The Vincent; The Best?

That's funny. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Frank, I love you!

Seriously, your stories are amazing. I love reading them. Please keep posting! - BrianK

ludwig said:

NSU engine in a motorcycle frame has been done by Munch , Germany .
Called the Munch Mammuth .
there where different versions made over several years . Up to 1300 cc , I believe .

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Yes, but the Sonny Angel bodge-up preceded the Mammut by several years. Not sure about the Munch but the SA bike was built around 1966. It still resides in his California shop.

This is the only shot I could find of Sonny's prototype.

I've had the rare pleasure to ride a very upgraded Vincent on a open country road. This bike is to all apperances a stock Rapide. However, the owner also has an extensive automotive parts business and includes an astonishing array of redesigned improved parts for Vincents. This particular machine is 1200cc, new barrels, new design "front" heads, electronic ignition, new design clutch, bigger Shadow type brakes, modified gearbox, improved suspension and so on. It was easy enough to start, the kick lever being rather long. Gear selection was Norton style but slightly long slow travel. Clutch uptake predictable and smooth. Engine torque was stump pulling from idle upwards. It had no discernable power jump, just good strong acceleration. Up to 90MPH is was fine, thundering along and then pretty flat after that. Suspension was OK but the front is odd in its action and not immediately confidence inspiring. Cornering was stiff, tendancy to over steer.

Compared to my stock 850 Commando? Well the Commando has faster acceleration, better suspension, handles better and is smoother. Its lighter and more nimble all round. Both look a treat and sound great. The Vincent is $100,000. Mine? Maybe $12,000. I know now what I'd do with the difference.....BSA Triple, John Player Norton, FI, etc etc.....

Mick

I'd buy an MV F4......

Damo

I'd buy another couple dozen Bonneville & Commando project bikes...

Down payment on that Brough Superior....Leno can't live forever!

this one makes my old heart pound just looking at it... imagine the ride

http://www.bikeexif.com/vincent-motorcy ... ke+EXIF%29

DonOR said:

this one makes my old heart pound just looking at it... imagine the ride

http://www.bikeexif.com/vincent-motorcy ... ke+EXIF%29

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I was at a VOC piss up at the Flowerdale pub this February , bit of an open day for all British bikes and a bloke rocked up on one of them. The black one, made by Godet. Gob smacking quality, sheer sex on wheels. It was fitted with the Aussie made 1300cc top end. Godet flew out to Melbourne to do the 1st service on it. Price? Err ...just say that the owner indicated it was north of $100K. But if you want to shut down an entire street , castrate every Harley in sight and have woman throw their undies at you, then I guess its worth every cent!

Mick

ML said:

But if you want to shut down an entire street , castrate every Harley in sight and have woman throw their undies at you, then I guess its worth every cent!

Mick

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How do you think that would look on a loan application?

DonOR said:

this one makes my old heart pound just looking at it... imagine the ride

http://www.bikeexif.com/vincent-motorcy ... ke+EXIF%29

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Fritz Egli's Vincents were raced successfully after the factory closed. His tubular space frame allowed for the updated suspension bits the original could not adapt. He is also the man behind the modernization of the Indian Enfields. Before they got their own engineers, every imported Enfield passed through Egli's shop in Switzerland for reliability updates.

Talking of Vincents I was lucky enough the visit this guy's workshop the other day and saw this it's almost pornographic.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bikerscafe/4714842681/

Australian one is on " Irving Vincent Motorcycle " claims 160 Hp from 100 x 100 , 1600 c.c..Torque 130 Ft Lb @ 5800 . Egli lookalike ?

Once got a pillion ride from Laxey back to Douglas on a Shadow. The most comfortable pillion you can imagine.
When buying a Velo Venom Clubman, the owner kindly let me try his Shadow. Compared to my Comet, only difference was throttle response.
What about the Comet. My best touring bike. Very effortless riding, very smooth engine. With modern speed limits, a 500 is enough.
For racing I have the Manx and the Victors for dirt roads.

You need a twin for touring over here in BC or the US Pacific Northwest.
The Comets just don't have enough pep for the long Mountain passes. Several of the club members here have Comdts and have tried touring with them.
They pull down to about 40 -45 mph on the long 8 percent grades. That tends to impede traffic.
A stock twin will run up those same grades at about 85-90 mph if you desire. Even two up the twin will hold 80 mph.
There is more vibration with the single as well. They are happy to 55 mph but get pretty buzzy above that.
I can see where the Comet would work very well green laning in the UK.
I think my old BSA Super Rocket would do well there too. Unfortunately we don't have many roads like that here.

Glen

I got a chance to ride a Vincent Series D Rapide. I was terrific since the bike cost more then I made in a year at the time. My impressions were of an engine that was very willing to out pull anything, brakes that were just a suggestion and a suspension system that felt like it had a hinge in the middle of the bike.

The brakes on that bike might have been worn out.
Properly set up, the Vincent with its twin drums will easily outbrake a disc brake Norton Commando. I was shown that very clearly a few years ago when riding my Commando at speed in the mountains.
The Vincent suspension can also be quite good, however the Commando is preferable in my opinion.

Glen

One thing about Vincent’s vs your average old Brit is that many of them have done an awful lot of miles.

Mine had done over 130,000 by the time it was 10 years old, so goodness knows what the total was by the time I got my hands on it as an extremely worn out 50+ year old basket case (the bike that is) !

So, as is the case with any old machine (just more so with a Vincent) they really are only as good as the last person to rebuild them.

On a standard B or C the seat pivots up and down (connected to the swinging arm) and the top yoke, clocks, etc bob up and down with the action of the forks, these factors are definitely ‘strange’ at first and do contribute to a ‘hinge in the middle’ perception, but the perception subsides, and it’s not to the detriment of handling.

A badly built Vin can handle dreadfully, dangerously in fact. Even a well set up Vin will always feel different to other old Brits of the period, but will handle very, very well indeed. Second only to a featherbed of the period IMO.

Tyres were shit in those days, and hydraulic damping was a brand new science. Modern tyre compound, intelligent use of modern damping alternatives and attention to detail on the rebuild will provide a really superbly handling bike.

I can’t comment on the brakes though, I’ve never tried standard brakes.

Mine was so good I used to take it on track days, silly really given how much money and hard work had gone into it, but it was tremendous fun !!

Probably the only bike I actually regret selling.