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Not so long ago in motorcycling’s history, custom motorcycles and passion projects were only seen in shows, museums, printed media, or the creators' own workshops. But today, builders from around the world open their garages to us through video, and I recently came across a wonderful example.
The story starts with A.J. Stevens & Co., a British manufacturer founded in 1909. AJS built sporty singles and V-twins that were used in many forms of competition, including the Isle of Man TT and world speed record runs. AJS built some beautiful motorcycles, but by 1931, Matchless took them over, the first in a line of ownership changes that would follow AJS for the rest of its days. The brand was best known for competitive, innovative machines. Sadly, the current owners of the AJS name use it to sell cheap scooters and 125 cc learner bikes.
The mystique of old AJS motorcycles attracts a certain kind of enthusiast who doesn’t mind the challenges involved with owning them. One such owner is Richard Johns, who shares his collection and historically inspired custom in a video from The Classic Motorcycle Channel on YouTube.
Johns was hooked when bought his first AJS. He bought a second from a Bonham’s auction, combining the stout AJS bottom end with a trick Velocette top end as a what-if project. The next project had to be even more ambitious, and inspiration struck from the pages of a classic motorcycle magazine. AJS built a special V-twin for a world speed record attempt around 1929-1930, and Johns decided to build a replica out of two singles mated together with a custom crankcase. His video interview shows how he brought the motorcycle in the photo to life using loads of old parts, clever casting work, and careful planning.
It’s incredible to think that AJS built a motorcycle capable of over 130 miles per hour in the late 1920s. Nearly a century later, it still captures our imagination. How about an AJS triple, Mr. Johns?
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