suryahatti

Definitely i am crazy bt bikes guys! in 1968 i bought one ex-Army 350cc Matchless bike which was very long at that time & many asked me if it was diesel! i was 21 then and many cousins were envious i got this for rs1800/=and they had'nt the boldness to get any thing they wanted! however this turned out to be a joint venture since i needed extra hands and muscle power to push it and to kick start it all around bangalore. these friends most willingly lent brawn and time of theirs as they too were thrilled by the novelty of the bike.from jalahalli to mg road and other places this machine burnt rubber. i would tell whoever asked that this bike gave 35kms/liter. 10kms on power 25kms muscle power.it was great fun, yes. but most often cursing, as i was slightly built and in those days traffic on jalahalli
road was restricted to bel hmt buses and if bike didnt start, i would have a crisis on my hands with parents restless and worried with no phones(land line)and autos very few and the long empty road stretching away in to the unknown.
one memorable event we all remember and recall always was when three of us set off in early '69(all batchelors) at about 10.30pm to a joint called napoli in guptha market made famous by one item girl called sandy.one of the most famous places of bangalore at that time and most populour as well.after midnight we left and found it had rained. the bike also had gone to sleep and would'nt start. we 3 did our best to get it going,pushing it all over gandhinagar. at about 1.30am it started and we got on to it and hit out for jalahalli, the exhaust spewing out a trail of sparks 6ft in leanth.
how we stuck to the saddle without jumping off is something i find it hard to believe, it being a fire hazard.we had a hang over next morning.

its only now we realise (late in life), how xtremely fortunate we were we have such wonderful memories of those times! and for me ,the extra biking
experience with a 350cc MATCHLESS MY FIRST BIKE!
IT WAS SOLD ULTIMATELY FOR RS900/= in late dec69. My next one Lambretta150li.

Noor

Ownership thread approved

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raja_roadster

Matchless machines always get confused with RE's very less known to this generation ;waiting to hear about your lambyi

princesirohi

can you post some pics of your bike....

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Tyre Sizes _ Spark Plugs

Pirelli & Michelin Tyres for Indian Bikes

Motorcycle Headlight Focus

ASHTAVINAYAK & SHIRDI BIKE TOUR WITH WIFE

princesirohi

does it look like this..???

Attached Thumbnails

 

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Tyre Sizes _ Spark Plugs

Pirelli & Michelin Tyres for Indian Bikes

Motorcycle Headlight Focus

ASHTAVINAYAK & SHIRDI BIKE TOUR WITH WIFE

suryahatti

thank you very much for approving my first bike ownership experiences.

I am very humbled.

KIRTIMANNAN

please post photos of your old bike(if you have any)..awaiting you other bike experiences...

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KM

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suryahatti

my matchless 350cc bike was light green in color, glossy as though it had been laquered, it had 'M' in 3D on tank,(chromed & a small one at that) dual seat, rider seat had heavy springs much as one would see on bicycles, the rear one was merely a raised cushioned seat like bread loaf.
Also, it did not have rear shocks and had a very good side stand.
in lieu of center stand, it had a heavy rear one which would climb down below the rear wheel. to put the bike on rear stand i had to straighten & balance bike , walk to its rear & gripping carrier firmly,raise bike with both hands. it was not a macho thing! & not always successful 1st time.

It had a villiers magneto & its carburettors name, can't recall. battery charging indicator was located on the large globe of head light.speedo was one of the best ,solid chromed metal and seemingly bullet proof glass!
Unfortunately, no pix.

suryahatti

No. My bike ,even though so old, did have the appearance of a modern bike.bikes of early 1956 58 even, looked so heavy so slow. on the other hand , mine looked so much SPORTIER, color outline,so many decades ahead of its time!!! it would have been a match for present day p150.(no offense p150 owners.)

of course, it belongs to the jurassic period.

suryahatti

Certainly! in due course.