Van Veen (motorcycle)

Van Veen OCR 1000

Van Veen OCR 1000 1977 using a re-purposed engine originally intended for the Citroën GS, exhibited at Autostadt, in Wolfsburg, Germany
Manufacturer	Henk van Veen
Engine	996 cc (60.8 cu in)
Top speed	135 mph (claimed)[1]
Power	75 kW (100 hp)@ 6,500 rpm (rear wheel)[1][2]
Transmission	4-speed shaft drive
Suspension	Front 42 mm telescopic fork Rear twin shocks w/adjustable preload and damping
Tires	Front:110/90 x 18in Rear:130/80 x 18in
Wheelbase	1,500 mm (61 in)
Seat height	850 mm (33.5 in)
Weight	291 kg (642 lb)[2] (dry) 294 kilograms (648 lb) (2011)[1] (wet)
Fuel capacity	24 L; 5.2 imp gal (6.3 US gal)
Fuel consumption	9.8 L/100 km; 29 mpg‑imp (24 mpg‑US) (est.)

Van Veen or Van Veen Kreid is a former motorcycle manufacturer. It was founded in Amsterdam by Henk van Veen, the Dutch importer of Kreidler motorcycles.[1]

Van Veen completed its first prototype in 1974 using a 1000 cc Comotor 624 twin-rotor Wankel engine, and in November 1974 it was exhibited at the Cologne motorcycle show with front and rear cast wheels and triple Brembo disc brakes.[3]

Limited production of the OCR 1000 model began in 1978 and ceased in 1981, after poor press reviews and complications with Comotor engine production.[1] As well as problems with the Comotor engine, weight (700 lbs/320 kg) and price ($US15,000) also contributed to lack of sales.[4] 38 examples were built.[4]

By 2011, the leftover OCR 1000 parts had been purchased by Andries Wielinga, who built 10 complete motorcycles for sale.[1]

References

1. Koopman, Hans (September–October 2011). "2011 Van Veen OCR 1000 Rotary Engine Motorcycle". Motorcycle Classics. 7 (1). Retrieved 7 March 2013.
2. Cathcart, Alan (January–February 2018). "Rotary Revival: Van Veen OCR 1000". Motorcycle Classics. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
3. Motorcycle Mechanics, December 1974, pp.34-36. Koln Show. "Only the ingenuity of Honda and their flat-four Gold Wing 1,000 cc special stopped the Wankel-powered machines taking the Koln (Cologne) Motor Cycle Exhibition by storm!". Accessed 16 September 2015
4. Cormier, Jason. "Van Veen OCR 1000 - Dutch Wankel Powered Superbike". www.odd-bike.com. Retrieved 13 March 2019.

• "Van Veen Group", brochure about the history of the Van Veen Group. About 1980.