1971 Velocette Thruxton Smokes Suzuki DRZ-400 Supermotos

On a ride near Frazier Park CA, a vintage 1971 Velocette Thruxton set up very loose to break in without seizing, literally smokes a couple of stock Suzuki supermotos.

[@notwocdivad]

A 1961 Velo Venom holds the record for completing 24 hours only stopping for fuel and change of rider at an AVERAGE of more than 100mph. This record for 500cc bikes still stands 53 years later. Not bad for a single cylinder push rod motor! Dave Northeast UK

[@johnhall1001]

The record is for being the First production motorcycle to achieve and exceed an average of 100 mph for 24 consecutive hours, this happened @ March 18-19th 1961 @ Montlhery circuit France so that is why the record will always stand . The bike was virtually a standard 499 cc Venom Vee-line model and produced 39 bhp @5,900 rpm, had a close ratio 4 speed gearbox with a Top gear ratio of 4:1. A Mitchenall Bro's fairing was fitted and the bike did 1,400 miles of testing and an actual 2,400 miles to achieve the record! The engine was developed from a evolution was from a 250 cc Velo' designed thirty years earlier! Changes from the production model were kept to an absolute minimum, the carburettor had a 310 Main jet slightly over-rich and a KTT pattern Megaphone, two sets of footrests were used so the riders could kind of "hunker" down! Clip on bars, gaitered fork legs, the Primary drive was open and oiled by drip, tyres were Dunlop Racing and the bike was geared to achieve a smidgen under 115 mph. Incidentally @ 107 mph the machine averaged 35-36 mpg, (Imperial/UK) on only 94 Octane fuel, 100 Octane not being available in France at that time!. Source: "Built for Speed", John Griffith!

[@petermoyes8766]

just set a new speed record for a 500 velo close to 190 mph i belive ,,i left home in norfolk england to work at gm in luton ..hated the job ,but saved enough to buy my 1970 vellocette trhuxton venom ....the clutch was not ment for traffic lights ,better get that old war horse into neutrol lest she will creep you into the intersection ,,,a bike made in heaven and a clutch ,,not so much lol it was a pig to start to the one kick boys unless you get the knack a true enthusiasts bike considering i could have got a six cyl honda for less money ,but i sure wished i had kept it navy blue and silver with gold lettering ,,it paid for my ticket to canada ,,sold to a bike shop in spalding uk ,was in the widow after its racing career by his son ,,,,,

[@albion2742]

I went to see several Thruxton 500s in the 60s I remember the Velo Thruxton winning the outright race against Bonnies, Dominators,Constellations,CSR AJS and BMWs best races I ever watched back in UK as there were all classes running from 250c - 750s I remember the Harley size 883 I think entered by Fred Warr dealer the oldest Harley dealer in UK.It was great to see 250 Arial Arrows passing the bigger bikes on the bends.

[@whalesong999]

A magazine article back in the day pointed out the excellent engineering that produced the Velocettes. It is a very sturdy design. Wanted one back in the late '60s but couldn't afford it.

[@ianfluker5379]

Great ride, thanks. I noticed the Velo rider's 'traditional' riding position ... knees tucked in, body in plane of bike, very neat.

[@exb.r.buckeyeman845]

Alan Barnett, TT Ace 350cc Aero macchi was also well tucked in.

[@jeffslade1892]

Geoff Duke did much the same crouched over the tank. The seating position of british bikes of this period lends itself to that comfortable position, the bikes respond well to light counter-steering, there's little need to shift your weight about.

[@allenmckenzie6010]

Once Velos are in your blood,it stays. These old things could corner on their footrests,but you could watch the forks dance about at tickover! Currently own a 1971 4 speed 350 AerMacchi,and it is basically a dry Velo Viper!

[@rheniformer]

Well it is always refreshing when somebody has a vintage machine and is not afraid to "Kick it Old School", great show! - Though I suspect there was a bit of reserve on the DRZ, I imagine how much harder the Velocette was challenged with skinny tires, drum brakes and all around 50+ year old tech. Nice Clip!

[@jeffslade1892]

The 'skinny' tyres means it doesn't have to lean over so far to corner. Set up properly the drum brakes will perform just as well as discs although they won't cool as quickly and can fade. Discs are not necessarily better than drums, they just cheaper to make and easier to set up, and take less effort to operate. The Thruxton has a little more power but significantly more torque than the DRZs.

[@monomakes]

Geat roads, nice video. It's good to see capable supermoto riders with some respect!

[@trevortrevortsr2]

Excellent - A Thruxton has a top speed of 110mph - even a stock yam 660 thumper wouldn't stand a chance

[@Tetge]

He knows all that, and this is not his only Velo. The last models did not have the big GP carb, BTW. But, this time they set it up too loose and it was letting oil by the rings. He got another piston and it is back together and running without the oiling issue. He also added an exhaust gas temp sensor. However, final jetting and slide selections are taking time. It is almost right now and it runs more or less like a Thruxton should. More video to follow when it is done.

[@notwocdivad]

Just in case some younger American bikers don't know, The THRUXTON was named after a 500 ml race at the Thruxton race circuit in the UK (as was the Triumph Thruxton) and was basically a racer on the road. In it's day it was up with the Gold Star, Bonneville and Norton 650SS on a young mans wish list. When set up correctly they were (and still are) excellent fast mile eaters and one of the smoothest 500cc singles ever made. The owner has my everlasting jealousy Thanks from an old Rocker.

[@notwocdivad]

Enjoyed this so much I had to watch it again, and again, I wonder how many gear changes you made compared to the old Velo? The Japanese seem to rely on lots of gears to keep the motor revving as they don't have much in the way of torque at lower revs, whereas the Velo only has 4 gears because it has oodles of torque, just open the throttle in any gear and it will push you forward, not with a sudden kick in the pants but a firm shove, like comparing modern firearm propellant to the old black powder? Dave

[@Tetge]

The Truxton is one of my brother's many Velo's and he is still trying to get it right. He thinks that the latest piston and rings are set up properly and the carb is jetted correctly for WFO, but, he is still tuning the mid-range. Even though it seems simple, there are a lot of variables to carb tuning such as jets and needles and slide cut aways. But, with the aid of an exhaust temp sensor, he thinks that he is getting close, so, a follow up video should happen some day....

[@moderatefkr6666]

Is the best chase video of all time? It is if your favourite bike since you were 12 years old has been the Velocette 500 Thruxton. 1971 was the last year they built that bike. Bear in mind he was running it in!!;) NOW I'm proud of what my country once achieved.

[@jeffslade1892]

Looked like he was thrashing it in to me, bad news for the engine. Mind you it depends what he had rebuilt. If he had replaced any bearings, doing that can hammer them oval.

[@11secghia]

hey you guys build some crap cars but your bikes are A+++! P.S. us yanks havent gave up on ya!

[@billmcintosh7002]

Loved it, reminds me of my misspent youth, Velo Thruxton was on my wish list along with a Matchbox G 50 nothing like a single for the real feeling of bikes Thump, Thump, Thump.

[@davidharrison6615]

thruxton , gold star , roarer, black shadow , rocket, ...... we gave it up for a lot of numbers and letters and sold our souls at the same time .

[@raymondo162]

Nah M8. Soichiro's boys have produced some TOTAL classics - and if you don't love the 350LC from the piano fellas, you don't have a soul to sell

[@davidharrison6615]

Raymond Ashby you need to chill out . i critiqued zero .

[@martincunningham6411]

Love the thruxton,a bit of real character against all that modern throwaway utilities.

[@peterhammond7535]

That look like a very enjoyable pootle. I thought all the roads stateside were six lanes wide, and packed with cars. This is more like it; the sort of roads that God made bikes for.

[@notwocdivad]

I'm not surprised you say the Thruxton is "fussy" most highly tuned and highly strung racing singles are, In the late 60's a mate raced a Velo MAC 350 in a Stephens racing frame, when it went it would give Gold Stars a fright but it never went right that often, even with a professional Velo tuner setting it up.

[@Tetge]

It is true that Southern California is blessed with a good climate and some fine roads. A person can go from the desert, with cactus to the snow to the Pacific Ocean all in part of a day and there are mountain roads and canyons all over the place. I suppose the great weather is one reason for lots of bikes and for being the Ford Mustang capital of the world, as Mustangs do not like slippery roads at all............

[@johnhall1001]

A Thruxton model Velocette, as many would know is virtually a "Racer" from the road, similar in power output and intent to the BSA DBD Gold Star of the same era 50s/60s and evolved and refined over a considerable period of time with round about 40-42 bhp depending on silencer arrangements! Triumph flagship Bonneville had a hard time keeping up with them, (weak frame), until a redesign and perhaps only a Norton 650SS or perhaps a Vincent 998 cc Rapide or Black Shadow could show them the way, but you still would have to try very hard!

[@jeffslade1892]

Yeah, the racing DBD34 had maybe 40bhp but the road-going DB34 Gold Star had 34bhp like the model name implies. Likewise the Venom produced about 34bhp and some 44Nm/36-ft.lb torque, and the race-ready Thruxton variant about 40bhp.

[@philhawley1219]

@@jeffslade1892 The 34 is the model number not the horsepower. I had a BSA B31 and that was definitely not that many horse. 18 hp if I recall.

[@oldbikedavey]

The man can ride, that's for sure. Lose a good bit of weight, build a 200 lb BSA B.50 road-racer, and he'd be right on the money.....

[@Tetge]

The Thruxton is still being "set up properly" as the hot climate of So Calif does not fully agree with it. Piston clearance and carb jetting and set up are more complicated that some might know. Perhaps one of these days.... Meanwhile the owner rides his 1952 Velo 350 MAC rigid or his 1966 Velo Endurance, both of which are properly set up and have worked for years. The Thruxton is fussy.

[@pepitosbazzeguti3430]

One may forgive me, but the second Suzuki driver -not the cameraman - he drives like a clown. Whilst h's trying to take a corner he sits on his bike like pregnant cuke. After all, a most lovely film! Thanks a lot.

[@sporty05]

Vintage bikes rock!

[@alloomis1635]

velo is shaped for high cruising speed, new bikes for high acceleration. no surprise, here.

[@garethlewis5474]

In 1963 B.J. Goodman then the Sales Director of Veloce Ltd went on a sales trip to the USA and came back with a lot of 'goodies' amongst them the 'Big Valve Cylinder Head' which had been developed by (I believe) A C Motorcycle Supplies of Los Angeles. The Cylinder Head and several components were offered as optional extras in the 1964 range and in 1965 a machine fitted with them won its class in the Thruxton 500 mile race the works Apprentices were instructed to produce a bike based on it.

[@BiohazardDingleberry]

Why does the other drz guy ride with bat wing legs? Pull those wind sails in!

[@veloshed]

If the guy on the Velo had a tighter jacket he'd have got another 15mph nice clip tho I have one very similar the best bike in the world if you ever get the chance to try one take it !! most people who buy one buy another one to go with it :-)

[@jiggermast]

It's Jay Leno out for a blast on his day off!! Superb bike roads!!

[@threepot5874]

My dad took his Venom Clubman up to 116mph. Not bad for a 500 single back in 59!

[@Beeza56]

That was great! Thanks, subbed.

[@MrGrahamlay]

I reckon that if that Velo rider could have got it out of 2nd he would have really flown.

[@normanreid29]

Great rides.

[@WutangClan4LiF3]

what a heaven road.... i m so jealous

[@andrewallen9993]

And for my next trick I will use a Manx Norton and disappear in front of you :)

[@exb.r.buckeyeman845]

The Velo smokes a bit, time for new rings or a rebore.

[@randhalljoss6762]

velocette the must of the must,personaly triton or rickmann metisse t140

[@jezatkinson7243]

The guy on the supermoto is a poor road rider. He's hugging the inside edge of blind corners so he has really short sightlines. He's an accident waiting to happen

[@ExBRBuckeyemanCJB]

Ah, so that's where all the Velos went.

[@Chromosome1919]

Woooo! Cafe racers rule!

[@johnhoward563]

Whims always follow

[@velobob4299]

Ha Ha... Made me smile.

[@Brakelateatmsn]

After receiving a poke in the eye from a rather large Norton owner after a bit of a dispute regarding the cup size on his lady friend at the pub the night before, I found myself riding the rest of the rallye with my right eye closed. My "offset" to the lead Velo was perhaps more than necessary. But life is an adventure, and what a fine set of teets they were! Check my channel, where I chase the same Norton 750 rider in close proximity. All said, I agree... I AM an accident waiting to happen

[@cleckman5568]

nice

[@Brakelateatmsn]

Pepito; Since you have only been a registered user on KZbin for Four full days, I shall forgive you for not recognizing the infamous rider of the "Second Suzuki" that you have so deeply insulted. Had you been an "informed" viewer or an highly experienced Supermoto Hooligan Class Rider of equal caliber, you too would know that the rider is quite obviously demonstrating the highly advanced "Drunken Monkey" riding technique, honed from watching early Saturday morning low budget Kung Fu movies as a child. If you had studied the subtitles of such classics, you would also have discovered that, as explained, the massive "Stones" required to attempt such a feat of riding perfection does not allow one to close one's knees any more tightly together without creating a painful and distracting reaction. Please save yourself any further embarrassment and fully educate yourself on the topic at hand prior to making any viewed productions in the future. Listen now, and hear me later. Sincerely, /BRAKELATE/

[@carlnapp8673]

LOL, this story shows a lot of ingenuity, hats off! It's the first time I pity being German, not having seen these remarkable Kung Fu movies. I never would have guessed, that "stoned" gentlemen are recognizable that way. I would like to see more of these "new vs old" movies. Without a doubt I could watch another " Velo movie" daily. The thump of a 500cc Velo is nearly second to none, except a 350 KTT's one. Sincerely yours

[@johnhoward563]

You need to buy a car