Here goes…
I have 1961 Velocette Venom. This blog will hopefully record its restoration as well as a load of other related musings along the way.
I bought the Venom when I was seventeen years old as a progression from my 1971 BSA B25ss. At the time all my mates were going for a 500 and getting rid of their 250cc learner bikes, the difference being I would only ride British. I had much to learn, even though the BSA had given me a phenomenal crash course in motorbike mechanics.
Fast forwards ten years and see the despondent young man beside the M5. His trusty Venom lost top gear on the on ramp and his pride let him take on a CB650 leading to a piston with a hole big enough to park a car in. I should have sold it I hear you say, but I kept it. I felt ashamed of myself. This bike didn’t deserve such ignominy, not just because it was a good bike but because it’s family. You see my Venom, I discovered after I first got it home, was registered on the very day I was born.
I have periodically had a pop at rebuilding, but all too often ran into money shortages, parts shortages or just life taking me off on a tangent. So here I am, some twenty five years after the shameful day having another go. Only this time there’s no problem with money, parts or space. This time it’s going to work (fingers crossed).
First off, I need a work bench...
