What’s it like to ride?

On a visit to Rob’s in the summer of 2022, it was my turn to take the G3 out for a ride – and experience just how, put simply, ‘nice’ it is. There’s no other way of expressing its virtues really; it can’t be labelled exceptional in any area, but, likewise, there’s no obvious shortcomings. It’s just all very nice.

It starts easily, it ticks over nicely, the gearbox engages and changes as one would hope and it’s a willing little beastie, the engine pulling strongly on inclines. Brakes are as good as one would expect, while the forks and sprung seat provide a level of comfort that was, for the period, the norm. Just a thoroughly pleasing motorcycle, which, although it would perhaps run out of puff on A and faster B-roads, is ideal for the back lanes of Britain, its natural habitat and one in which, over eight decades since it rolled out of the Matchless factory, it continues to thrive.