Matchless Silver Arrow

The Matchless Silver Arrow was a motorcycle made by Matchless from late 1929 to 1933. It had a cast iron head monoblock side-valve, 400 cc, transverse 18° V-twin with chain drive, designed by racer Charlie Collier.[1]

Matchless Silver Arrow
ManufacturerMatchless Motor Cycles (Colliers) Ltd, Plumstead Road, London
Production1929-1933
Engine397 cc SV narrow angle V twin
Power16 bhp (12 kW) at 5000 rpm
TransmissionSturmey Archer Gearbox
Three speed (1929-1932)
Four speed (1932-193x)
Wheelbase56 in (1,400 mm)
DimensionsL: 84 in (2,100 mm)
Fuel capacity2.5 imp gal (11 L; 3.0 US gal)

Description

The narrow angle of the cylinder bank's V allowed the use of a one piece head, a practice used by Lancia in its early V4 automobile engines.[2] The rear suspension was a cantilever design using two springs and friction dampers beneath the saddle, very similar to the 1928 Vincent HRD design. Linked brakes were used, as had appeared on the 1925 Rudge Four. The carburettor was an Amal type 4/014 (bottom petrol feed).[3]

The bike did not sell well and within the year led to the Bert Collier designed Matchless Silver Hawk.

Models

Two models were produced, the 'Standard model' which had acetylene lighting and bulb horn, priced in 1930 at £57/10/6 and the 'De Luxe model' which had electric lighting and instrument panel, priced in 1930 at £63/2/6. In 1931 both were designated A/2 and minor changes included a four speed gearbox with improved gear ratios with lower 1st and higher top gear and a more rounded petrol tank, the Amal carburettor jet was changed from 70 to 55 and the diameter of the exhaust pipe was increased with ports on the head spaced further apart (65/8" instead of 51/8").[3]

References
  1. "Matchless". Is-it-a-lemon Vehicle Histories. 31 October 2004. Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2006.
  2. Vincent, Eóin (29 August 2014), "The Lancia Fulvia V4", Driven to Write
  3. "Matchless Silver Arrow specification changes" (PDF). Archived from the original (pdf) on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2008.


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