Velocette Viper
Encyclopedia
The Velocette Viper is a British motorcycle
made by Velocette
between 1955 and 1968. Built using traditional methods and materials, it struggled to compete against more modern machines, so from 1960 the designers added new glass fibre enclosure panels, making the Viper one of the first enclosed production motorcycles.
. Designed by Charles Udall, the Viper's 349cc engine had a bi-metal cylinder with a cast iron
liner, high compression piston and a light alloy cylinder head. Using the same bottom end as its sister bike the 500cc Velocette Venom
, the Viper had a lot of chrome plating and was offered in a choice of black or "willow green" paintwork. The Viper was also ahead of its time in being one of the first to have glass fibre enclosure panels from 1962. These panels proved unpopular with the traditional buyers of Velocette singles, as they extended from the front of the engine, level with the top of the crankcase, to the rear pillion footrests.
carburettors, a BTH
racing magneto
and a close ratio gearbox, with the compression ratio raised to 9.3 to 1. The Clubman dispensed with the unpopular glass fibre enclosure and instead made a feature of its 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.
the Velocette development team built 25 off-road Vipers, which were sent to the United States for evaluation in enduro events. Built to the Viper Clubman standard, the Scrambler had a specially lightened frame and high level enduro style exhaust pipes.
rear hub as well as a '100 mph' speedometer in a modified headlamp nacelle.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
made by Velocette
Velocette
Velocette is the name given to motorcycles that were made by Veloce Ltd, in Hall Green, Birmingham, England. One of several motorcycle manufacturers in Birmingham, Velocette was a small, family-owned firm, selling far fewer hand-built motorcycles than the giant BSA, Norton or Triumph concerns...
between 1955 and 1968. Built using traditional methods and materials, it struggled to compete against more modern machines, so from 1960 the designers added new glass fibre enclosure panels, making the Viper one of the first enclosed production motorcycles.
Development
Introduced in October 1955, the single-cylinder Viper was developed from the 349cc Velocette MACVelocette MAC
The Velocette MAC was a British motorcycle made by Velocette. A reliable single-cylinder, the 'MAC' coped well with the low grade post war petrol and was a popular commuter and touring motorcycle...
. Designed by Charles Udall, the Viper's 349cc engine had a bi-metal cylinder with a cast iron
Cast iron
Cast iron is derived from pig iron, and while it usually refers to gray iron, it also identifies a large group of ferrous alloys which solidify with a eutectic. The color of a fractured surface can be used to identify an alloy. White cast iron is named after its white surface when fractured, due...
liner, high compression piston and a light alloy cylinder head. Using the same bottom end as its sister bike the 500cc Velocette Venom
Velocette Venom
The Velocette Venom is a single cylinder four stroke British motorcycle of 499cc made by Velocette at Hall Green in Birmingham. A total of 5721 Velocette Venoms were produced between 1955 and 1970. In 1961 a production Velocette Venom set the 24-hour world record at a speed of 100.05 mph...
, the Viper had a lot of chrome plating and was offered in a choice of black or "willow green" paintwork. The Viper was also ahead of its time in being one of the first to have glass fibre enclosure panels from 1962. These panels proved unpopular with the traditional buyers of Velocette singles, as they extended from the front of the engine, level with the top of the crankcase, to the rear pillion footrests.
Viper Clubman
From 1960 Velocette produced the Viper in a "Clubman" racing version, fitted with TT AmalAmal (motorcycle)
AMAL is a British carburettor trademark. AMAL were the suppliers of carburettors to the British motorcycle industry and their products were present on the products of the largest British motorcycle manufacturers such as BSA and AMC...
carburettors, a BTH
British Thomson-Houston
British Thomson-Houston was a British engineering and heavy industrial company, based at Rugby, Warwickshire, England. They were known primarily for their electrical systems and steam turbines. They were merged with the similar Metropolitan-Vickers company in 1928, but the two maintained their own...
racing magneto
Magneto (electrical)
A magneto is an electrical generator that uses permanent magnets to produce alternating current.Magnetos adapted to produce pulses of high voltage are used in the ignition systems of some gasoline-powered internal combustion engines to provide power to the spark plugs...
and a close ratio gearbox, with the compression ratio raised to 9.3 to 1. The Clubman dispensed with the unpopular glass fibre enclosure and instead made a feature of its 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.
Viper Scrambler
In December 1958the Velocette development team built 25 off-road Vipers, which were sent to the United States for evaluation in enduro events. Built to the Viper Clubman standard, the Scrambler had a specially lightened frame and high level enduro style exhaust pipes.
Viper Special
The Velocette Viper Special was introduced in November 1962 and featured a three gallon tank, pressed steel full width hub and the Velocette MSSVelocette MSS
The MSS was a motorcycle made by Velocette. It was fast, reliable and economical but could not compete against a new range of British twin cylinder motorcycles. Production ended in 1968.-Development:...
rear hub as well as a '100 mph' speedometer in a modified headlamp nacelle.