early G80CS's was 82.5 mm (3.25"), while the 1956 through 1966 "short stroke" (final version) models had a bore of 86 mm. The C is for Competition (Scrambles) and the S for Suspension (not a rigid rear frame). Matchless also made a 600 cc version of the G80 called Typhoon from 1959 to 1962. The engine prefix code was TCS on these bikes. The bore was increased to 89 mm, while the stroke was increased from 85.5 mm to a whopping 96 mm. Based on the number of currently known TCS's on the Typhoon register kept by Rick Mann, it is now estimated that 225 to 300 were made by the factory over a four-year period, and almost all of them were sold in the US. The rarest of these is the single down tube framed version, the 1959 G80TCS, and its even rarer identical sister the 1959 AJS 18TCS. This one year only variant with a slightly smaller cylinder capacity, had a frame that when thrashed was less robust than the models that followed. Nevertheless, it is often favored over the duplex framed TCS models (1960 to 1962) because of its lighter weight and easier maneuverability. There was a road model with lights and a competition model without lights. Engine numbers usually start with the year of production, followed by model designation, and completed with the production number of the motorcycle. Les Harris Matchless G80 Launched in 1987 by motorcycle spares businessman, Les Harris, and designed by Brian Jones, a new "Matchless G80" single was released powered by an Austrian Rotax 4-stroke, single over-head cam (SOHC), 500cc engine. Components from Italy such as front and rear Paioli suspension, Dellorto carburetor, Lafranconi silencers and Brembo disc brakes were used whilst, harking back to his licence-built Triumph Bonneville T140s, the frame doubled up as the oil tank. German components included the Varta battery and Magura switchgear. The model was offered in colours of silver, black or metallic burgundy. Although electric start and twin disc brakes were options, priced at £2700 (£500 more than a Yamaha motorcycle of similar specification), this was not a successful machine and production ended by 1990. See also List of motorcycles of the 1940s List of motorcycles of the 1950s References G80 Motorcycles introduced in the 1940s