The James was known, post war, as a ride to work machine.  There were a couple of sporty models but in the main they were honest, reliable, well designed bikes with few frills. 

The decision, by A.M.C., to design and build their own range of two stroke engines has been criticised by many.  Costs will have been considerable.  The programme began in the mid-fifties when motorcycle sales were buoyant and both James and Francis-Barnett made use of them in large numbers, but the engines did not have much, if any, advantage over their Villiers equivalents and reliability was questionable. 

Around 1962 some of the engines (150cc and 199cc anyway) were assembled by Villiers in the hope, presumably,  that the two-stroke experts could put right some of the faults.

When the factory gates finally closed in1966 it brought to an end a long line of highly regarded motorcycles.

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