Another time
In the heart of a dimly lit garage, where posters of roaring racers fade into the shadows, sits a timeless relic: a 1927 AJS 350cc OHV "Big Port" single-cylinder motorcycle, its black enamel gleaming under the workshop lights like a polished obsidian artifact from Britain's golden age of motorcycling. This isn't just any bike—it's a prized racing model from A.J. Stevens & Co. of Wolverhampton, engineered for speed and glory on the treacherous tracks of the 1920s. With its signature "Big Port" exhaust—a massive 1 5/8-inch outlet designed to unleash raw power and high-revving fury—this overhead-valve marvel dominated the Isle of Man TT, clinching the Junior TT in 1920, 1921, and 1922, and even shocking the world by winning the Senior TT in 1921 as a plucky 350cc underdog against beefier 500cc rivals. Riders like Howard Davies pushed it to limits unimaginable, hitting speeds over 70 mph on winding roads, its air-cooled engine growling through brass fittings and exposed rockers, a symphony of mechanical precision with dry-sump lubrication and detachable heads for those frantic pit stops.Bearing the license plate RO 6830, first registered on December 17, 1926, in Hampshire, this machine whispered tales of adventure from the start. Delivered fresh from the factory, it soon found its way into the hands of F. Manning of 5 Exeter Road, Southsea—a naval hub buzzing with soldiers and sailors in the interwar years. Perhaps Manning, a serviceman fresh from the echoes of World War I, chose this AJS for its reliability on Portsmouth's cobbled streets or for weekend escapes along coastal lanes, the chain drive clinking rhythmically as the three-speed gearbox shifted under his boot. Over the decades, it passed through owners, its logbook stamped with changes in 1930 and 1936, surviving economic turmoil and another world war, a testament to AJS's build quality that saw 10,000 units roll out in 1927 alone.Up close, as in this intimate portrait of its engine, the bike reveals its soul: the scripted gold "A.J.S." on the tank, the coiled springs of the girder forks ready to absorb every bump, and the patina of oil and grit on the cylinder fins speaking of miles conquered. Priced at around £52 in its day—affordable thrill for the daring—this Big Port wasn't just transportation; it was freedom incarnate, a bridge between the racetrack's adrenaline and the open road's romance. Today, restored and revered, it stands as a collector's dream, valued at £15,000–£25,000, waiting for the next chapter in its storied ride.
Another time
In the heart of a dimly lit garage, where posters of roaring racers fade into the shadows, sits a timeless relic: a 1927 AJS 350cc OHV "Big Port" single-cylinder motorcycle, its black enamel gleaming under the workshop lights like a polished obsidian artifact from Britain's golden age of motorcycling. This isn't just any bike—it's a prized racing model from A.J. Stevens & Co. of Wolverhampton, engineered for speed and glory on the treacherous tracks of the 1920s. With its signature "Big Port" exhaust—a massive 1 5/8-inch outlet designed to unleash raw power and high-revving fury—this overhead-valve marvel dominated the Isle of Man TT, clinching the Junior TT in 1920, 1921, and 1922, and even shocking the world by winning the Senior TT in 1921 as a plucky 350cc underdog against beefier 500cc rivals. Riders like Howard Davies pushed it to limits unimaginable, hitting speeds over 70 mph on winding roads, its air-cooled engine growling through brass fittings and exposed rockers, a symphony of mechanical precision with dry-sump lubrication and detachable heads for those frantic pit stops.Bearing the license plate RO 6830, first registered on December 17, 1926, in Hampshire, this machine whispered tales of adventure from the start. Delivered fresh from the factory, it soon found its way into the hands of F. Manning of 5 Exeter Road, Southsea—a naval hub buzzing with soldiers and sailors in the interwar years. Perhaps Manning, a serviceman fresh from the echoes of World War I, chose this AJS for its reliability on Portsmouth's cobbled streets or for weekend escapes along coastal lanes, the chain drive clinking rhythmically as the three-speed gearbox shifted under his boot. Over the decades, it passed through owners, its logbook stamped with changes in 1930 and 1936, surviving economic turmoil and another world war, a testament to AJS's build quality that saw 10,000 units roll out in 1927 alone.Up close, as in this intimate portrait of its engine, the bike reveals its soul: the scripted gold "A.J.S." on the tank, the coiled springs of the girder forks ready to absorb every bump, and the patina of oil and grit on the cylinder fins speaking of miles conquered. Priced at around £52 in its day—affordable thrill for the daring—this Big Port wasn't just transportation; it was freedom incarnate, a bridge between the racetrack's adrenaline and the open road's romance. Today, restored and revered, it stands as a collector's dream, valued at £15,000–£25,000, waiting for the next chapter in its storied ride.