revtothelimit - motorbike forum

A little over 6 weeks ago, I bought (very cheaply) a 1957 Valiant from a fellow club member.....for the youngsters among you, it is a development of the LE Velocette with overhead valves and air cooled cylinders as opposed to the side valve water cooled noddy bike (not the kid in the red hat, think P.C Macgonegal from Trumpton).
Interesting little bike, noticeably quicker than the LE with 12bhps as oppose to 8, which is interesting as the brakes are even worse than the LE! Quite rideable though, up to the point where the clutch failed.
Oh well.....hopefully bits will be on the way soon.

I forgot to add...I rode it to Weston Bike night on the Beach Lawns......and came away with the bike of the night trophy......

Good stuff - photos needed!

Pretty little things , as a young un I had a soft spot for these , although my old Dad insisted they were horrid -he was a dyed in the wool Vincent/BMW, and to a lesser extent , 'proper' Velo man though .

Pics definitely needed!

It’s not Macgonegal!

I stand corrected....

Dunno if this attachment will work?

Yes....but mine has a fairing.....

That's quite smart!

i have never managed pictures on here......

David wrote: Wed Jul 23, 2025 7:33 pm i have never managed pictures on here......

Use a hosting site. Piece of piss man.

David wrote: Wed Jul 23, 2025 2:39 pm Yes....but mine has a fairing.....

That’ll hoist the top speed to… 58 mph.

I can’t be the only person who suspects that every twin cylinder Velocette model was a sales disaster for the company.

The Police probably felt sorry for them and bought some LEs.

Tricky wrote: Wed Jul 23, 2025 1:18 pm Pretty little things , as a young un I had a soft spot for these , although my old Dad insisted they were horrid -he was a dyed in the wool Vincent/BMW, and to a lesser extent , 'proper' Velo man though .

Pics definitely needed!

Seeing the pictures I think your Dad was right

For a company that was otherwise stuck on producing only one base design, two if you count the LE, for the next decade this was a very good attempt at a lightweight. The core design is excellent so presumably the manufacturing and marketing were flawed much as the rest of the UK models of that time.

Even the le feels as if it could easily manage more power, the Valiant certainly could. Oh, dont forget the Viceroy....
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