MATCHLESS G12 CSR (1958-1959) Specs, Performance & Photos

Matchless is one of the oldest British motorcycle manufacturers. It was founded in 1899, the same year the company's first bike was officially built. The company became famous mostly thanks to the 750cc models Silver Hawk and Silver Arrow but also thanks to its long history of racing.

In 1931, Collier & Sons, the company's real owner, decided to buy AJS, another motorcycle firm included in the Associated Motor Cycles (AMC) founded in 1938. AMC was a large company started by the Collier brothers, including Norton.

The Matchless G12 was a series of motorcycles made by the company from 1958 to 1966. AJS and Matchless were owned by Associated Motor Cycles and delivered identical motorcycles but with different badges. The G12 was available in various models.

One was the Matchless G12 CSR, where CSR stood for Competition, Spring, and Roadster. In 1963, the G12 CSR was renamed Monarch and Apache for the US market. A year later, the motorcycle received a Norton frame and front fork.

The motorcycle was visually characterized by features like a round headlight up front, a one-piece dual seat, a dual exhaust system with a silencer on each side, and wire-spoke wheels.

The 1958 Matchless G12 CSR was powered by a 646cc twin-cylinder air-cooled engine that delivered an output power of 35 hp at 6,500 rpm. The motorcycle reached a top speed of 153 kph (95 mph).