I see that there about a dozen people who have joined this site. That is encouraging to me. I still don't know how we can make this work, but I'm sure that with enough people contributing ideas we will find a way to make a new Velocette a reality.
Frankly, though, I had hoped that there would be more discussion about what a new Velocette would be like. I have some ideas and I will present them here. I hope that the rest of you will add your thoughts to this.
First off, there are things about the old Velocette that I would want to keep. At the top of my list is the iconic fishtail silencer. I also like the unique adjustable rear swingarm, even though I found it to be a bit difficult to get both sides adjusted identically. I think we could do better than the aluminum plate covering the slot where the rear shocks mount. Mine became distorted where the shock absorbers bolted on. Perhaps a heavy piece of stainless steel.
It would have to be a big single with the narrow crankcase. The crankcase has to have a good ventilation system to reduce oil leakage to an absolute minimum. The pressure created in the crankcase when the piston is on the intake and power strokes must be relieved to keep oil from blowing past the main bearings as well as past the rings into the combustion chamber. Leakage into the timing chest is not such a big issue since that oil can be scavenged by the oil pump. Perhaps the crankcase needs another small chamber on the drive side as well that can collect oil blown past the drive side main bearing and that the oil pump would scavenge as well.
Some have suggested that an electric start is required. I am not so sure, but I would like to see a very sophisticated electronic (computerized) ignition system that is able to accurately measure the crankshaft's rotational position and fire the plug appropriately. When starting, the plug would fire at or even a degree or two past TDC. This would make starting easy, provided the fuel source was equally precise and dependable. Once the engine fires and begins to approach a normal idle speed, the ignition timing would be adjusted accordingly. A detonation sensor would be fitted to further control the ignition timing.
To provide fuel, I'd be in favor of an electronic fuel injection system. This would also help the bike to meet any applicable emissions standards.
To support all these electronics, an excellent electrical system is needed. That means a 12 volt battery and an alternator to keep it charged. The lights should be modern high intensity lights, perhaps LEDs all around.
In order to help keep everything together, vibration would need to be reduced if at all possible. Failing that, sensitive electronic components would have to be mounted in such a way as to protect them.
The engine should have a squish head to develop maximum power and improve fuel economy. I could go with either a pushrod or an overhead cam engine. One advantage of a traditional pushrod engine is the availability of the various cams that Veloce produced. On the other hand, it would be pretty cool to use a desmodromic valve train.
I'd really like to see what others think about all of this, so I hope that you will leave a reply to this post.
New Velocette
http://www.newvelocette.com/article.php/20101214065603882