Matchless G3L - 1944
Engine
: 347cc single cylinder 4 stroke - overhead valve
Gearbox
: Burman 4 speed
Suspension
: Front - Teledraulic; Rear - Rigid
Brakes
: 6" drums front and rear
In
1940 the War Office were determined to reduce the weight of military
motorcycles and several manufacturers supplied machines for evaluation.
The response from Matchless was a development of the pre war G3WO
model, already then in military service.
Once the G3/L entered military service in 1941 it soon attained a
popularity among the majority of service users, principally because of
the new teledraulic front forks which were a considerable improvement
over the girder forks fitted to all other service machines at the time.
The G3/L (the L supposedly stood for lightweight) although mildly
detuned compared to the earlier model G3WO, was still capable of a
decent performance both on and off road compared to other service
machines and was a machine much sought after by those issued with less
sporting mounts.
This model was used extensively in every theatre throughout the war and
was retained in military service into the 1960s when it was replaced by
the BSA B40.
Military motorcycles were used for any number of roles but the
Despatch riders' main role was taking messages by hand from place to
place, traffic control and convoy escort.
This machine, frame No 69801, serial No C5805731 was part of contract
nmber S.4555 placed on 20th September 1943 for 8,000 machines to be
delivered at a rate of 1,300 per month making this a January 1944 bike.
Each machine cost £60.15s.0d.
Nothing is known of the history of this machine until it was imported
from India in 2000 in a totally derelict state. It has since been
totally restored by the present owner over a period of 2 years, finally
returning to the road in July 2005.