1953 Matchless Clubman Convinces Skeptic Stan Irons - Vintage Motorcycle Article

Description

1953 Matchless Clubman Convinces Skeptic Stan Irons - 1-Page Vintage Motorcycle Article
Original, Vintage Magazine article
Page Size: Approx. 9" x 12" (23 cm x 30 cm)
Condition: Good
A Matchless Clubman
Convinces A Skeptic
220 pound Stan Irons put the G-9 thru its paces
as only an old Hare and Hounds rider could.
AS is customary when a group of
motorcyclists get together, as we
did at Cooper’s recently, the conver-
sation turns to Brand, acceleration, ri-
ding quality, speed —r well motorcycles.
Present was Stan Irons who is a
pretty fair country rider, former C.R.A.
referee and currently the A.M.A. start-
er in the Los Angeles area, and, inci-
dentally a Triumph owner.
Frank Cooper did, as is his want,
such a good selling job on the Match-
less that nothing would do but to
wheel one of the little beauties out
and head for the hills. Frank grabbed
a machine, a 1952 model G-9, the Super
Clubman, from one of his startled but
“enthusiastic” customers, and off we
went.
Stan, all 220 pounds of him, got
aboard with the “you got to convince
me look” and proceeded with an at-
tempt to make Cooper out as a little
overly optimistic as regards his claims
for the Matchless. Stan failed, be-
cause he liked it too.
Specifically Irons, and he did give
the job a typical California workout
over typical terrain, was impressed
with the “superb” riding qualities of
the job under all conditions — highway
and dirt. Also he found the engine
exceptionally smooth in all ranges and
with the tops in all gears very high for
a road geared machine — in fact, it
flirted with the century on one of the
dead-end super highways in Los Angeles.
Brakes were outstanding according
to Stan — both pavement and dirt under
all conditions and, also, he was im-
pressed with the mechanical quietness
of the 30.50 vertical twin engine.
Cornering was excellent. The machine
really “hangs on” in the turns and
comes out full of fire and lots of ac-
celeration — both on the highway and
up the steep hills that marked the
test area.
Back in the shop, Stan said, “Well,
that is an exceptionally fine road bike
—power, speed, brakes, handles extreme-
ly well; springing is wonderful. In
fact, did everything asked of it and
more. They have sure made some im-
provements over that little “thumper”
that I almost won the Big Bear with
—you remember that little job; it did 65
up hill, on the level, down hill, on the
pavement, in the rocks, sand and snow.
This new machine has all the inherent
ruggedness of that job. It is plenty
good.”
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