Vincent Motorcycle Free Classifieds

Craig needs photos of "B" Rapides, especially period documentation, 1947-49 magazine articles outside USA or UK, factory photos, etc. 1/22/13

Photos: Open

News - A new thevincent.com information section on Brampton forks, just click link above. I need all the Brampton Brothers girder fork info you can supply please. E-mail: 47 Rapide

Vincent Comet,1950, in very sound tidy condition, Black Shadow brakes all round, VOC cert, BTH mag, SOLD! - posted 3/13/13

1950 Vincent "C" Comet: Complete, but not a show bike. Owned for 40 years, now time to sell. Last run by Sam Manganaro who did the mechanicals. Non-matching numbers. Paul. rochmis@earthlink.net Phone: 703. 281. 0054. USA Comet Engine F5AB/2A/5843 1/12/13

1949 HRD Vincent Series B Rapide: Brampton girder forks , Concentric carbs , touring wheels with Avon tires. The bike was imported from Rhodesia by Vincent expert Henry Kinnear who restored it some 10 years ago. I have owned it for the past 5 years and it has hardly been ridden. My asking price is 35,000 Pounds Sterling or offer. Pictures are available. The bike is in Johannesburg, South Africa. E-mail: james@alrite.co.za 10/26/2012

Wanted: G1 kickstart cover. It is going to be used on a Special with electric start and hydraulic clutch... so the kickstart shaft and the clutch operating lever areas can be damaged. The inside where the plunger and spring are can also be damaged. John. Phone: 804-683-5615 (corrrected) or E-mail: john.mead@prodigy.net
USA 10/10/2012

1950 Series “C” Rapide: Complete and running, good condition, with Electronic Ignition, Mk 1 Amals, Electric starter, Alton alternator, modified for enhanced reliability, 38,000 UK pounds. Bike located Cheshire, England. Contact Mike. E-mail: mikeacross@hotmail.com or Phone +97433481036 or +97455338045. 9/30/2012

Wanted:: Vincent motorcycle basketcase or complete bike, any model considered. Older motorcycle enthusiast is ready to buy and realize the dream of working on and putting another Vincent back on the road. E:mail: ukcycle

The Black Lightning Project : Items to be sold:
1. Record holding twin engine Vincent streamliner
2. Highway trailer
3. Salt trailer
4. Sixteen thousand dollars worth of spare parts and tools
5. Streamliner will be made race ready prior to receipt.
6. Liner will be sold for highest bid. Bidding will start at $150,000.
7. Will deliver liner and complete package within the boundaries of the continental U.S. or Canada. Any other buyer outside of this area will have to pay shipping costs.
E-mail: tothemax785@webtv.net USA 9/5/2012

Other recommended websites:
Good card to carry in your wallet: http://www.medids.com/free-id.php

Interesting website about Coburn Benson, his shop and Grey Flash: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dannysoar/3356953327/in/pool-vincentmotorcycle/

2 interesting videos about Sid Biberman and Bonneville....videos developed by the TV show Cafe Racer.

Cooper car History: http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/638/cooperstory4tn.jpg
Video/audio clip of Irving Vincent Racer being air-started: http://www.irvingvincent.com/video/classic_racer.mpg

http://www.vincentstreamliner.com
(Various photos and videos of the Lambky Vincent Streamliner, Burns & Wright Lightning, Dave Matson, and other LSR Vincents)

NGK Sparkplug information: http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/techinfo/spark_plugs/techtips.asp?nav=31000&country=US

The Story of the Black Shadow by Phil Irving : http://www.vincent-hrd.co.uk/story.html

Video of David Jefferies riding flat out at IOM with personal commentary. Great Fun. Be sure to go to Full Screen. I can only watch it for a couple minutes before I have to stop to breathe.... http://kapitalmoto.co.uk/node/235

There are a whole series of "On Any Sunday" video sections on Youtube.com. Still magical 36 years later. Start with Bart, Malcolm and Steve at : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRJK02uV_oE&NR=1

Vincent motorcycles in the Movies:
http://www.imcdb.org/vehicles_make-Vincent.html

Story of the Vincent "Black Widow" .... bogus but fun: http://www.angelfire.com/wi/VinWidow/index.html

Richard Thompson's version of Vincent Black Lightning: http://youtube.com/watch?v=AxKTzwaEa2o

Phil Davies sent in instructions for using thevincent.com as your Home Page or as your desktop Background !!

Steve Hamel's 153mph/100hp Bonneville Vincent on the Dyno: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6SpCobouDc&feature=related

Interesting video of Jay Leno testing out his Vincent Black Shadow:
http://www.nbc.com/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno/video/#mea=167040

Great solution to Speeding: www.speedbandits.dk/ or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UdLaf276-I

Interesting website for renting videos if you really want to Learn a Skill.... welding, lathe operation..etc..: http://smartflix.com

http://www.landracing.com/forum/index.php/topic,3908.0.html ( Link to Max's Vincent Streamliner website )

Top Gear video: Race between a Steam Train, an XK 120 and a Vincent Black Shadow. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBZVPsfCxjI

Irving-Vincent Engine:Photos, history, and infomation in Special Report. Australia

The story telling is not limited to Vincent motorcycles... indeed, there is extensive coverage of Rollie making his early mark racing Indian motorcycles. 46 years and 80 pages go by before the first mention of a Vincent motorcycle. However, to truly understand the role of the Spitfire airplane in the Battle of Britain, you have to go back at least to the Schneider Air Races of the 1930's. So it is with a man in his bathing shorts and bath slippers balanced precariously on the rear fender of a Vincent setting the American Motorcycle Speed Record at Bonneville....you need to go back to the beginnings. Phil Irving's autobiography gives you historical perspective on the design, production and special magic of the Vincent motorcycle. "Flat Out" gives you the essence of the man/tuner/rider and further details of that eventful day and the special machine. A serious book for a serious reader...and Christmas and long winter nights are fast approaching, just like that Vincent.

The Richard Thompson Song about a '52 Vincent Black Lightning clearly conveys the passionate feelings that are generated by beautiful women and powerful motorcycles. Those of us who have experienced both admire Richard's ability of communicating to others the stories of our wildest and deepest loves. Richard carries us away on a vivid adventure in song where others have been left standing at the curb. By the end of his story we feel our tourguide on this enjoyable journey has shown us that Red-haired women and Vincent Black Lightnings can be both our salvation and our ruin. What is powerful enough to carry us to the heavens can also crash us to earth. His gift of the Black Lightning may not be a reward for what she gave him, but rather a realization that he must free himself from the steel bonds of both of his deepest loves. Only then can he escape the forces that gave him life and controlled his destiny.

For those of us who own a Vincent motorcycle, nothing else comes remotely close to the feelings of riding a quiet Dinosaur that suddenly transforms into a Fierce Dragon that bellows fire and takes flight..except a loving beautiful woman.

To listen to the song....paste and scroll down and play. Compliments of Red Molly. ( http://www.rtlist.net/listen.htm )

Thanks for your note.. Yes, ads are thin right now with people putting their spares on Evil Bay clawing for absolutely the top dollar...although they may appropriately end up with the parts gone and a bogus cashiers check or claims of non-receipt of goods.. I don't link to or generally even mention Evil Bay. When asked about Evil Bay, I tell Vin owners to try to borrow some Vin parts from Ebay, ask about their next Vincent social event, try to get help setting up your timing chest, ask them a tech question about carbs, stop over for a free beer and chat...ask to see their Vincent model photo galleries and engine diagrams, let them help you with identifying models, serial numbers and sources of parts, call them up to share the excitement and joy of your first Spring ride, ask them to drive out with a van to pick you and your Vincent up when your magneto quits.....There is NOTHING at Ebay but a @^%$&#* computer...

Well... you get the point... people may get a fistful of dollars and certainly will get precious little else. Then... and this is Classic... in a later conversation they complain about the high price of some Vin parts they really need. Bitten by their own snake. I guess that's what they deserve. The rest of us will post our Vincents and parts on thevincent.com. and receive the rewards of lasting friendships and an honest amount of money.

Favorite episode involving a motorcycle: In 1972 an old Chinese man in Takoma Park, MD asked me to look at this strange motorcycle in the cellar of the house he inherited from his brother. It was a rough Velocette Venom that had been sitting for years and was missing the muffler. We worked for over an hour in the dim light before I could finally kick the reluctant dragon to life. It responded by filling the cellar with thick blue smoke, flashes of light from the backfires, and roars from the open exhaust. I’ll never forget his wide open eyes and the dancing smile on his face. He was 9 again and it was the Fourth of July. Also noted was the torrent of Chinese shouts from his wife at the top of the stairs which were totally ineffective at quenching our Celebration. To this day, the key ingredients of vintage motorcycling still are - mystery, frustration, sweat, loud noises, smoke, camaraderie, celebration, and contentment.