500 AJS

[Old Husky]

I only just purchased a 1950 500 AJS 18S, its in a thousand bits at the moment, I am about to start the rebuild, its a road bike, however a few people are suggesting I turn it into a dirt bike.
I need to find some missing parts, front forks, exhaust etc.
Anyone out there with unused bits that they could part with, or point me to to someone who can help me.

[firko]

AJS 18S are a badge engineered version of the Matchless G80 and were the mainstay, along with the BSA Goldstar of motocross during the fifties and early sixties. If you're going to build it as a roady don't settle for anything other than original parts but if you're going to make it into a motocrosser you can use Norton Roadholder forks and BSA wheels to build a period style bike. It'd take too much room here to go through the process to turn the old Ajay into a racer but here are a couple of photos of AJS 18S scramblers to give you an idea. Dave Tanner has a sweet ex Roy East AJS 18S that he races.
Jim Scaysbrooks AJS 18 S

An AJS 18S in action in WA in 1966..

1955 AJS 18S in England

[HuskyPete]

you could use it as a boat anchor

[firko]

Who's a cheeky boy now? I'm going to report you to President Mercury from the Pre 65 division of KK for gross insubordination. 

[matcho mick]

pm sent 

[firko]

If you're prepared to go the big dollar route with your Ajay...check this out.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Other-Makes-Metisse-Mk3-AJS-350-Rickman-motocross-AHRMA-BSA-Matchless-Vintage_W0QQitemZ220417461585QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_motorcycles?hash=item3351e78d51&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A1171%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

[mx250]

If you're prepared to go the big dollar route with your Ajay...check this out.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Other-Makes-Metisse-Mk3-AJS-350-Rickman-motocross-AHRMA-BSA-Matchless-Vintage_W0QQitemZ220417461585QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_motorcycles?hash=item3351e78d51&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A1171%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

Mmmmmmm, yummy. Now where's that winning scratchy .

Shoulderless rims don't look period . And I could take or leave the 'whimpy white' - gotta be BRG, 'go faster' red or mean brutal black .

[husky61]

 a weight for a mooring bouye.

 melt it down to make period cannon balls

melt it down to to make useful motorcycle parts

It probably has many more uses but they elude me at the moment

[Old Husky]

You Husky boys are thoughtful, Firko and Matcho Mick showed interest in a great English 500 single, as any true enthusiast would, that 67 Husky guy has even told me to, GET RID OF THAT TRIUMPH HEAP OF SHIT (66Tiger100), so that gives you some idea of his blinkers on attitude, thanks Firko and Matcho Mick!!

[grouty]

I know they are based in the UK, but the spares dept ships all over the world. I get bits for my 1955 G80S faster from Jampot Spares than I could a modern bike from a main dealer, and loads cheaper.
http://www.ajs-matchless.com/
I have kept my G80 as a road bike. Found it in a barn a few years ago where it had sat since 1978. Took less than 5 mins to get it going. I use it now and again for trips to work.

There are several other suppliers here in the UK that are excellent.
This lot are brilliant -
http://www.andrew-engineering.co.uk/

Enjoy it whatever you decide to do with it 

[clutchslip]

One idea, bearing in mind the parts you don't have, would be to pursue this path..

http://mavt.homestead.com/AJS.html

(I've got the framebuilder's phone number somewhere if you are interested)

Bits and pieces obviously available here,

http://www.rickman-motorcycles.com/price.htm

Alloy engine parts do turn up surprisingly often on ebay UK as well.

[firko]

Shoulderless rims don't look period . And I could take or leave the 'whimpy white' - gotta be BRG, 'go faster' red or mean brutal black  .

I used to think that Metisses needed to be either red, BRG or black and that white looked poxy, just like you do Graeme but after spending some time with my old "mate" Rick Doughtys off white Tri Metisse I grew to like it. It's all about subtle shades. Doughtys Metisse is a creamy off white and it looks cool but Victorian John Selvas Tri Metise is a bright refrigerator white and in my opinion it's a bit too much. My upcoming Maico Metisse will be away from the usual colour scheme as well. Not as in your face as Jonesys purple thing but different enough to stand out. I also agree with the rim choice Graeme. As labour intensive as mudcatchers are, theyre period for the bike. I've seen so many great restos from all differing eras spoiled by inapropriate rims. Exel rims on anything older than pre '85 are wrong on a number of levels in my opinion.

Sorry to sidetrack your original thread Kev. Have a look at Dave Tanners Ajay in the Kompound at CD6, that'll convince you to turn yours into a scrambler. Don't worry about those above Husky brother heathens either old mate, they know not what they do!

[pancho]

was just sticking my bib in on another thread about unlikely machinery especially 18s ajays, i rode mine at moorebank for lots of meetings the biggest problem i had was the gearbox, you will need the later amc type device if you want to finish a race. the forks in mine worked ok but they were the ones with the shuttle valves inside which i believe were standard after '51.i found the handling was ok and i was rarely beaten into the first corner.cheers wally.