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
- Hans Koopman. 2011 Van Veen OCR 1000 Rotary Engine Motorcycle Motorcycle Classics, September–October 2011, retrieved 7 March 2013^
- Alan Cathcart. Rotary Revival: Van Veen OCR 1000 Motorcycle Classics, January–February 2018, retrieved April 13, 2018^
- 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^
- Jason Cormier. Van Veen OCR 1000 - Dutch Wankel Powered Superbike www.odd-bike.com, retrieved 13 March 2019^