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I got interested in Velocettes just over a year ago. I now have one, a '54 MSS, 500cc, which is the sport touring forerunner to the Venom models like the one in this video. I must admit it has won my heart as a rider, my Norton Commando is now taking a back seat and getting very jealous! The handling is so light and nimble....just thinking of tipping it into a corner and it goes. The velos were indeed 6v, positive earth right up until 1971 when the company folded. There are options to fit aftermarket 12v alternators, starters, electronic ignitions. Parts are readily available from the Velocette Owners club and several UK suppliers. Some fun facts I've learned....Veloce (actual company name) were the first to develop/patent the positive stop foot-operated gear change....something every bike today uses. The story goes that one of their TT racers back in the 1920's or '30s stated he could gain 2 or 3 seconds per lap of the Isle of Mann race course if he could change gears with his foot instead of a hand changer. Another technical innovation...the Velocette clutch is only 1 inch thick despite having 9 friction/steel plates. It also uses 16 to 20 springs similar to those found in ball point pens. Instead of separating all plates fully like every modern bike does, the mechanism only separates one side of the plates at an angle when you pull in the clutch lever. The rest of the separation happens from the engine rotation force...which means the clutch lever needs a very light pull to operate and the engine provides a servo effect to do the rest of the job. All pretty amazing innovation from a very small family run business.

I think the early KSS pioneered the sequential gearbox

edward turner designed the engine and the bike

It was called Victor Special because it was based on the factory MX bike that Jeff Smith won the 1965-65 World MX Championship aboard.

This one is mostly original. Should know as I bought one new in 1970. Sadly died in a barn fire in -83. Now has two running ones. Plus a 441 trials bike at 230 lbs wet. Guess I'm fond of them.

I recently learned venom averaged 100 mph for 24 hours, still has the record for 500cc single, amazing must be well built.

Friend had one back donkeys years ago. He had it set up for dirt roads and tracks. Knobby tires and Gobs of torque.

29HP long stroke engine - I preferred the B50MX with its 34hp engine that could really go

I love the small town feel. Where is this?

What comes in handy as if you know how to work on them and if you understand the way they operate

I've got one had British bikes for 50 years now I punished the Victor I punish it and it takes everything I can give it and it never breaks down

Beautiful.

Isolastic suspension ,56.75 “ wheel base commando 850 , seat height 33-34”

It's just a small detail but I do much prefer the black faced instruments of the 1970 models of Tiger and Bonneville to the previous grey, and the slightly bigger white numerals too. I can't recall whether the twins of this era had dry or wet clutches but the gearchange of my 1973 Trident benefitted enormously from the use of Wynn's gearbox treatment and was far smoother than with only the recommended gearbox oil.

I love the oldstuff, but back in the day even as a brits we would wince at the (looks like a garden hose afterthought) breather tube, 2mins 8sec in. Japanese were sooo much neater. Still love them though, thank again. 👍

Beautiful!

Six--rattley-tappets flying in close formation looking for somewhere to blow-up !

Just.over.410.pounds weightmi believe

Zdravím z CZ..Každý Norton je Ok.Jen požaduje trochu péče.Mít Nortona je srdcová záležitost.

The Brits had Class ! Love them .

Nigel Tiffin had one in Maryport Cumberland UK....was a great thrill to see him on it.

Wahoo !!!

we are in the u k . i owned a 1963 viper sports ,the 350 cc model . when i was 17 years old . i had the clutch rebuilt at the factory in Birmingham ,Hall Green . my aunt lived about 2 miles from the factory and i walked to her house while the work was geing done . great bikes ,great memory ,now 75 years old . the factory closed about 1967 .

It looks fast standing still. I'm almost 62. I still have my 71 Honda CL350 Twin Cafe Racer. 😊

It's taken about 60 years for today's motorcycle makers to rediscover the looks and the riding positions that made these 60' British bikes so wonderful. "Retro" - in the case of a few makers, like Triumph, is actually more like "imitation" with superb better technology. The upright and comfortable ergonomics are very similar. But nobody wants Lucas electrics back ("three switch positions, off, on, and intermittent") or Amal carbs - get petrol pissed on you fingers pressing the primer before you start the bike. Or the oil leaks. Or the timing that lasted maybe 1000km before resetting, if lucky. Or the kick start. Love the Triumph and Royal Enfield modern rebuilds. And wonder how long the Japanese hyper angry insect look styling will last. (If there is a surface, put 4 angles on it.)

Looks like Hammerite finish on the engine cases.

Hell, that thing looks absolutely spectacular. So elegant. Love that planted low stance it seems to have, like a cheetah ready to chase.

Velocette Venom Clubman Veeline.

That is a very, very special Velo - I haven't seen a better looking example for some time - what a pity you couldn't get to ride it - that would have been memorable . . 😊

Sweet scooter......had one interaction with the man who owns Baxter cycle. A brief exchange about losing my A$$ on a Royal Enfield........He caters to the upper class not us working poor people.

love it

Single Mikuni: cough, gasp, sputter. Why compromise the performance of the beautiful iconic Commando?

Not a motor bike but a weapon

Fabolous bikes I had the A65 Rocket!

dont blow the motor

Freaking Gorgeous‼ I really like the fairing 😮

Still have my 1973 Norton Interstate 750.Purchased new at the time. With a few modern upgrades and TLC, it still a joy to ride. Puts a smile on any ones face. But mainly when its dry these days!

Not a hot rod at all.... still a nice bike...

I like that bike. I like lots of torque.

I can hear 👂 the engine. It’s sweet. It’s a Hot Rod of a motor bike.

I can hear 👂 the engine. It’s sweet. It’s a Hot Rod of a motor bike.

My Dad had the very same bike in Sri Lanka. He was a salesman and rode all over the Island and never missed a beat. Was very reliable.

i road raced same type of bike in oran park in sydney.

I had a Bonny. One up, three down. Nothing better than a British twin.

Furchtbares Design.

Great video.

Just as I remember...

I knew a fellow who had a later oil in frame version of the Thunderbolt. As far as British bikes of the era went, those A65 engines were a pretty darned good unit. Unit construction was obviously an advantage. And you can't beat the styling. I'm pretty sure that they were a single cam design, from memory, which reduced unnecessary complexity. They were also, as far as Brit bikes go, pretty oil tight. They were nowhere near the sieves that the Triumphs of the era were, that's for sure. Your guess at 40 hp sounds about right. The single carb Thunderbolt didn't have the same out and out power as the lightening, but they were known to run much better and had much better low and midrange response and power. By all accounts they were also much easier to start, much easier to tune and used about 2/3 the fuel of the twin carb variant. I've spent a bit of time as a pillion on one of these. They go better than they should. They had a claimed top speed of something around the 100mph mark, which I wouldn't dispute. Cruising 2 up at 60 is a walk in the park. 70 is doable. They are effortless at a good pace around town. I would not mind one of these in my garage, that's for sure.

When I lived in Hawaii, 73-77, this was my island chopper. It had a teardrop tank and extended forks, with pullback handlebars. All painted black and red flames on the tank, that I added. What a great running bike! Easy to work on and fun to ride. It was perfect for my needs at the time.

Beautiful bike