Ex military G3 bikes for Sale

itma · Post by **itma** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 6:06 pm

You are in the wrong forum, I`m afraid Welski, as your dads bike is a Triumph 3HW.
sorry but I just had to get in first.
Thats not to say you won`t be better off with a G3L like the first pic

welski · Post by **welski** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 8:00 pm

Oops (going bright red)

itma/guys what can I say?!?!

I feel such a fool!

Believe it or not I showed the picture to a Triumph owner a few months back and he told me it was a Matchless G3. (all along my mother has said "that's not a Matchless, it's an Enfield")

Since I decided to commence my quest a few days ago, I've been wondering why I couldn't find an exact match for it amongst all the photos of wartime G3's I've looked at.

3 seconds after looking at a photo of a Triumpth 3HW and I realise why! Embarrassment well and truely compounded.

Bad news is, I've got to buy two bikes now!

Please tell me I'm not the first person to get these two mixed up ? Are they just superficially similar (to the novice) or do they share some design heritage?

Sorry for wasting your time guys, I actually feel quite dissappointed now!

Steve Martin · Post by **Steve Martin** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 10:05 pm

Don't worry about it, Paul; yes, all rigids of this period have basically the same layout, and we can't know them all. I admit I noticed the rear toolbox was a slightly different shape to my '46, but, not knowing the pre-war version very well, I wasn't going to stick my neck out!
Don't be put off, keep looking for the 'right bike for you', as Andy T. would say, and keep the posts coming.
Cheers, Steve.

Dick Hobart · Post by **Dick Hobart** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 11:10 pm

Never mind the embarrassment Paul. They're two smashing photos, especially the one of your dad on the Triumph. I believe these were even more popular with the Don-Rs than the G3L. You'll be really lucky to find one of these as the engines were very popular with early post war scramblers so most that came back from the hostilities were quickly cannabalised. Settle for a rigid G3L - they're great!
Best wishes, Dick H

welski · Post by **welski** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 1:43 pm

Cheers Guys,

Feel a little less stupid now.

I'm going to check out a couple of 1948 G3L's this weekend and will keep you posted.

Any idea where I could start if I was looking for the Triumph?

CheersEdited by - welski on 23 Nov 2005 2:35:12 PM

SPRIDDLER · Post by **SPRIDDLER** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 3:43 pm

Local dump?
Waterloo?

Never mind the bike - just enjoy the Forum, Welski.
(It's the thinking man's sludge trap).

laxy · Post by **laxy** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 10:45 pm

laxy · Post by **laxy** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 10:58 pm

Regarding engine and frame numbers on W.D.Bikes
All Matchless war department bikes from 1941 when the G3L was introduced were known as 41 G3L Regardless of when they were built.
How confusing is that?
Am I now in with a chance for the anorack of the year award?

welski · Post by **welski** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 7:12 am

quote:

Regarding engine and frame numbers on W.D.Bikes
All Matchless war department bikes from 1941 when the G3L was introduced were known as 41 G3L Regardless of when they were built.
How confusing is that?
Am I now in with a chance for the anorack of the year award?

Complete with gold fur hood.

Steve Martin · Post by **Steve Martin** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 9:50 am

Hello Laxy, it's my understanding that the 'teledraulics' were introduced in '41. Were all '41 G3Ls so fitted, or did the girder fork version remain in production as well; eg. could there be a genuine '43 G3L with girder forks?
We need to be told! Steve.