering bearing sits is part of the frame and does not come out like in modern or even old japanese motorcycles. so, after some thinking, I made a sketch for an itnsert that will hold the steering bearing and will fit the curve that the steering neck has. Now I need to manufacture it and hope for the best.
that's the new triple tree
this is the old bearing. you can see the curve it has.
These are the sketches I made for the insert and the triple tree and steering neck.
and here is a pic if the frame with the engine after we took it back from the frame guy.
I hope I'll be able to update more often. As any other project, money is the restrictive factor.
B.T.W - I want to thank TJ for the help. TJ - you are the MAN!!
When we started working on the frame we noticed that the steering neck is a bit bent. After we did some welding on the frame (as I showed before) I took the frame to a gut that has a machine that straights frames. 500 bucks for this job :'( but I had to do it.
Since I found out that the forks are damaged, I decided to buy a modern fork. I really don't know what the british people have thought to themselves when they decided to do everything more complicated. As expected, the new fork didn't fit the steering neck. Moreover, the place where the steering bearing sits is part of the frame and does not come out like in modern or even old japanese motorcycles. so, after some thinking, I made a sketch for an itnsert that will hold the steering bearing and will fit the curve that the steering neck has. Now I need to manufacture it and hope for the best.
that's the new triple tree
this is the old bearing. you can see the curve it has.
These are the sketches I made for the insert and the triple tree and steering neck.
and here is a pic if the frame with the engine after we took it back from the frame guy.
I hope I'll be able to update more often. As any other project, money is the restrictive factor.
B.T.W - I want to thank TJ for the help. TJ - you are the MAN!!
Hoosier Daddy
Earache my eye...
Damn Bud, those are some setbacks... glad you are willing to overcome!
Union Jack
Active Member
Hoosier Daddy said:
This is nothing. The bigger setback that I didn't mentiond is my other bike. My daily ride is a 2010 royal enfield. about 3 weeks ago one of the valves broke and damaged the piston and the head of the engine. I had to repace them all and it cost me about 1600 dollars. With this money I could already finish the project :-\ .
But this is life and I will not stop 'till this project is over.
Hoosier Daddy
Earache my eye...
Maybe this will help... not much but hopefully put a smile on your face. I've had it saved for a rainy day to use as an avatar but I think the the detail would get lost. It's an attachment so if you click on the title, you can save it in your pics, seems fitting.. so from me to you.
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Union Jack
Active Member
Thanks mate!! 8)
Blackflag1982
Vini, Vidi, Vechi, but i got lost.
Awesome Bro! I did't even know what a Matchless was until i saw the t-shirts for sale on lowbrow customs website, I wikipedia them immediately. Then i saw them again two weeks ago on an episode of philly throttle, Real OG hooe i get the chance to rebuild one someday.
Texasstar
Can't is a four letter dirty word
waaaiiiiit a minute...aren't you the same Lior that built the cb that won bike of the month?????Union Jack said:Hey everyone.
This is my first project. I bought this bike recently and I love it. For quite a while I want to do a cafe racer project and now is a good chance.
I do this project with a friend of mine who already restored a few bikes and cars and has some interesting stuff on his website - www.backontwo.com.
My vision for this bike is kind of chubby or "heavy looking" cafe. a bike that will give some kind of massive bad ass look.
Now I'm focusing on taking off all the parts and get a bare chassis. I'm almost there as you'll see, but these past two weeks the weather had other plans for me.
I'm taking a lot of insperation from the beautiful Matchless G50.
Have a great weekend!
Lior
This pic makes me laugh every time I see it
Just wanted a glimpse to the future 8)
Some of the parts..
B.T.W - sorry for the quality of the pics. it's my sh**ty phone.
If so, how can this be your first cafe project?
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haircuttergirl
Over 1,000 Posts
Reeeeeally dig the Matchless. I'm on board.
Here's your bike's sporty cousin ................ I saw one just like this change hands in the early hours of the morning in a Greasy Spoon car park in the 60's [ see relevant Beachcomber's Tale ]
That is one attractive engine !
That is one attractive engine !
