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 Velocette - 350 KTT Mk 8
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Photo ou archives : J-P. Praderes
4316

Capacity : 350
Model : KTT Mk 8
Production : 1939 - 1949
Category : (R) Racing

VELOCETTE

350 KTT Mk VIII · 1947

Two TT,s every ten years

History sometimes repeats itself- but in the case of Velocette and the Junior TT, history repeated itself twice! Following Alec Bennett's 1926 victory in the Junior TT, in 1928-29, Velocette again won the Junior TT and launched an over-the-counter replica of the winning bike as the KTI Mk I. In 1938- 39, Velocette KTTs again won the Junior TT.

Rear Suspension

Stanley Woods was the victorious rider in 1938-39- his ninth and tenth TT wins in an illustrious career. His 1939 Mk VIII was a development of the previous Mk VII KTT. Launched in May 1939, the Mk VIII was a step forward for Velocette, for it was the marque's first production bike with rear suspension. Moreover, Velocette had bypassed the plunger rear suspension option adopted by most other manufacturers who had abandoned rigid rear ends and went straight to the advanced swing arm suspension.

Lightweight Components

The Mk VIII's other main differences from its predecessor were new conical-hub brake drums in aluminum and magnesium end plates. The overhead-camshaft engine had the same bore and stroke, but it now had a liberally-finned sleeved-aluminum cylinder. The head was of aluminum also, with an 8.75:1 compression ratio; hairpin valve springs, first seen in 1932, were now fully enclosed. The bottom-end was unchanged - here was no need for it! Production resumed after WWII and again it carried off a TT double, in 1947-48. The career of the legendary KTT ended in the 1950s when Velocette concentrated on "everyman" bikes.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 348cc (74x81mm) air-cooled singlecylinder four-stroke

Power Rating: 34 hp @ 7200 rpm

Valves: overhead-camshaft

FUel System: Amal 32mm carburetor

Transmission: 4-speed, chain final drive

Suspension: girder forks (front); swing arm with Dowry oleopneumatic dampers (rear)

Brakes: drum (front & rear)

Wheels: 21 inch (front); 21 inch (rea r)

Weight: 274 lb

Maximum Speed: 115 mph

 

The Velocette KTT was the best "client-competition" bike of its day and had six junior TTs to its credit.

 




Le fichier Moto Passion réalisé par François-Marie Dumas réunit près de deux mille photos accompagnées d'un historique très complet des machines présentées.
Il sera progressivement mis à jour ici et toute information complémentaire est la bienvenue sur info@moto-collection.org.

Cette documentation unique, qui constitue sans doute l'encyclopédie la plus exhaustive jamais écrite sur l'histoire de la moto, a été réalisée avec l'assistance de nombreux spécialistes dont principalement Didier Ganneau, Christophe Gaime, Mick Woollett, Jean Goyard, Bernard Salvat, Christian Rey, Yves Campion, Helmut Krackowizer, Michael Dregni, Michel Montange, etc. que je remercie ici.

Disponible sur demande :
- Les fiches originales sur papier
- Les photos et archives signées de mon nom en haute définition ou les documents originaux.
Me contacter sur info@moto-collection.org pour les conditions et droits d'utilisation.