SINGULAR THINKING
PO BOX 66 BUDE EX23 9ZX
After last month's spin on the BSA-Regal Gold SR, Rowena asked me how it compares to the equally short-lived Harris Matchless G80 as seen in RC180. That also revived a famous name from the past. Like the BSA-Regal, the G80 used a British-made frame with boughtin components, notably an Austrian Rotax 500cc engine and late Meriden, mostly Italian, cycle parts and electrics.
While on paper this pair of machines may seem to be a match, having owned and ridden both I found major differences. The G80 was very much a serious motorcycle, built for everyday use, whereas the Gold SR is more obviously a weekend plaything. The Matchless is noticeably taller and feels heavier, more substantial, whereas the BSA is altogether a…