1960 Matchless G80CS

In Dual-Sport, England by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Listing Update: After 32 bids on eBay, this Matchless did not meet reserve at $6,700.

CS stands for Competition Suspension, and for several years it was the top-of-the-line variant of the G80 (if you ignore the 125 examples of the rare Typhoon G80TCS). In Matchless’ mind, all you had to do was pull off the headlight and you’d have yourself a Scrambles racer!

The 497cc engine was fed by an 1 3/16″ Amal Monobloc carb and was capable of pushing this 380 pound bike to just 92 miles per hour. The motor was tuned to provide power across a broad powerband rather than for maximum peak numbers. For more information, check out this fantastic period review from 1963 in Cycle World, hosted by Jampot.dk. Cycle World summed up the review by saying the bike “is a most impressive all-around performer on clay roads, up sandy washes, over boulder-strewn creek beds and just about every place but on a paved road – and it seems likely that with the right tires it would be pretty good there, too.

This example (VIN: C9081) was rebuilt in the 90’s and has just 440 miles on it since that work was performed (no documentation of the restoration is included). It’s said to run excellently but it’s not perfect – the seller says it’s more of a rider than a 100% correct restoration. The seat has been swapped for something easier on your butt, the tail light is from a MG TC, and the electric system has been converted to run without a battery so the taillight works but the horn, ammeter, and headlight are not connected. The tires are Shinko Trials with 50 miles on them and it does seem like this would be a joy to ride as long as you don’t have plans of winning shows. It’s currently registered and the seller is getting rid of it to “fund other projects.”

Find this Matchless for sale in Idyllwild, California with bidding up to $3,900 and the reserve not yet met