1953 Vincent Rapide, CL, $65k

[chuck peterson]

Just need black leather and a red headed girl....

https://newlondon.craigslist.org/mcy/d/greenville-1953-vincent-rapide/6915879951.html

[JJ]

"Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous..." 

[Lannis]

"Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous..." 

Not necessarily, you know.   A whole bunch of people on here, if they sold 8 of their 10 bikes, traded the full-boat F250 for an older Dodge Ram, and convinced the wife to downsize from the Lexus to a Versa, could pay cash for that and be the bull-goose rider at any rally, gathering, motel, or BRP overlook they stopped at!!      A matter of commitment and priorities, not money.

Lannis

[kballowe]

For that kind of money, the guy could have at least detailed it.

And got the 8 year-old grand daughter to take some decent pictures.

Just sayin'

[Dave Swanson]

A Rapide or Black Shadow has been on my list for many years. 

I often contemplate how much simpler life would be with a couple modern bikes and a couple high quality $$$ classics instead of the menagerie I have now which numbers 33 bikes at the moment.  But every time I sit down to figure out what to sell to get that Black Shadow or other high dollar classic  it always ends in defeat.  Sell the V7 Sport?  Never!  The 1000S's?  Not on your life.  The 56 Panhead?  No way!!  Just selling those 4 bikes could get me a nice Vincent.  I just can't do what is required to get there..,

[Dave Swanson]

Just need black leather and a red headed girl....

https://youtu.be/j0kJdrfzjAg

[LowRyter]

A neighbor of mine has one and said he spent about $60k on it, functionally restored.

I first met the guy on the side of the road trying to kick start it.  We pushed it back to his house.

[Shorty]

Did that bike come with Boranni rims?

[PeteS]

Has anyone here ridden one? I am curious about the brakes. I know the motors are strong but handling and brakes don't appear to be their strong suit.

Pete

[LowRyter]

Has anyone here ridden one? I am curious about the brakes. I know the motors are strong but handling and brakes don't appear to be their strong suit.

Pete

I've not ridden one but I do remember Peter Egan writing about Vincent restorations.  IIRC from what I read, the Vincent frames and suspension are very difficult to get right but when expertly done, it's a great riding bike.  OTOH, you see quite a few Nor-Vins and Egli Vincents where the Vincent engines are installed in more conventional frames. 

I suppose both alternatives can be correct.

[nc43bsa]

Did that bike come with Boranni rims?

It didn't come from the factory with Amal 932 carbs, either.

[Lannis]

Has anyone here ridden one? I am curious about the brakes. I know the motors are strong but handling and brakes don't appear to be their strong suit.

Pete

From our last Vincent discussion in December:

"We were on a Britbike ride in the Carolina mountains with some friends last year; and one of the guys brought his Vincent for the 220 mile ride, he rode it just like a regular motorcycle in the mountains.

Last gas stop was about 60 miles from the destination motel.   He said "You want to take it back to the barn?"

I said "Yes PLEASE".   He gave me the starting procedure for that particular bike (Open kill switch, pull in decompressor, 'long swinging kick' and release the decompressor right at the end), it started right up and idled perfectly.   I took off, about a mile down the road a pickup truck pulled out in front of me necessitating getting HARD on the brakes, and it stopped without drama.

My take after 60 miles of mountain riding was that it has a beautiful, torquey, powerful engine, the equal of any V-twin sold today, which engine is enclosed in supported by pure 1950s British frame and girder fork technology, which means you'd better stay on top of things or it will get on top of YOU.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity provided by a good friend to whom I will be forever grateful, but it also dissolved any "bucket list" dreams I might have had about cashing in all my existing bikes and sinking it into a Vincent for regular riding ....  I'm very happy now without one, instead of having this gnawing "Should I?  Should I?  I only live once ..." feeling ...."

In summary, it's a very nice powerful engine with drum brakes and a very small amount of "frame" material, and handles just as you would suppose ....

Lannis

[tazio]

Creamsicle

[Rough Edge racing]

From our last Vincent discussion in December:

My take after 60 miles of mountain riding was that it has a beautiful, torquey, powerful engine, the equal of any V-twin sold today, which engine is enclosed in supported by pure 1950s British frame and girder fork technology, which means you'd better stay on top of things or it will get on top of YOU.

Lannis

  You mean it has power relative to it's RPM range, not that it has anything like the full throttle power of let's say a newer Ducati?

[Lannis]

  You mean it has power relative to it's RPM range, not that it has anything like the full throttle power of let's say a newer Ducati?

Well, yes, and I suppose that maybe I'd better not compare it any more to the performance characteristics of modern bikes.   But I have ridden Ducati Monsters and my Triumph Trophy 1215 triple and my Stelvio and modern Harley-Davidsons, and what I mean is that the Vincent engine is smooth, starts easy, it's torquey, lots of power throughout the RPM range, it responds instantly to throttle inputs, it doesn't pop and buck and bang on deceleration .... and all these things are much more characteristic of modern bikes with ECUs and FI than they are of any other 40s or 50s Brits that I've ridden, which often DO have a bit of obnoxiousness mixed into their mechanical presence.

The "old feeling" of the chassis just emphasized to me the niceness of the motor.

Lannis

[Rough Edge racing]

 Lannis, that for the explanation, you did ride the machine...There is so much bullshit about Vincents and some other bikes that it's hard to get the real story..I would probably really like the engine...

[Dave Swanson]

There are some great Vincent fly bys in the video.  Great vid.   If this video doesn't give you Vincent fever, nothing will.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETFVYWIQqDk

[JohninVT]

I don’t know if he’s still around but there was a guy in Putney, VT with five of them.  Two of which were Vincent Egli’s.  One ran and the other was being restored as it had been in a fire.  My father made some parts for him in his machine shop.  The guy was about what you’d expect considering he’d never worked a day in his life and owned five Vincent’s, a SS80 and a SS100 Brough Superior but when he learned I owned a Commando Interstate he offered to let me take a Rapide for a spin.  I completely agree with Lannis regarding the bike.  It had a remarkably flexible engine, mediocre brakes and a suspension/frame that wasn’t really up to the task of coping with the engine performance.  I’m glad I got to ride it but I don’t have an interest in owning one.  I was honestly more thrilled to be able to throw a leg over the SS100 and sit on it.  I didn’t ride the Brough Superior but if he had let me....I might not have come back.

[JC85]

https://youtu.be/j0kJdrfzjAg

Props to the original, of course, but in my opinion, this is by far the best version of this song. One of the few instances when I think a cover is better than the original.

https://youtu.be/CrGOs1a1lOk

[PeteS]

I never had a strong desire to own a Vincent but loved the Shadows with the big Chronometric.
I would be atrongly tempted to pick up an Egli Vincent if one was available to me.

Pete

[Dave Swanson]

Props to the original, of course, but in my opinion, this is by far the best version of this song. One of the few instances when I think a cover is better than the original.

https://youtu.be/CrGOs1a1lOk

I disagree.  It is definitely a much more edgy take on the song, and not saying I don't like it but I much prefer Richard Thompson's approach to the song.  And Richard's guitarmanship is beyond the pale. 

My favorite renditions by female performers are this one by Miranda Russell.  Miranda has a wonderful voice. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7yVnfX98A8

I also really like this rendition by Christy Jefferson.  The audio is of very good quality even though it is recorded in what looks like her living room. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqMxOgjaWkA

[JamesNFalconaut]

Props to the original, of course, but in my opinion, this is by far the best version of this song. One of the few instances when I think a cover is better than the original.

https://youtu.be/CrGOs1a1lOk

Yes agree.  Bloody good version that

[SED]

I often contemplate how much simpler life would be with a couple modern bikes and a couple high quality $$$ classics instead of the menagerie I have now which numbers 33 bikes at the moment.  But every time I sit down to figure out what to sell to get that Black Shadow or other high dollar classic  it always ends in defeat.  Sell the V7 Sport?  Never!  The 1000S's?  Not on your life.  The 56 Panhead?  No way!!  Just selling those 4 bikes could get me a nice Vincent.  I just can't do what is required to get there..,

This 

I did a different calculation and came to the same conclusion.  (the only reason I could even consider a Vincent was that I'd sold my long-time home and had a little windfall - and drive a $300 car ) 

I would have to sell the '39 Ariel and one of the Guzzi twins just to be able to put miles on all my bikes.

Then I started thinking I'm a cheap bastard and I like learning things so I'd never want anyone else to work on the bike, but I'm also a realist (and a slow learner and impatient) so know that I'd skimp on some of the work or the quality of the parts.  And I'm much more interested in the mechanicals than the looks.  All this means any prize like a Vincent would slowly degrade in my hands even though it would run for years (even decades).  I'd own it, but couldn't sell it because it was too much of a rat.  I'd much rather buy a project.

I'm considering going into the GTV for chrome and paint but doing the same calculation... 

[Lannis]

This 

I did a different calculation and came to the same conclusion.  (the only reason I could even consider a Vincent was that I'd sold my long-time home and had a little windfall - and drive a $300 car ) 

I would have to sell the '39 Ariel and one of the Guzzi twins just to be able to put miles on all my bikes.

Then I started thinking I'm a cheap bastard and I like learning things so I'd never want anyone else to work on the bike, but I'm also a realist (and a slow learner and impatient) so know that I'd skimp on some of the work or the quality of the parts.  And I'm much more interested in the mechanicals than the looks.  All this means any prize like a Vincent would slowly degrade in my hands even though it would run for years (even decades).  I'd own it, but couldn't sell it because it was too much of a rat.  I'd much rather buy a project.

I'm considering going into the GTV for chrome and paint but doing the same calculation...

Owning a Vincent could be done just as you say - sell a few things (HARD), re-prioritize a bit (HARD), and then make the commitment to do what's necessary to own and ride one.

Almost everything on a Vincent except that lovely motor is just old British bike stuff - cables, wheels, tires, chains, oil, just normal maintenance.   The motor, however, is a red herring of a different color, and there are only a few experts that can tackle a rebuild when one is needed, which would tend to discourage putting a lot of miles on one, knowing what would be required someday.

Still, people fight their way through harder difficulties in this life than owning and riding an Vincent.   Having ridden one, I have no more temptation to "sell out" and "cash in" and buy one!

Lannis

[alanp]

I have never been able to get past how the seat on those is so absolutely, completely wrong.  That is worse that an afterthought, that giant, Ill-fitting block perched oh so poorly and inappropriately, leaving that random gaping void below.  Absolutely the worst looking thing ever.  The rest of the bike looks OK though. 

[Aaron D.]

I don’t know if he’s still around but there was a guy in Putney, VT with five of them.  Two of which were Vincent Egli’s.  One ran and the other was being restored as it had been in a fire.  My father made some parts for him in his machine shop.  The guy was about what you’d expect considering he’d never worked a day in his life and owned five Vincent’s, a SS80 and a SS100 Brough Superior but when he learned I owned a Commando Interstate he offered to let me take a Rapide for a spin.  I completely agree with Lannis regarding the bike.  It had a remarkably flexible engine, mediocre brakes and a suspension/frame that wasn’t really up to the task of coping with the engine performance.  I’m glad I got to ride it but I don’t have an interest in owning one.  I was honestly more thrilled to be able to throw a leg over the SS100 and sit on it.  I didn’t ride the Brough Superior but if he had let me....I might not have come back.

He is still around. Decent guy, first met him in 79 when I was on my Laverda and my wife was on her Morini. He rode over to us on his Vincent specificaly to see her bike.

[PeteS]

There was a local collector of Brit bikes who had all his bikes professionally restored. Beautiful bikes and he won many best of shows at the events in the Northeast.
He once had a Red Rapide he was going to restore but ended up selling it when he found out the cost of parts. Between the bike and the parts he may have been looking at close to 6 figures.

Pete

[oldbike54]

 Interesting comments about the cost and difficulty of owning a Vincent , here is some counterpoint .

 Some years back the HRD Vincent owners club had their international rally in North Dakota at an abandoned airstrip so they could do some speed trials . It was the week before Sturgis , so several of the owners rode down and stayed in the same campground we were in over in Belle Fourche . About 15 of the Stevenage marvels got ridden the 400 or so miles from Minot , all equipped with Craven panniers and some type of windscreen or fairing , all were riders , no trailer queens . Most had some modern mods , Alton generators , modern carburetors , 18 inch wheels , more modern shock absorbers on the trick rear suspension , same on the Girdraulic forks most were running , only saw one original Brampton fork on a series A model . Most were running solid state ignition conversions for ease of maintenance . The engines had most all been converted to Picador (Black Lightning) specs on the lower end , caged roller bearings instead of the loose ball originals , and were running a type of more modern oil pump .

 Anyway , they were a friendly lot , probably six Brits , a couple of Germans and Frenchmen , a smattering of guys from the Benelux countries , and a few Argentinians being as how they had been a market for Vinnies . The sorta leader was an Englishman , interesting bloke , incredibly knowledgeable about Vincents , heck , they all were . We were discussing prices , the Englishman seemed amused that a nice Vinnie sold for stupid money in America , stating that nice working twins could be had in England for the equivalent of about $20K US , and that really nice restored models were about twice that . This was in 2,000 , so allowing for inflation ...

 I spent a day riding with them , showing them around the Black Hills , over to Devils Tower and up into Montana . Not one of these Vinnies was ridden gently , all were being ridden like a modern motorbike , we were running at 85 MPH at times , and bending thru curves in a highly spirited fashion . Not one puff of smoke was seen , no roadside repairs were necessary , just like any modern bikes .

 Dusty

[s1120]

Props to the original, of course, but in my opinion, this is by far the best version of this song. One of the few instances when I think a cover is better than the original.

https://youtu.be/CrGOs1a1lOk

Ya that's good.  Hes a great musician. he plays around my area a lot, [im only 20 min from where that was recorded..] but ive yet to catch him live.

[Rough Edge racing]

Interesting comments about the cost and difficulty of owning a Vincent , here is some counterpoint .

 Some years back the HRD Vincent owners club had their international rally in North Dakota at an abandoned airstrip so they could do some speed trials . It was the week before Sturgis , so several of the owners rode down and stayed in the same campground we were in over in Belle Fourche . About 15 of the Stevenage marvels got ridden the 400 or so miles from Minot , all equipped with Craven panniers and some type of windscreen or fairing , all were riders , no trailer queens . Most had some modern mods , Alton generators , modern carburetors , 18 inch wheels , more modern shock absorbers on the trick rear suspension , same on the Girdraulic forks most were running , only saw one original Brampton fork on a series A model . Most were running solid state ignition conversions for ease of maintenance . The engines had most all been converted to Picador (Black Lightning) specs on the lower end , caged roller bearings instead of the loose ball originals , and were running a type of more modern oil pump .

 Anyway , they were a friendly lot , probably six Brits , a couple of Germans and Frenchmen , a smattering of guys from the Benelux countries , and a few Argentinians being as how they had been a market for Vinnies . The sorta leader was an Englishman , interesting bloke , incredibly knowledgeable about Vincents , heck , they all were . We were discussing prices , the Englishman seemed amused that a nice Vinnie sold for stupid money in America , stating that nice working twins could be had in England for the equivalent of about $20K US , and that really nice restored models were about twice that . This was in 2,000 , so allowing for inflation ...

 I spent a day riding with them , showing them around the Black Hills , over to Devils Tower and up into Montana . Not one of these Vinnies was ridden gently , all were being ridden like a modern motorbike , we were running at 85 MPH at times , and bending thru curves in a highly spirited fashion . Not one puff of smoke was seen , no roadside repairs were necessary , just like any modern bikes .

 Dusty

  And the reliability comes as a high price of course... Before the internet I used rear the Brit magazine Classic Bike monthly...There was a lot of features on Vincents from well known tuners and rebuilders...It often was said it required a lot of engineering ( to Brits I believe that means machine shop work) to get a Vincent engine into top shape....I did look recently  for a JAP 1000 engine or a Vincent engine to build a hooligan bike. I found piles of junk for silly money and anything good was very silly money...