1964 Matchless Rickman Metisse G50

In the Webb’s catalogue it gives a nice little description about the G50’s racing capablities back in the day. “Competing against the Norton Manx, its 90.0 x 78.0mm 50bhp engine produced a top speed of 135mph (217kph) which made it slightly slower than the Manx; however, the lighter Matchless could take the day on tight and twisty circuits. It was this that made the G50 a legendary piece of precision race kit. Just as the 7R had achieved a decade or more before, the G50 quickly made itself a good name, being acknowledged as exceptionally quick in the ‘middle-power’ range so essential on twisty circuits. In maintenance costs, too, it found favour with the riders, for it seemed to maintain its tune far better than did the slightly faster 500 ‘Manx’ Norton and spares cost less: always a point with the hard-up chaps who constituted the backbone of the sport.”