I know it's a Vincent, and they should not be hacked in any way. But with that said I do like the detail and the minimum of parts. No extra frame pieces.

He started with only the engine, so it's not hacking but a resurrection.

Jean

I thought I read some time back that NEW engines were available for around $80K. I think I saw it on biker build off. That's crazy money.

A tatty original Rapide needing restoration sold for £24K on Ebay last week................its a real shame that someone has ruined an original bike, in order to stand out from the crowd. !

Carbonfibre wrote:A tatty original Rapide needing restoration sold for £24K on Ebay last week................its a real shame that someone has ruined an original bike, in order to stand out from the crowd. !

Read it right, he made everything except the engine, he didn't wreck a complete bike. Would it have been better to leave that engine in a wet basement or come out with a superb Vincent that runs, can be seen and touched

Jean

That's a fair enough point Jean.
We have a Vincent still running here in S.A., in Classic Speedway demo's. I say Classic and not Vintage
because it raced and won, through the late sixties and into the mid seventies against some pretty trick Jap stuff.
When she comes out the pit gate It's the only bike there that brings everyone up to the fence.
Man that thing has got some drive.
Just realised, not sure if you guys have Speedway outfits ( sidecars ), or just Solo's.
AC.
P.S... Did Yamaha ever claim to have invented the Mono shock set up.? I guess Vincents have 2 shocks.

Jeandr wrote:

Carbonfibre wrote:A tatty original Rapide needing restoration sold for £24K on Ebay last week................its a real shame that someone has ruined an original bike, in order to stand out from the crowd. !

Read it right, he made everything except the engine, he didn't wreck a complete bike. Would it have been better to leave that engine in a wet basement or come out with a superb Vincent that runs, can be seen and touched

Jean

If he has used the engine from what I would imagine was a complete bike, then it would seem to suggest that a very rare and desirable bike has been destroyed in order to create a "custom" with a motor other than HD?

Carbonfibre wrote:

Jeandr wrote:

Carbonfibre wrote:A tatty original Rapide needing restoration sold for £24K on Ebay last week................its a real shame that someone has ruined an original bike, in order to stand out from the crowd. !

Read it right, he made everything except the engine, he didn't wreck a complete bike. Would it have been better to leave that engine in a wet basement or come out with a superb Vincent that runs, can be seen and touched

Jean

If he has used the engine from what I would imagine was a complete bike, then it would seem to suggest that a very rare and desirable bike has been destroyed in order to create a "custom" with a motor other than HD?

I guess you have too much imagination, maybe it was the only thing he could salvage or maybe someone else wrecked the rest of the bike My friend has an Indian parallel twin engine and transmission, nothing else, is he guilty of wrecking a bike would it be better for him to junk that or keep it until he finds the rest or makes something out of it You have to understand that not everything made 60 years ago makes it in one piece, just look at how many brain cells you may have lost, I bet it is as great as how many I have lost, I just hope you started out with more than me

Jean

from the article

According to our friend Chris Hunter at Bike EXIF, the Black Falcon features a 1952 Black Shadow engine that was discovered in pieces. The 1,000cc mill had been modified for drag racing, so Barry had the engine stripped to the last part and meticulously rebuilt. It now runs like “a 75-bhp Swiss watch.”

apparently, if people would read, instead of jumping to conclusions and getting all righteous, they may appreciate the work involved, and the beauty of the end result.

Would it have been as controvercial if he'd just built a Norvin?

well, as stated in the other topic I made he's making a norton next... so I can't wait to see you stockers having a fit

pelican wrote:well, as stated in the other topic I made he's making a norton next... so I can't wait to see you stockers having a fit

me too

The result would have been a whole lot better if it were possible to ride and use the finished bike, rather than just being something to take to shows!

If you go through that much trouble to restore a vintage engine to its glory then you should also build a beautiful stand to display it on. I think they have acheived that!

hobot wrote:http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/05/a-vincent-black-shadow-for-the-modern-era/

Very nice indeed; but NOT "a Vincent for the modern era", unless you mean a Vincent to take to bike shows in the modern era.