139:. Developed from the pre-war G3, the 'L' in the G3/L stood for "lightweight" in response to the War Office requirement for a motorcycle more suited to off-road use, as the designers managed to reduce the dry weight of the prototype by 56 pounds (25 kg) (although the later models were not so lightweight due to the additional army equipment that needed to be added). The real innovation of the G3/L was the "Teledraulic" forks, which were the first telescopic design with oil damping – an idea that was to become the standard for almost all future motorcycles.
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The end was in sight, however, as the G3 was gaining weight without any corresponding increase in power. Suspension was upgraded to a swinging arm from 1949 and an aluminium cylinder head fitted from 1951. In 1955 the engine was uprated with stronger main bearings and an "auto-advance" fitted to the
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A war-torn infrastructure and shortages made life problematic in places like Italy, but there were a few consolations for the
Italian people to help themselves get back to normality. The Germans, British and Americans had all been in and out of Italy as invaders and liberators, and they had discarded
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After exhaustive military testing the G3/L lost the War Office competition for a single standard 350 cc machine to
Triumph's 350 cc side-valve vertical twin, the 3TW, which had a top speed of over 70 mph and weighed 240 pounds (110 kg). Triumph's Priory Street works in
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rotating magnet magneto, (now front-mounted for access). Front forks were also upgraded to improve handling and in 1958 an alternator was fitted and optional chrome tank panels, steering damper, brake light system and air filter were offered.
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were completely destroyed by German bombers in
November 1940 All Triumph's technical records, drawings and designs were lost and Matchless won the contract. Triumph instead produced 350 cc sidevalves for the military during the war.
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manufactured 80,000 G3 and G3/L models. The G3/L became one of the most popular motorcycles used during the war, as it was the first to replace the unforgiving "girder" front forks with a new technology, "Teledraulic" suspension. The
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or abandoned huge amounts of military hardware including tanks, trucks and motorcycles. Some of these motorcycles, such as the
Matchless G3/L, were converted from military service to civilian service by Italian riders.
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Production of the G3/L began in late 1941, and a series of modifications and improvements were introduced as it entered military service. From 1942 the entire output of the
Matchless factory was dedicated to the G3/L.
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229:. Despite its age, the Matchless was so well proven and reliable it remained in use by the Ministry of Defence for another 15 years after the end of the war, until replaced in 1960 by the
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The wartime G3/L today has an enthusiastic following on the classic bike scene and can cost up to £5,000 in original condition with the correct WD equipment.
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that were often worn. Sir Hugh's recommendation eventually led to compulsory crash helmets for motorcyclists – but not for another 32 years.
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The
Matchless G3/L was a popular choice for UK trials riders, and after the war there were plenty of bikes and spares to enable champions such as
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As well as general army transport G3/L's were widely used for delivering messages that were too important to be sent by radio or by telephone.
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identified head injuries as a major cause of loss of life among dispatch riders and recommended crash helmets instead of the standard
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Tattoo in July 1949 and used the G3/L for displays until they were replaced with the
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Post-war G3/Ls were the military version finished in black instead of green or
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They were also used for convoy escort, having to read maps and act as an "
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requisitioned every available
Matchless motorcycle to replace those
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284:– Second World War replacement for the TR3, sidevalve 350 cc
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In 1940, 110 Matchless G3/L's were ordered from
England by the
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Motor Cycle
Display Team gave their first performance at the
474:"Sir Hugh Cairns, and the Origin of Motorcycle Helmets"
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Pre war
Matchless G3 from which the G3/L was developed
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244:to win numerous national events for Matchless.
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278:– BSA wartime motorcycle used by British Army
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427:"The South African Military History Society"
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290:– wartime 350 cc OHV single from Ariel
115:continued to use the bikes into the 1960s.
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521:. Sutton Publishing Ltd. p. 81.
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172:as the preferred machine for use by
638:Motorcycles introduced in the 1930s
496:"Ugo Cirri's unusual Matchless G3L"
494:James Adam Bolton (May–June 2009).
106:during the Second World War, when
519:British Forces Motorcycles 1925–45
403:British Forces Motorcycles 1925-45
336:British Forces Motorcycles 1925-45
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405:. Sutton Publishing. p. 73.
338:. Sutton Publishing. p. 72.
30:
216:National Motorcycle Museum (UK)
1:
360:"How stuff works – Matchless"
214:Matchless G3LS (1955) at the
448:"Dispatch rider Harry Watts"
381:"Triumph the Classic Years"
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569:"Royal Artillery History"
102:developed for use by the
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543:"Matchless 350cc Trials"
88:4 speed with chain drive
16:British motorcycle model
517:Orchard, Chris (1997).
401:Orchard, Chris (1997).
334:Orchard, Chris (1997).
313:"1941 Matchless G3L WD"
68:349cc air cooled single
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628:Matchless motorcycles
613:Matchless Owners Club
498:. Motorcycle Classics
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633:Military motorcycles
454:on 12 February 2007
113:Ministry of Defence
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170:South African Army
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133:British War Office
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21:Type of motorcycle
528:978-0-7509-1445-1
412:978-0-7509-1445-1
345:978-0-7509-1445-1
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78:16 BHP @ 5200 rpm
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249:Royal Artillery
238:Artie Ratcliffe
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192:Sir Hugh Cairns
174:despatch riders
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137:lost at Dunkirk
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607:External links
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288:Ariel W/NG 350
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156:Active service
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96:Matchless G3/L
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593:. Retrieved
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547:the original
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196:"tin helmet"
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131:In 1940 the
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104:British Army
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84:Transmission
58:Matchless G3
39:Manufacturer
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590:"1958 G3LS"
282:Triumph 3HW
200:forage caps
119:Development
55:Predecessor
622:Categories
295:References
100:motorcycle
47:Production
242:Ted Usher
231:BSA W-B40
164:1939 G3/L
108:Matchless
42:Matchless
502:4 August
270:See also
253:St Asaph
206:Post war
145:Coventry
319:3 March
276:BSA M20
188:snipers
50:1939-46
595:24 May
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64:Engine
574:8 May
553:9 May
479:9 May
458:9 May
432:8 May
386:7 May
365:8 May
227:khaki
98:is a
74:Power
597:2008
576:2008
555:2008
523:ISBN
504:2009
481:2008
460:2008
434:2008
407:ISBN
388:2008
367:2008
340:ISBN
321:2014
247:The
240:and
94:The
198:or
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
