X-rated

Let’s get it out there straightaway – there’s nothing wrong with restoring a motorcycle until it dazzles passers-by and a close inspection has to be done while wearing darkened glasses. Nope, nothing wrong with that approach at all, and to be honest I’m in awe of those who have the single mindedness to achieve such levels of restoration, as I know I’m just not that dedicated. Don’t get me wrong though, I like to see a clean motorcycle which works well, but if the paintwork has a few scuffs where a boot has rubbed against a frame tube for a year or 20, or perhaps the bright-work has dulled a little and maybe the saddle has been smoothed by a few years of Barbour suited riding or…well… you get the picture.

So, it should come as little surprise I accepted the offer to have a ride on Bryan Lingard’s 1938 Matchless Model X, a machine which came into Bryan’s ownership with the express condition he was to maintain but not restore the motorcycle.

The task of retaining all this originality has been helped by the bike having been dry stored in a barn for a decent