Velocette 1963 Venom Clubman 499cc 1 cyl OHV 3510

Velocette 1963 “Venom Clubman” 499cc OHV frame # RS17306 engine # VM4166

Conceived by Velocette’s Eugene Goodman and designed by Charles Udall, the Venom’s 499 cc engine has a bi-metal cylinder with a cast-iron liner, high compression piston and a light alloy cylinder head. An unusual feature of the Venom design is that the clutch is positioned between the gearbox and gearbox sprocket. This makes the clutch less accessible but allows for easy gearing changes and a range of sprockets with different numbers of teeth can be fitted by removing the sprocket cover. The gearbox is also a novel Velocette design with a constant mesh close ratio unit that can be maintained relatively easily while still in place. The new Venom engine gets square bore x stroke dimensions of 86 x 86mm which permit higher revs and potentially greater power. A Road Test in The Motorcycle of March 22, 1956 praises the Venom’s many virtues: sweet and easy to operate clutch, excellent gearbox with no audible gear change, superb steering, excellent braking and convenient and safe prop stand. Of course there are some minor points of criticism such as the awkward sparking plug spanner and a slight leak from the oil tank filler cap during extended full-throttle riding…
The overall conclusion: “By any standard the Velocette Venom is a remarkable five-hundred and a credit to its makers. The quality of its engineering is unsurpassed in the British industry and its finish is serviceable”. Produced until the end of Velocette production in 1971, the Venom represents the high point of the traditional British sports single, and today these supremely well-engineered thoroughbreds are much in demand.
From 1960 Velocette produced the Venom (and the Viper) in a Clubman racing version, fitted with Amal TT carburettors, a manually controlled BTH racing magneto (in place of the Lucas unit) and a close-ratio gearbox, with the compression ratio raised to 9.3 to 1. The Venom Clubman dispensed with the glass fibre enclosure and instead made a feature of highly polished crankcase and gearbox castings. Supplied with “rearset” controls, lowered handlebars and a steering damper, the Clubman also had a range of optional accessories including a “megaphone” exhaust silencer, a rev counter and light alloy wheel rims. Experienced Clubman riders found them easy to maintain and fast, as the Venom Clubman could achieve over 100 mph.
Our Clubman was first registered on May 29, 1963, the engine is of 1960 manufacture. A former owner acquired the Venom in 2015 in the North of England. She had been well-maintained and was in good unrestored condition. The specifications at that time pointed to a possible racing pedigree: 20-teeth sprocket on gearbox (now 19), high ratio gearbox (now regular) race timing of engine gears (maintained) TT-carb (maintained), quick action throttle grip (maintained). The former owner contacted Simon Goodman who confirmed that the Velo had been maintained in his shop in the 1990s. After the machine came to The Netherlands in 2015 she has been brought back to excellent technical condition, with no expense spared, as witnessed by specialist’s invoices amounting to almost 10,000 euros. The clocks have been changed to a matching pair of period chronometrics and the electrics have been updated to 12 volts. An Alton generator and electronic ignition (in the original BTH racing magneto housing) have been fitted for extended reliability. The gearbox has been refurbished with all internals renewed with regular ratio gears for more comfort for road use. Current top speed is above 160 km/hour. The Clubman’s reliability was proven by a number of trips from The Netherlands to the Velo’s homeland, visiting places like Brands Hatch, Brooklands and the Ace Cafe.
The included info file contains several current valuation reports, history research, Velocette Service Manual, Haynes Velocette Owners Workshop Manual, Fi-Glass Motorcycle Products Catalogue, invoices, etc.

Video: https://youtu.be/BbKMib4XAyg