1933 Velocette KTT MK4

Lot details
Registration No: DNX 513
Frame No: KTT4353
Engine No: KN3199
cc: 348
MOT Expiry Date: None

Undoubtedly one of the great British sporting motorcycles, the KTT (Kamshaft Tourist Trophy) enjoyed a career spanning three decades having first become available to the public at the end of 1928, when two MK I's were built. Production of the new model accelerated in 1929 when 178 were produced. As the name implies, the KTT was a production racer offered to the public. The model benefited from the experience gained by the successful works team, being in effect a replica of the works machines that had secured Velocette's second TT win in the 1928 Junior race. The new model was powered by an overhead cam single cylinder engine displacing 348cc with a bore and stroke of 74 x 81 mm that could be distinguished from the road going models in the range by the external stiffening webs employed on the crankcase. Lighter, steel flywheels were employed and a hotter camshaft was fitted. A great deal of attention had been payed to strengthening the valve train to prevent breakages and a revised cylinder head was fitted. Drive was taken to a three speed gearbox, similar to that employed by the rest of the range but fitted with a set of close ratio gears, via a primary chain. The rigid frame was equipped with a set of braced Webb girder forks, a feature peculiar to the KTT. The model ran in this form with only detail alterations until 1932 when the MK IV was introduced. The Mk IV was fitted as standard with the new positive stop four speed gearbox which had previously been available as an option and a new cylinder head, still cast in iron, was employed, which offered improved combustion characteristics. In most other respects the MK IV was much as its predecessors with peculiar braced Webb girder forks and the majority of the rest of the cycle parts being shared by other machines in the range.

The machine offered, chassis number RTT4353, left Hall Green during the summer of 1933 destined for Burnet and Son of Southsea from where it was sold to a Mr Wood on the 26th August 1933. At the time of its dispatch it was fitted with engine number 497 and gearbox number 640. The motorcycle is now fitted with an engine bearing the number KN3199, a unit originally fitted to a 1929 Velocette KNS. The top end of the engine has been uprated KTT specifications with hairpin valve springs, and according to the vendor appears to run well. The four speed transmission is described as being in good condition and the unrestored cycle parts are sound. It is offered with a Swansea V5C.