Velocette Venom

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The pinnacle of Velocette's M-series high-cam singles, the Venom is also perhaps the ultimate expression of the traditional British single.

Launched in 1955, it was a development of the existing MSS and MAC models and was intended to rival the BSA Gold Star. Mechanical upgrades included a higher compression ratio, hotter cams and a bigger carb, while the styling was enhanced with more brightwork and a headlamp nacelle.

In 1961 a basically standard Velocette Venom roadster became the first and only 500cc motorcycle to average over 100mph for 24 hours. No bike has repeated the feat since.

This fabulous 1958 Venom has had just two owners from new. Purchased by the vendor’s late father from his best mate in 1961 when living on the south coast, it retains a superb photocopied notebook detailing its first 37,340 miles which were covered in its first three years. Comments such as “did 105 on Croydon bypass” and “broke chain today” give an insight into Velocette ownership in period, including bills from Velocette for an engine rebuild! The bike changed hands for £100, the details of its two owners showing in the accompanying buff logbook.

It was then used as an everyday machine until 1974, retiring to the back of the garage where it was to remain until treated to a full restoration by its engineer owner in 2001. It is unclear when it was upgraded to Clubman spec, or indeed what precisely has been done to the machine other than the fitting of a modern carburettor and a nicely engineered coil conversion, although the bike certainly looks the part. The engine turns over and has good compression.

The 80,800 miles is believed to be genuine and it sports some optimistic ‘maxim speeds in gears’ stickers on the speedometer which would tend to indicate that it was going rather well and ridden properly when last used in 2008.