Lot 435: 1966 Velocette 192cc LE

Launched in 1948, as the �motorcycle for everyman�, the LE addressed the criticisms most-often levelled at motorcycles - that they were noisy, dirty and needed special clothing to ride - achieving impressive levels of silence, comfort and practicality. Sadly for the LE, its arrival coincided with the start of the scooter boom. Asked to compete against Italian style, Velo�s ugly duckling never stood a chance, even after the sidevalve flat twin�s performance had been boosted by a capacity increase from 149 to 192cc in 1950. It was however, a big success with police forces - for whom its attributes were more important than its appearance - gaining the sobriquet �Noddy Bike� as a result. Finished in maroon and equipped with windscreen and pillion seat, this LE has been on display within a private collection for many years and thus will require careful re-commissioning and the customary safety checks before returning to the road. The machine comes with old-style logbook and Swansea V5.