Velocette Venom

Velocette Venom
ManufacturerVelocette
Production1955–70
Engine499 cc, OHV air-cooled single
Bore / stroke86.0 mm × 86.0 mm (3.39 in × 3.39 in)
Top speed100 mph[1][2]
Power34 bhp @ 6,200 rpm[1]
Brakesdrum brakes
Wheelbase54.75 inches (139.1 cm)
Weight390lb (177 kg) (dry)

The Velocette Venom was a 499 cc single-cylinder four-stroke British motorcycle made by Velocette at Hall Green in Birmingham.[3] A total of 5,721 machines were produced between 1955 and 1970.

In 1961 a factory-prepared faired Velocette Venom and a team of riders set the 24-hour world record at a speed of 100.05 mph (161.01 km/h) at the Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry, a banked oval racetrack in France. It was the first motorcycle to average over 100 mph continuously for 24 hours and no 500cc or single-cylinder motorcycle has broken this record.[4]

In 1965, the Velocette Venom was further developed with a full racing kit to create the range-topping Velocette Thruxton, with a special cylinder head developed by American flat-track racers, and adapted by Velocette to create a new production racer. It was a very popular and successful clubman racer, winning the 1967 Isle of Man Production TT. The Thruxton became the most popular Velocette model, but could not save the Velocette company from bankruptcy in 1971.[3] Poor trading conditions over a number of preceding years forced the company into voluntarily liquidation in 1971,[5] with all the remaining stock and tools sold off to pay creditors.[6]

An interesting use of the Venom power train was the Indian Velo 500, an updated, limited-production run of 250 machines devised by American entrepreneur Floyd Clymer, using a Velocette engine with Italian cycle parts.[7]

  1. ^ a b Krens, Thomas; Guggenheim Museum Staff (1998). Thomas Krens; Matthew Drutt (eds.). The Art of the Motorcycle. Harry N. Abrams , Incorporated. ISBN 978-0-8109-6912-4. Velocette Venom 499 cc • 1963 • United Kingdom • Bore x Stroke: 86 x 86 mm • Power output: 34 hp @ 6,200 rpm • Top speed: 105 mph (169 km/h) • Collection of Harry Lindsay
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Mitchel was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Kemp, Andrew; De Cet (2004). Classic British Bikes. Mirco. Bookmart Ltd. ISBN 978-1-86147-136-9.
  4. ^ Walker, Mick (19 December 2008). Velocette: The Racing Story. The Crowood Press Ltd. ISBN 978-1-84797-072-5.
  5. ^ The Classic Motor Cycle, Goodman on Velocette, interview with Peter Goodman, by Dennis Frost, pp.47-51. Accessed 15 June 2016
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Bacon60 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference MC Sport was invoked but never defined (see the help page).