Velocette KSS

KSS Mk I, 1933

KSS Mk I: In 1925 the Velocette KSS (Super Sport) was released. This was a clubmanracer, for everyone to buy, with or without lights. The machine was designed for racing and one of the goals was to catch up on the Snaefell Mountain Course, the street circuit where the Isle of Man TT was held and at the Brooklands circuit. A top speed of 90 miles per hour (145 km/h) On the Isle of Man, the machine had to have mainly been handling, but obviously his engine, which has a slightly higher compression ratio and received 18 to 19 hp. External differences with other models (K and KT) were the absence of a luggage rack, a round oil tank and a round muffler. The tank was also larger and the steering slightly lower.

Alec Bennett won the 1926 Junior TT, and in 1927 Harold Willis was second and in 1928 Bennett won with Willis in second place. Willis was also a member of the board of Velocette.

It remained on the market until 1935.  In 1933 the KSS received a four-speed gearbox with foot switch.

KSS Mk II: In 1935, the engine of the KSS was significantly revised. The valves were now closed and the gearbox and frame were tweaked. The machine used the stronger Webb fork of the new Velocette MSS. The KSS Mk II remained in production until 1948, when it was stopped because of high production cost.
 

KTT Mk I: After the victories of Alec Bennett in 1928, an improved version of the KSS, the KTT (Tourist Trophy) was introduced. It had a custom clutch and gearbox. This gearbox was the first with positive-stop foot operation. The KTT was actually intended for competition but it was decided to sell it directly to the public.

In the production racer, the compression ratio was slightly lower than the factory racers. In 1929 Freddie Hicks won the Junior TT with Alec Bennett in third. There were nearly 100 of these sold . Velocette had good name on the circuits in many national competitions and were very popular in the UK and Ireland.

KTT Mk II: In September 1930, the KTT MkII, appeared and was intended to be real racer. The changes from the Mk I were only minimal. Of the Mk II only 32 complete motorcycles were built and 34 engines were sold separately.

KTT Mk III: The Mk III was released as a racer for 1932, presented in December 1931. There boasted new cam profiles and cam followers and the engine also got a thicker (stiffer) cylinder base. The production numbers of the Mk III were limited: 32 units.

KTT Mk IV: The Mk IV came out in 1932. Now there were more changes. There was a 14 mm spark plug and coil springs around the valves were replaced with hairpin springs. The rear frame was given an extra sub frame and Webb fork was strengthened.

KTT Mk V: In 1935, the KTT got a new gearbox and branded "Mk V". A new cradle frame was also fitted. As a result, vibration was reduced and the suspension and gearbox improved. The cylinder was to lie deeper in the crankcase and the cylinder head bolts went all the way through, so they held both the cylinder head and the cylinder. With the Mk V, production racers were at the same level as other factory racers.