View source for AJS

{{Short description|British automobile and motorcycle manufacturer from 1909 to 1931}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox company
| name             = A. J. Stevens & Co. Ltd (AJS)
| logo             = AJS motorcycle badge.jpg
| logo_size             = 250px
| type             =
| genre            =
| fate             = Taken over
| predecessor      =
| successor        = [[Matchless]]
| foundation       = 1909
| founder          = A. J. Stevens
| defunct          = 1931
| location_city    = [[Wolverhampton]]
| location_country = England
| location         =
| locations        =
| area_served      =
| key_people       = Joe Stevens
| industry         =
| products         = Cars and motorcycles
| services         =
| market cap       =
| revenue          =
| operating_income =
| net_income       =
| aum              =
| assets           =
| equity           =
| owner            =
| num_employees    =
| parent           =
| divisions        =
| subsid           =
| homepage         =
| footnotes        =
| intl             =
}}
'''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]], [[Associated Motorcycles]] and [[Norton-Villiers]] on [[four-stroke]] motorcycles until 1969, and since the name's resale in 1974, on lightweight, [[two-stroke]] scramblers and today on small-capacity roadsters and cruisers. The company held 117 motorcycle world records.

== History ==

=== Motorcycles ===

<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:AJS-at-the-TT.jpg|right|frame|1930 magazine cover featuring AJS motorcycles racing in the Isle of Man TT]] -->
[[File:AJS 192X 2.jpg|thumb|right|AJS]]
[[File:AJS 500 cc OHC Racer 1931.jpg|thumb|right|AJS 500&nbsp;cc OHC Racer 1931]]
[[File:AJS 350 cc TV 1936.jpg|thumb|right|AJS 350&nbsp;cc TV 1936]]
[[File:A. J. Stevens and Company 1926.jpg|thumb|left|Preference Share of the A. J. Stevens and Company (1914) Ltd., issued 11. February 1926]]
[[File:Matchless Silver Streak 1938.JPG|thumb|right|[[AJS Silver Streak]] 1938]]
[[File:AJS H5 Shuttleworth Snap Replica.jpg|thumb|right|AJS H5 Shuttleworth Snap Replica]]
Joe Stevens, father of Harry, George, Albert John (‘Jack’), and Joe Stevens Junior, was an engineer who owned the Stevens Screw Company Ltd, in Wednesfield, near Wolverhampton. Stevens had a reputation for quality engineering before the company built its first motorcycle in 1897, using a Mitchell single-cylinder four-stroke imported from the US. Before long, Stevens began making engines, starting off with a better-built version of the Mitchell but the family soon developed their own designs, including parallel-twins and [[V-twin]]s, which were sold as proprietary engines to other manufacturers, including Werner, Wolf and Clyno.<ref name="Grant">Title: AJS, The History of a Great Motorcycle, Publisher: Patrick Stephens Ltd, Copyright: 1969 Gregor Grant, SBN 85059 038 8</ref><ref name="Tragatsch">Title: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Motorcycles, Editor: Erwin Tragatsch, Publisher: New Burlington Books, Copyright: 1979 Quarto Publishing, Edition: 1988 Revised, Page 70-71, {{ISBN|978-0-906286-07-4}}</ref>

In 1909, after a [[Wearwell]] motorcycle fitted with a Stevens [[side-valve]] single-cylinder engine won a trophy for a 24-hour non-stop run in 1909, Jack Stevens decided to contest the [[Isle of Man TT|Tourist Trophy]] in the [[Isle of Man]]. A new company, A J Stevens & Co (AJS), was founded, with premises in Retreat Street, Wolverhampton, to manufacture motorcycles and the first model appeared at the Motor Cycle Show in 1910. Its engine, a two-speed 298&nbsp;cc side-valve, was made to come within the 300&nbsp;cc limit for Junior machines in the [[1911 Isle of Man TT]] races and was slightly larger than the 292&nbsp;cc used for the proprietary engines. Jack Stevens came 16th on AJS's official entry, one place behind private owner J.D. Corke on an identical machine.

Albert John Stevens lent his initials to the company, but it was a family concern. In 1922 for example, Harry Stevens acted as managing director, George Stevens as commercial manager, Joe Stevens Junior managing the experimental section and Jack Stevens as production manager.<ref name="Grant" /><ref name="wolver">{{cite web|url=http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Museum/Transport/Motorcycles/ajs4.htm |title=A. J. Stevens & Co. (1914) Ltd |access-date=2009-05-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520013755/http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Museum/Transport/Motorcycles/ajs4.htm |archive-date=2009-05-20 }} WolverhamptonLocalHistory ''AJS'' . Retrieved 28 November 2006.</ref>

AJS did not contest the 1912 TT as it was busy satisfying the demand for its products, but was 10th in the 1913 Junior. With the Junior limit raised to 350&nbsp;cc for 1914, the AJS motorcycle had grown to 349&nbsp;cc, with four-speed gears and chain final drive. AJS achieved their first TT victory in the Junior [[1914 Isle of Man TT]] race that year through [[Eric Williams (motorcyclist)|Eric Williams]], whilst also taking second, third, fourth and sixth place. The old Screw Company's facilities could not cope with the demand and with the company reconstituted as ''A.J. Stevens and Company (1914) Ltd'', AJS moved to a new factory built around Graiseley House, in the [[Blakenhall]] district, a short distance south of the Retreat Street premises, which were relegated to the being the company's office and repair department.<ref>[http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Museum/Transport/Cars/AJSfactories/Graiseley/graiseleyhillworks.htm Graiseky Hill Works] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020115914/http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Museum/Transport/Cars/AJSfactories/Graiseley/graiseleyhillworks.htm |date=20 October 2013 }} on the Wolverhampton Local History website.</ref> The 349&nbsp;cc machine (known as the {{frac|2|3|4}}&nbsp;hp) was most in demand but the company also produced an 800&nbsp;cc (6&nbsp;hp) V-twin.

On 3 November 1916, the [[Ministry of Munitions]] prohibited the production of non-military motorcycles, and AJS went over to manufacturing munitions, but in early 1917 the Ministry received an order from [[Russia]] for military vehicles, and AJS was given a contract to produce part of the order with its [[AJS Model D]] machine. This kept AJS busy until Ministry of Munitions restrictions were lifted in January 1919.<ref name="wolver"/>

When production of the 350 resumed in 1920, it was much improved. The side-valve engine was replaced by a new overhead-valve design that produced 10&nbsp;bhp. It also had internal expanding brakes and chain primary drive. Cyril Williams won the first post war [[1920 Isle of Man TT]] Junior race on his 350, even though he had to push the motorcycle home for almost four miles (mostly downhill) after a breakdown. AJS took the first four places in the [[1921 Isle of Man TT]], and [[Howard R Davies]] bettered his second place in the Junior by winning the Senior on the same 350&nbsp;cc AJS. This was the first time a 350 had won the 500&nbsp;cc Senior TT race.<ref name="iom">{{cite web |title=Meetings - Isle of Man TT Official Website |url=https://www.iomtt.com/tt-database/events?meet_code=TT21%20%20&era=1 |website=www.iomtt.com |access-date=6 July 2018 |language=en}}</ref> In 1922 Manxman Tom Sheard won the Junior on an AJS, with G Grinton, also on an AJS, taking second.

The 1922 machine was a classic design that would become famous as the ‘Big Port’ on account of its large-diameter exhaust port and pipe (initially 1{{fraction|5|8}}&nbsp;inches, but changed in successive years). The OHV 350 would be the mainstay of the company's racing efforts until 1927 and in production form (first offered to the public in 1923), was also AJS's most popular sports motorcycle throughout the 1920s. At this time, the company produced a comprehensive range of other models ranging from 250 to 1,000&nbsp;cc. These were generally given a model number, plus letter to denote the year of manufacture (for example, B meant 1924, F 1925, G 1926).

In 1929 for example, the AJS range consisted of:
M1 Deluxe 996&nbsp;cc side-valve V-twin £76/10/0;
M2 Standard 996&nbsp;cc side-valve V-twin £66/0/0;
M3 Deluxe Touring 349&nbsp;cc side-valve single £48/10/0;
M4 Deluxe Sporting 349&nbsp;cc side-valve single £48/10/0;
M5 Standard Sporting 349&nbsp;cc side-valve single £45/0/0;
M6 349&nbsp;cc overhead-valve single £54/10/0 (twin port), £52/0/0 (single port);
MR6 Special Sports 349&nbsp;cc overhead-valve single £62/0/0;
M7 349&nbsp;cc overhead-camshaft single £62/0/0;
M8 498&nbsp;cc overhead-valve single £62/0/0 (twin port), £59/10/0 (single port);
MR8 Special Sports 498&nbsp;cc overhead-valve single £72/0/0;
M9 Deluxe Touring 498&nbsp;cc side-valve £54/0/0;
M10 498&nbsp;cc overhead-camshaft single £72/0/0;
M12 Lightweight 248&nbsp;cc side-valve single £39/17/6.
Several of these were intended to pull one of the 12 AJS [[sidecars]] also on offer, including sports, touring and commercial models.<ref name="catalogue">Title: Series "M" AJS Motorcycles, Publisher: A.J. Stevens & Co (1914) Ltd, 1929</ref>

[[File:AJS 1930s SLNSW FL15590661.jpg|thumb|AJS motorbike, Sydney, c. 1930]]
By 1927, it had become clear that push-rod overhead-valve designs were becoming dated in racing, so AJS introduced two new chain-driven overhead-camshaft racing models, the 349&nbsp;cc K7 and the 498&nbsp;cc K10. Jimmy Simpson rode a 350 to third place in the Junior TT and won races in Europe but in 1928 AJS used the overhead-valve engine in the TT. In 1929 there were again two machines with an overhead cam, this time the 349&nbsp;cc M7 and the 498&nbsp;cc M10. [[Wal Handley]] came second in the 1929 Junior TT for AJS. The following year [[Jimmie Guthrie]] won the 1930 Lightweight TT on a 250&nbsp;cc AJS.<ref name="wolver"/> The R7,350 ohc, won 8 of the 9 Grand Prix and established at Montlhery, near Paris, a number of world records, including 1 hour at an average of 104.5 miles per hour and 2 hours at an average of 99.5

In 1931, the [[AJS S3 V-twin]] was released, a 496&nbsp;cc transverse V-twin tourer with shaft ''primary'' drive<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.classicissues.com/bidetail.asp?AutoNo%3D178 |title=Classic Issues - Mortons Media Group Ltd |access-date=2006-11-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070301230651/http://www.classicissues.com/bidetail.asp?AutoNo=178 |archive-date=2007-03-01 }} ClassicIssues ''The Classic MotorCycle, December, 1985, Feature List'' . Retrieved 28 November 2006.</ref> and alloy cylinder heads.<ref>[http://www.motorbyte.com/mmm/pages/mchistory/mchistory6_98_b.htm] Motorbyte ''Uncle Paul and his 1931 AJS S3'' . Retrieved 28 November.</ref> It had been expensive to develop and was slow to sell. Even though it held 117 world records, the AJS company was now in financial trouble.

The 1935 film ''[[No Limit (1935 film)|No Limit]]'' was set at the [[Isle of Man TT]]. The film starred [[George Formby]] as an aspiring racer who travels to the Isle of Man with his modified and [[streamlined]] 1928 ''"Rainbow"'' motorcycle, which he has christened a ''Shuttleworth Snap,'' in order to compete at the races. In the film fictitious motorcycle companies were used, and the ''Shuttleworth Snap'' was in fact a 1928 AJS H5.

=== Automobiles, omnibuses, and coaches ===
[[File:AJS 9 HP 1930-1931 schräg 2.JPG|thumb|AJS 9 HP <ref>{{cite web|url= https://revsinstitute.org/WMS/1286064634.pdf |title= AJS 9 HP (The A.J.S. "Nine" instruction book series A. )|date=1931-01-01|publisher= A.J. Stevens & Co. Ltd., 1914. |via = Revs Institute |access-date=2025-07-06}}</ref>(1930–1931) at the [[Black Country Living Museum]]]]
Although best known for their motorcycles the company made a few experimental cars with [[Henry Meadows|Meadows]] engines in 1923 but decided not to go into full production.

AJS had manufactured car bodies for Clyno, but in 1929 Clyno went under.<ref name="wolver"/> AJS returned to car making in 1929 with the Nine powered by a 1018&nbsp;cc side-valve [[Coventry-Climax]] engine producing {{convert|24|bhp|abbr=on}} and driving through a three-speed gearbox. The cars were quite expensive at £210 for the two-seater and £320 for the fabric bodied saloon. About 1,000 were made.

The company also started making buses and coaches. The first model was the Pilot with a [[Henry Meadows|Meadows]] engine. This was followed by the Commodore with a [[Coventry Climax]] L6 engine and finally by the Admiral. Just over 200 buses were built.<ref name="wolver"/>

In 1931, A. J. Stevens & Co went into administration. After BSA failed to obtain control, the motorcycle assets were bought by the Collier brothers London company [[Matchless]] and the car manufacturer [[Crossley Motors]]. Crossley incorporated some improvements such as a four-speed gearbox and using parts acquired from AJS built about 300 cars between December 1931 and May 1932. Assembly took place in the [[Stockport]] factory used by [[Willys Overland Crossley]]. Motorcycle production moved to [[Plumstead]] in London.

A 1½-litre model was planned, but failed to materialize except to appear on the Willys-Overland-Crossley stand at the 1932 [[Motor Show (UK)|London Motor Show]].

In 1938, AJS became part of a group called [[Associated Motorcycles]], formed by the Colliers as a management company for its various interests. After this [[Matchless]] and AJS generally shared models using different badging, although the AJS name was used for several unique racers.

[[File:Lone Rider - Steve Field.jpg|thumb|''The Lone Rider'' by [[Steve Field (sculptor)|Steve Field]] (1996) ]]

The site of the Wolverhampton factory, now a supermarket, is marked by a sculpture, ''The Lone Rider'', designed by [[Steve Field (sculptor)|Steve Field]] and carved by Robert Bowers, assisted by Michael Scheuermann.<ref name="NoszlopySBC">{{Cite book |publisher= [[Liverpool University Press]] |isbn= 9780853239895 |last= Noszlopy |first= George Thomas |author-link= George Noszlopy |author2 = Fiona Waterhouse |title= Public Sculpture of Staffordshire and the Black Country |date= 2005-01-01 }}</ref><ref name="PMSA-LR">{{cite web|url=http://www.pmsa.org.uk/pmsa-database/5855/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020060640/http://www.pmsa.org.uk/pmsa-database/5855/|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 October 2013|title=The Lone Rider|publisher=[[Public Monuments and Sculpture Association]]|access-date=19 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Coord|52.575861|-2.135798|type:landmark_region:GB |name= ''The Lone Rider''}}</ref>

=== Stevens Motorcycles ===
The Stevens brothers tried again and started a new company as '''Stevens Brothers (Wolverhampton) Ltd''' to make 3-wheel delivery vans. (They could not call them AJS, as that name belonged to the Colliers.) These used a 588&nbsp;cc single-cylinder engine driving the rear wheels through a 3-speed gearbox and chain drive. The van could carry 5&nbsp;[[Hundredweight|cwt]]. It was improved in 1935 with shaft drive and uprated to 8&nbsp;cwt. The last ones were made in 1936. In 1934 they also produced a new range of motorcycles under the Stevens name. These were made until 1938 after which the company continued until 1956 as a general engineering business.

=== AJS Radios ===
AJS designer Harry Stevens was a keen amateur 'ham' radio operator since before World War I. In 1922, following the launch of Britain's first radio stations and the formation of the [[BBC]] he convinced the rest of the AJS board that radio receivers had a big future. The first radios made by AJS Wireless and Scientific Instruments were launched in 1923, all high quality models aimed at the top end of the market. The most expensive cost £75, which was substantially more than many AJS motorcycles, although prices soon fell. Initial sales were good and by 1925, there were 10 models ranging from under £14 in a simple wooden case to over £50 with a finely veneered console cabinet. Radio production was increased and moved to a factory in Stewart Street. However, radio technology had advanced rapidly and AJS was forced to offer new designs in order to compete. The company's reliance on battery power held them back at a time when rivals were turning to mains power and AJS was forced to adopt cheaper mass-production techniques. In 1928, the company decided to give up radio manufacture and sold the factory and remaining components to the Symphony Gramophone and Radio Company.<ref name="radio">[http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/Museum/Engineering/Electronics/ajs.htm] WolverhamptonLocalHistory ''Radio''. Retrieved 4 October 2014.</ref>

== AJS Racing under AMC ==
[[File:AJS 7R 350&nbsp;cc Racer 1948.jpg|thumb|right|AJS 7R 350&nbsp;cc Racer 1948]]
[[File:AJS 7R 350&nbsp;cc Racer 1950.jpg|thumb|right|AJS 7R 350&nbsp;cc Racer 1950]]
Under AMC the AJS badge may have been put on the "bread and butter" Matchless motorcycles, but the Colliers were mindful of the AJS racing heritage, and used the name on some innovative racing machinery. These racing bikes kept the AJS name alive.

In 1935, at the Olympia Show, an air-cooled SOHC AJS 50° V4 was shown, a fully equipped road going version, which did not make it into production. In 1936 Harold Daniell rode a supercharged race version in the Isle of Man Senior TT, but despite its high top speed, it lacked acceleration.<ref>Title: ''Classic Racer'' magazine, Issue: 121, Article: Ahead of the Game Pages: 34 – 40 {{ISSN|1470-4463}}</ref>

In 1939, a water-cooled and supercharged version of the 495&nbsp;cc [[AJS V4]] was built to compete against the supercharged BMWs then dominating racing. In 1939 the dry sump V4 was the first bike to lap the Ulster Grand Prix course at over {{convert|100|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}. It weighed {{convert|405|lb|kg|abbr=on}}. and its top speed was {{convert|135|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}. Then World War II intervened.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcfrank/sammymuseum.html |title=Motorcycle Online: The Sammy Miller Museum |access-date=2006-10-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061205061206/http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcfrank/sammymuseum.html |archive-date=2006-12-05 }} Motorcycle ''The Sammy Miller Museum''. Retrieved 25 October 2006.</ref>

At the end of the 1940s and start of the 1950s, the [[AJS Porcupine]], a 500&nbsp;cc forward-facing parallel twin, and the [[AJS 7R]] (32&nbsp;bhp, 350&nbsp;cc OHC single) were being raced alongside their AMC stablemates the [[Matchless G50]] (effectively a 500&nbsp;cc 7R) and by 1951, the [[Matchless G45]] (a 500&nbsp;cc vertical twin).<ref>[http://www.jampot.com/History.asp] Jampot ''AMC'' . Retrieved 25 October 2006.</ref> The AJS Porcupine had been designed for [[supercharger|supercharging]], before the rules changed banning supercharged racing motorcycles, but even so, [[Leslie Graham|Les Graham]] won the [[1949 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1949 World Championship]] on an unsupercharged AJS E90 500&nbsp;cc Porcupine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teamobsolete.com/nmm/nmmrev.html |title=2000 and 2001 Review |access-date=2006-10-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310132633/http://www.teamobsolete.com/nmm/nmmrev.html |archive-date=2007-03-10 }} ''Goodwood Revival Meeting, September 2000'' . Retrieved 25 October 2006.</ref>

In 1951 AJS development engineer Ike Hatch developed a 75.5&nbsp;mm bore × 78&nbsp;mm stroke, three-valve-head version of the 7R making {{convert|36|bhp|kW|abbr=on}}. It was called the AJS 7R3, and was Ike's response to the Italian multi-cylinder racers. They did well enough in their first year, not as well the second. For 1954 [[Jack Williams (motorcyclist)|Jack Williams]], the works team manager, developed the bike further, lowering the engine in the frame, and making some tuning changes that gave {{convert|40|bhp|kW|abbr=on}} @ 7800&nbsp;rpm. It immediately won the first two rounds of the World Championship and took first at the Isle of Man TT. These were factory specials, but one has survived, and a second has been reconstructed from spares.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.realclassic.co.uk/news030522.html |title=RealClassic.co.uk: News 22nd May - AJS 7R3 Racebike Revival |access-date=2006-10-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060908160419/http://www.realclassic.co.uk/news030522.html |archive-date=2006-09-08 }} RealClassic ''AJS 7R3 Racebike Revival'' . Retrieved 25 October 2006.</ref>

AMC withdrew from the world of works and one-off road racing at the end of the 1954, with the death of Ike Hatch, and in the face of fierce competition from the other European bikes. After this AJS made a production version of the standard two-valve [[AJS 7R]], for privateers. In 1954 Norton was also moved to the Plumstead works.

With the G15 line, AMC had built on the merits of the G12 but there were numerous changes to frame, forks, swinging arm, primary chaincase, transmission, cycle parts and lubrication system. The P11 was the last line of bikes with bonds to AMC. It used a modified G85CS frame but there were stronger forks, completely new cycle parts (making some was rather costly), altered lubrication and modified primary chaincases, to mention a few.

The G15 series was offered as 3 brands: Matchless G15 comprising G15Mk2, G15CS and G15CSR; AJS Model 33 comprising M33Mk2, M33CS and M33CSR; and last not least Norton N15CS (no Norton-branded roadster made as it would compete against the Atlas). The G15 series was produced from 1963 to 1969. They were initially for export only, but by 1965 these models were available in UK and Europe too.

Associated Motorcycles and the AJS name eventually ended up with [[Norton-Villiers]] in 1966. In late 1968 the [[Plumstead]] works at Burrage Grove, where engines from the [[Wolverhampton]] plant and frames from the [[Manchester]] plant were assembled into complete machines, were presented with a [[Greater London Council]] [[compulsory purchase order]]. The Plumstead works closed in July 1969. It is believed that production of the G15 series was halted late in 1968 (model year 1969) with unsold samples on offer through 1969. The AJS Model 33 was the last AJS badged four-stroke produced.

== AJS two-strokes and Norton road racer ==

From 1962 Cotton motorcycles were the main customer for 250 Starmaker engines. The 250 Starmaker engines were used in the Cotton Cobra scrambler and the Telstar Racer. Cotton therefore was very involved in the development of the Starmaker engine..

Peter Inchely formerly from Ariel and BSA was involved with the 250 Road Race project. Inchley rode a Bultaco-based 6-speed, 250 Villiers Starmaker-powered special to 3rd place in the 1966 Lightweight TT. Several pre production AJS 250 Racers were built and raced but the project came to halt in 1967 after an unsuccessful second TT attempt. The scrambles project continued with considerable success.

From 1966 to 1968, Villiers developed the "Stormer" Motocross motorcycle. In 1968 Malcolm Davis won the British 250 Championship on a pre Stormer, Y4 scrambler.

In late 1967, a special project was undertaken with the Stormer. Four bikes were built at Marston Road,{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}} all equipped with spark arrestors on the end of the tailpipe and with a rudimentary lighting system. Three of them had 250&nbsp;cc engines and were badged as AJS machines. The fourth one had the "360" engine (actually only 334&nbsp;cc) and was badged as a Matchless. This bike was probably the last one built with a Matchless badge and the only [[two-stroke]] Matchless. The four bikes were taken on by members of the Royal Air Force motor Sports Association and entered in the 1968 International Six-Days Trial.

The [[two-stroke]] AJSs had been built in Wolverhampton, at the Villiers factory but in 1970 the UK government provided a special subsidy that enabled AJS to open a new factory on Walworth Industrial Estate in Andover, where they assembled Stormer off-road motorcycles. The competition department was located next to the famous race track at [[Thruxton, Hampshire|Thruxton]], [[Andover, Hampshire|Andover]].

AJS scramblers were produced from 1968 until 1974 in 250, 370 and 410 guises. The early 250 was designated the Y4. In 1969 The 370 (Y5) was added and the name changed to Stormer. The 410 followed in 1972.

A little known about motorcycle was the 37AT Trials bike which was partially built by Cotton Motorcycles using some AJS parts and Villiers's 37A engine.

By 1974, Norton Villiers was having financial trouble, and the rights to manufacture the Stormer under the AJS banner were purchased. In September 1974 the business was moved to [[Goodworth Clatford]] near [[Andover, Hampshire|Andover]]. Initially selling spare parts for existing motorcycles, the business expanded to produce complete motorcycles still using the Starmaker-based engines under the FB-AJS name.

The Starmaker/Stormer four-speed engine was becoming outdated and could not compete with the new arrivals from manufacturers such as Husqvarna, CZ and later, scrambles bikes from Maico, Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha.

From 1974 Stormer-based scrambles and trail bikes were sold from modified AJS stock. Keeping the model updated until 1980.
During the early 1980s off-road and trail bike with Austrian Rotax engines of 250&nbsp;cc, 410&nbsp;cc and 495&nbsp;cc were produced.

== AJS Motorcycles Ltd. (today) ==
AJS no longer manufacture bikes. Rather they purchase from companies in [[China]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/bikes/AJS.htm | title=AJS Motorcycle Specifications }}</ref> The bikes have AJS logos and other custom detailing features. Their 124cc range are built around the Jianshe JS125 frame and engine. These are first imported from China then distributed through their UK dealer network and exported to Germany, Portugal, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Japan and S. Korea.<ref>[http://www.ajsmotorcycles.co.uk www.ajsmotorcycles.co.uk]</ref>

=== Recent and current models ===

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Model
! Years produced
! Notes
! Type
! Photograph
|-
! scope="row" | AJS Stormer
| 2014 ON
| Villiers Starmaker-derived 4-stroke engine. Liquid cooled
| Road bike
|
|-
! scope="row" | FB-AJS
| 1974 - 1987
| Villiers Starmaker-derived 2-stroke engine. 250, 370 & 410
| Moto-X & Trail
|[[File:Nick Brown-360-FBAJS-1981.jpg|right|100px|alt=Photograph]]
|-
! scope="row" | Cotton Cobra Replica
| 1991–2000
| Villiers Starmaker-derived 2-stroke engine. 250
| Road bike
|[[File:Nick Brown-250 Cobra replica-Mortimer(3).jpg|right|100px|alt=Photograph]]
|-
! scope="row" | Cotton Telstar Replica
| 1992–1998
| Villiers Starmaker-derived 2-stroke engine. 250
| Classic Racer
|
|-
! scope="row" | Cotton Triumph Replica
| 1992–2000
| Triumph 500 unit twin
| Pre-65 Moto-X
|[[File:Tricot6.jpg|right|100px|alt=Photograph]]
|-
! scope="row" | AJS YX-R 125
| 2006–2008
| 4-stroke, air & oil-cooled single-cylinder, 4 valves
| Trail
|
|-
! scope="row" | AJS CR3-125
| 2006–2008
| 4-stroke, air-cooled single-cylinder
| Sports
|
|-
! scope="row" | AJS Regal Raptor DD50E
| 2002–2007
| 50&nbsp;cc, 4-stroke, air-cooled single-cylinder
| Custom
|
|-
! scope="row" | AJS Regal Raptor DD125E
| since 2005–2019
| 125&nbsp;cc, 4-stroke, air-cooled twin-cylinder
| Custom
|
|-
! scope="row" | AJS Regal Raptor DD125E-8 Silverhawk
| 2007–2008
| 125&nbsp;cc, 4-stroke, water-cooled twin-cylinder
| Custom
|
|-
! scope="row" | AJS Regal Raptor Eos 125
| 2007–2018
| 125&nbsp;cc, 4-stroke, water-cooled twin-cylinder
| Custom
|
|-
! scope="row" | AJS Regal Raptor Eos 250
| 2008–2009
| 250&nbsp;cc, 4-stroke, water-cooled twin-cylinder
| Custom
|
|-
! scope="row" | AJS Regal Raptor DD250E-9B
| 2006–2008
| 250&nbsp;cc, 4-stroke, water-cooled twin-cylinder
| Custom
|
|-
! scope="row" | AJS NAC12
| 2010–2019
| 125&nbsp;cc, 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, twin-cylinder
| Naked
|
|-
! scope="row" | AJS Regal Raptor Daytona 125
| 2010–2019
| 125&nbsp;cc, 4-stroke, water-cooled twin-cylinder
| Custom
|
|-
! scope="row" | AJS Regal Raptor Bobber 125
| 2010–2016
| 125&nbsp;cc, 4-stroke, water-cooled twin-cylinder
| Old Skool Custom
|
|-
! scope="row" | AJS Eco1 (JS125-E)
| 2007–2008
| 125&nbsp;cc, 4-stroke, air-cooled, single, OHC, with Balance Shaft
| Roadster
|<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:JS125E-RED-1.jpg|right|100px|alt=Photograph]] -->
|-
! scope="row" | AJS Eco2 (JS125-E)
| 2009–2015
| 125&nbsp;cc, 4-stroke, air-cooled, single, OHC, with Balance Shaft
| Roadster
|
|-
! scope="row" | AJS JSM 125
| 2009–2011
| 125&nbsp;cc, 4-stroke, air-cooled, single, OHC, with Balance Shaft
| Super Motard or Trail versions
|
|-
! scope="row" | AJS Cadwell 125
| since 2016
| 125&nbsp;cc, 4-stroke, air-cooled, single, OHC, with Balance Shaft
| Cafe Racer
|
|-
! scope="row" | AJS Tempest Roadster 125
| since 2018
| 125&nbsp;cc, 4-stroke, air-cooled, single, OHC, with Balance Shaft
| Classic Roadster
|
|-
! scope="row" | AJS Tempest Scrambler 125
| since 2018
| 125&nbsp;cc, 4-stroke, air-cooled, single, OHC, with Balance Shaft
| Street Scrambler
|
|-
! scope="row" | AJS Highway Star 125
| since 2019
| 125&nbsp;cc, 4-stroke, oil-cooled, twin cylinder, OHC, with EFI
| Custom Cruiser
|
|-
|}
<ref name="ajstoday">{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Nick |title=MD |url=https://www.ajsmotorcycles.co.uk |website=AJS Motorcycles Ltd. |publisher=NJB |access-date=24 July 2019 |ref=1}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of AMC motorcycles]]
* [[List of car manufacturers of the United Kingdom]]

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.ajsmotorcycles.co.uk AJS Motorcycles web site]
* [http://freeaj.byethost5.com/ AJS Bobber help site]

{{British motorcycle manufacturers}}
{{500cc/MotoGP World Constructors' Champions}}

[[Category:Vintage vehicles]]
[[Category:Defunct bus manufacturers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Motorcycle manufacturers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Wolverhampton]]
[[Category:AJS motorcycles| AJS motorcycles]]
[[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of England]]