Monthly Features
1954 AJS E95 "Porcupine"
2009 Concours d’Elegance First in Class Winner
| Country: | Great Britain |
| Engine: | Air-cooled, 45° parallel twin, four stroke |
| Ignition: | Lucas rotating magnet magneto, chain-driven |
| Power Rating: | Approx. 45 bhp |
| Bore x Stroke: | 68 x 68.5mm |
| Displacement: | 499cc |
| Valves: | Double overhead cams, gear driven |
| Fuel System: | Twin Amal GP carburetors, fed by mechanical fuel pump and header tank |
| Transmission: | Four speed Burman |
| Suspension: | Front Teledraulic forks, rear twin shock |
| Brakes: | Front and rear drum |
| Weight: | 340 lbs. |
| Top Speed: | 125 mph |
Introduced in 1952, the E95 was a much-redesigned version of the E90 horizontal twin, which was known as the Porcupine due to the spiky finning on the cylinder head. The original design was drawn pre-WWII when supercharging was legal. When racing resumed in the 40s, supercharging was banned and the Porcupine was uncompetitive. With the redesign, cylinders were given a 45° angle to shorten the wheelbase to improve handling. While fast, the machines were not reliable, and in 1954 were abandoned in favor of the G45 twin, a race version of the G9 street bike.
Pebble Beach photos courtesy of Bob Stokstap Photography
