Vincent

Thanks Texas,
Vincent's are spectacular bikes. Once you study the never ending technical details it gets more and more fascinating. A Vincent twin gets off the line like no other bike, not that it is crazy fast acceleration but rather that it fires a "couple of times" and you all of a sudden find yourself a few hundred yards down the road. Top speed is impressive too. I have mine, a 1950 Lightning, timed at 145.802 mph at Bonneville Salt Flats. Totally stock engine. Measured by average speed over one mile in opposite directions.

 

• 1952 is a great year for a Vincent. I would recommend a twin, either a Rapide or Black Shadow, as they are more powerful than a single and truly magical. Not that there is anything wrong with the single! A matching numbers example does not ride better, it is more expensive but it will probably hold it's value better. You should contact the Vincent Owners Club's registrar and get verification of the engine/frame numbers before buying anything. You can reach them here: https://www.vincentownersclub.co.uk/threads/buyer-beware-real-or-fake.12289/
• A well adjusted Vincent is easy to start. You can also 'cheat' and get one with an electric start.
• No vibration to speak of when the crank balance factor is correct.

You will need to have some mechanical aptitude to keep it in tune. Not really difficult but it will greatly enhance the owner experience if you can do some work yourself. I would also recommend open roads for riding the beast, especially when getting to know your bike. Something like this:
You will see some 'starting' and Vincent riding. At minute 20:20 the narrator is getting on the Shadow.
Note, this is also where I live. Vincent owner Sam Whiteside is a friend of mine.

 

I was talking last weekend to a friend who collects vintage motorcycles. He was showing me some pictures of newly produced Vincents. They are recasting the original V twin engine and it looked very similar but as I recall it had disc brakes and some other modernization. I suspect in the ignition, charging etc.

 

I was just a sidebar to talking about his collection. I really don't know more. I suspect a google search would turn up something.

 

I have my GPz over at Century Cycles in san Pedro, they are Vincent specialists , among lots of other makes. They have one there right now selling for 33k, its a beautiful museum quality machine. Century is the oldest shop in the country, since 1962. They are finally doing what ive tried to get done at another shop for 2 years. I cant wait to get it back.


Thank you

 

I saw that too. Except for the engine not as "Vintage" as I understood.