Engine # 56623 (stamped on engine)
Frame # 56623 (back downtube under saddle)
This bike is listed in the Vintage Motor Cycle Club Machine Register, Second Edition, 1976 as manufactured in 1925. This frame and engine numbers are consistent with other bikes manufactured at that time.
DESCRIPTION: The video provided is the most complete description of bike - https://youtu.be/tkgVPFwAR_8. The video title and Mike Hawkins’s commentary incorrectly describe the bike as being manufactured in 1927. It was, in fact, manufactured in 1925.
This 1925 AJS 350 overhead-valve motorcycle was undergoing a full restoration after being acquired as a basket case some 15–20 years ago. The goal was to complete the restoration prior its shipment to the USA in 2008. This goal was not achieved but the bike is about 95% finished. Although the nickname “Big Port” was not officially applied until 1931, enthusiasts have long used it to describe earlier OHV AJS models with their large-diameter exhaust pipes — a feature that distinguished them from the side-valve versions and hinted at their sporting intent.
The engine’s top end is now in good condition thanks to a rebore and new piston, while the magneto has been rebuilt and equipped with a shield to protect it from mud and debris. The bike retains its original three-speed hand-change gearbox and many original components, including the horn and lighting system. The toolboxes, trimmed with leather, have been restored to complement the saddle and maintain an authentic vintage appearance.
Front-end features include wired-edge tires, a six-inch internal-expanding front brake operated by a right-hand lever, and girder forks with return springs — typical of AJS machines until the late 1930s. Lightweight mudguards keep weight down, a nod to the model’s competition heritage. The rear wheel also uses a wired-edge rim with a 26-inch by 3-inch tire, and the transmission includes both an engine and gearbox shock absorber to smooth out power delivery. A full-length chain guard is planned over the top run.
The petrol tank holds about 1½ to 1¾ gallons with separate apertures for petrol and oil. A Pilgrim oil pump will be installed as the restoration progresses. The hand-change gear mechanism requires clutch operation to shift. A steering damper will be fitted before completion. The original number plate is to be reinstated once the project is complete, with the goal of finishing by September.
When finished, this 1925 350 OHV will combine authentic period features with careful restoration work — an evocative survivor of Britain’s inter-war sporting singles, rebuilt for a new life on the road in America.
MILEAGE: No odometer, mileage unknown.
PAINT: The bike was repainted during a restoration that took place approximately thirty years ago. The paint still shows very well.
SHEET METAL: It is suspected that parts of the bike are not original. Mike Hawkins described buying the bike as a “basket case”, and he likely sought spare parts, when they were missing. That being said, the frame and engine numbers match, so the main components of the bike stayed together throughout its lifetime.
CHROME: The chrome/nickel plating on the bike is good but not show quality. The wheel rims and spokes are painted black.
MECHANICAL: The motorcycle is 95% complete. All key parts are there, but cables and likely a few other items are missing. It has been off the road for many years and will require completion and recommissioning before it sees tarmac again. The engine is free and kicks-over.
WHEELS & TIRES: It is believed that the rims are original. The front tire is an Avon Speedmaster MkII. The rear tire appears to be an off-brand tire from Tiawan. Both tires are wire-edge 26 x 3 and appear to be in excellent condition. The tubes are intact, and both tires hold air.
OTHER: The handlebar and footpeg rubbers are in good condition. The leather seat and toolbox covers are in good condition. This bike was clearly in the final stages of restoration before being shipped to the USA in 2008.
TITLE: No CA title. A bill of sale can be provided, plus import paperwork.
NADA: This year model not rated
ACCESSORIES: A video on the bike and import papers.
PRICE: Offered on the range of $16,385 to $20,944 with a Buy Now of $23,308
