1966 Velocette Thruxton 500 - 4-Page Vintage Motorcycle Road Test Article

Description

1966 Velocette Thruxton 500 - 4-Page Vintage Motorcycle Road Test Article
Original, vintage magazine article
Page Size: Approx: 8" x 11" (21 cm x 28 cm)
Condition: Good
Several years ago, a manufacturing firm in the Orient
decided to build a motorcycle which would appeal to
riders all over the world. To this end, machines were pur-
chased that best represented motorcycle engineering con-
cepts in four different countries. England, long recognized
as a “world power” in motorcycle construction, at first
offered a slight problem as several manufacturers were
producing the vertical twin engine, while many others were
still selling great numbers of the ever-popular big single.
After much Oriental pondering, it was decided that one
motorcycle was more traditionally British than all the
others, the Velocette. We inscrutable Occidentals here at
Cycle World can only agree.
Although Velocette has pioneered several engineering
advances, such as swing arm and telescopic fork suspen-
sions, this firm has a reputation for design conservatism;
a reluctance to completely depart from old traditions and
habits. Certainly, a modern Velocette still resembles a
twenty-five year old Velocette, more so than any other
maker’s current-versus-older model. This should not be
taken entirely as criticism; many people want exactly
what Velocette has to offer. However, two years ago
someone would have been “bonkers” to think that Velo-
cette, of all people, would put two colors of paint (other
than black-and-something) on one motorcycle. Yet, this
month’s test bike, the “Thruxton”, has a blue frame with
silver tank and fenders. Some older enthusiasts would have
been less surprised if one of the manufacturers of vertical
twins had produced an all chrome-plated model.
Thruxton is an airport in the south of England where
the Southampton & District Motorcycle Club has for
several years now been organizing a five-hundred mile
road race for production motorcycles. By far the most
successful motorcycle in the 500cc category has been the
Velocette. It is logical then that when the company decid-
ed to sell a machine of a touring-racing nature, it should
be named after the “Thruxton 500” race — and so it was.
Dyed-in-the-wool Velocette owners boast that any
Velo can be started on the first kick, but rarely can they
produce when asked to prove it. We are sure the Thruxton
would defy even the world’s champion Velo starter, and
the very large, racing carburetor does precious little to
help an already sticky situation. Two of our staff members
have been Velo owners in the past but no one could find...
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