The AJS Model D is a British

motorcycle A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruisin ...

made by A. J. Stevens & Co. Ltd in

Wolverhampton Wolverhampton () is a City status in the United Kingdom, city, metropolitan borough and administrative centre in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. The population size has increased by 5.7%, from around 249,500 in 2011 United ...

between 1912 and 1925. With production halted by the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fig ...

AJS managed to develop the Model D into a popular sidecar machine and it was eventually replaced by the larger capacity

AJS Model E A. J. Stevens & Co. Ltd was a British automobile and motorcycle manufacturer in operation from 1909 to 1931. The company was founded by Joe Stevens in Wolverhampton, England. After the firm was sold, the name continued to be used by Matchless, ...

Development

In 1905 the Stevens Motor Manufacturing Company built a

V-twin A V-twin engine, also called a V2 engine, is a two-cylinder piston engine where the cylinders share a common crankshaft and are arranged in a V configuration. Although widely associated with motorcycles (installed either transversely or long ...

motorcycle powered by a

JA Prestwich Industries Ltd JA Prestwich Industries, was a British engineering equipment manufacturing company named after founder John Alfred Prestwich, which was formed in 1951 by the amalgamation of J.A.Prestwich and Company Limited and Pencils Ltd. History John Prest ...

motor, with leading-link front forks and a swinging fork at the rear. A new company, A J Stevens & Co ( AJS), was founded in 1909 to manufacture motorcycles and at the 1912 London Motorcycle show they launched the 698cc side valve AJS Model D. Featuring cylinders at 50 degrees and chain drive to a three speed countershaft gearbox with a hand gear change, the original engines had quickly removable cylinder heads but after problems with oil leaks a more permanent head was specified for 1913. The side valve engine was lubricated by a 'total loss' system operated by a hand pump. Ignition was achieved with a Splitdorf Magneto and the fuel system featured an Amac automatic carburettor. The silencer was made from cast aluminium and the frame was a tubular 'diamond' construction, with Brampton bi-flex front forks, which had an unusual two way movement, and quickly detachable wheels. The sidecar version of the Model D proved particularly successful and became so popular that AJS were not able to meet demand.

First World war

The outbreak of the First World War in 1914 nearly saw the end of the company as a motorcycle producer as they failed to secure motorcycle contracts for the armed forces and the factory was turned over to produce munitions for the war effort instead. In 1916 the

Ministry of Munitions The Minister of Munitions was a British government position created during the First World War to oversee and co-ordinate the production and distribution of munitions for the war effort. The position was created in response to the Shell Crisis o ...

banned production of motorcycles except for military use, but in 1917 they needed to fulfil an order from Russia for large numbers of motorcycles and AJS were contracted to build 1100 6 hp military motorcycles, enabling them to continue development of the Model D despite the restrictions.

Post War resurgence

After the war ended in November 1918 and the Ministry restrictions were lifted, AJS restarted motorcycle production at a new factory at Graisley Hill in

and the Model D was resurrected with the capacity increased to 748cc and a new design of saddle and fuel tank. The idea of detachable cylinder heads was reintroduced with a cross strap and tie bolts to help ensure that they remained oil tight. At the Graisley Hill works AJS had their own foundry, enamelling facility, frame works and press as well as the motorcycle production line. Except for a few electrical and rubber components, the whole of the Model D was made in-house and the company also supplied engines to

Brough Superior Brough Superior ( ) motorcycles, sidecars, and automobile, motor cars were made by George Brough in his Brough Superior works on Haydn Road in Nottingham, England, from 1919 to 1940. The motorcycles were dubbed the "Rolls-Royce car, Rolls-Roy ...

, OK Supreme and the

Morgan Motor Company The Morgan Motor Company is a British motor car manufacturer owned by Italian investment group Investindustrial. It was founded in 1910 by Henry Frederick Stanley Morgan. Morgan is based in Malvern Link, an area of Malvern, and employs ap ...

. An updated 7 hp version of the Model D was launched at the Olympia Motorcycle Show in November 1920. In 1923 a cheaper version called the Model D1 was introduced and 1924 was the best year for sales, which continued to outstrip the capacity of the factory despite increasing the Graiseley Hill works to 230,000 square feet.

Model E

The Model D remained in production until 1925 and became popular as a sidecar machine. In 1925 it was developed into the AJS Model E which had the capacity increased further to 799cc and a new design of frame to allow a lower seat height. The Model E was designed for sidecar use and was later increased to 990cc before production ended again on the outbreak of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

in 1939.

Notes and references

External links