Insurance was the reason
With reference to Roy Poynting’s column on popularity of 350s in the August 2023 issue, Roy misses the main point – it was all down to insurance.
In 1960, as a 16-year-old, I purchased a 250cc BSA C15, with fully comprehensive insurance costing £12-10 shillings. The following year, I fell for the success of a Velocette 500cc Venom Veeline doing over 100mph for 24 hours and so paid off the remaining two years of HP in 12 months and was ready to order my Venom. If I remember correctly – and here Roy is correct – the Venom would have cost approximately £275, the 350cc Viper just £272.
Before placing my order, I checked with my insurer, Norwich Union, who said: “£50 for the
