So...are all Vincent Black Shadow owners rude?

MexicoMike

MexicoMike

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My wife and I plus another couple were out and about yesterday here at the IOM (Manx GP). We were at Port Erin for lunch. A (rather young) guy had his BS and was holding court, allowing folks to sit on the bike while explaining, among other things, about hitting 124MPH with his son on the back in 3rd gear over the mountain.

My friend, a former INOA president, asked the BS owner if he knew of any Norton or other Britt-bike meet ups taking place this week. The guy ignored him. Thinking he hadn't been heard, my friend asked again and was again totally ignored. He tried a 3rd time with the same result. During these attempts, the BS owner responded to questions from others about his bike. I have never run across such a rude fellow-biker though my impression is that he does not consider any non-Vincent owners to be "fellow bikers" He could have at least answered with, "Sorry no, I don't"

I was once interested in a Vincent though could never have afforded one. But seeing the personality change that appears to goes with it, I'm happy I was unable to purchase one. The Norton/Triumph/BSA guys we run into are all very friendly...as are the Honda, Yamaha, Benelli, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Royal Enfield, etc guys (and gals)...

SO, if you are thinking about buying a Vincent Black Shadow, check with your family doctor about any available meds to counteract the personality change...
 
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MexicoMike said:
My wife and I plus another couple were out and about yesterday here at the IOM (Manx GP). We were at Port Erin for lunch. A (rather young) guy had his BS and was holding court, allowing folks to sit on the bike while explaining, among other things, about hitting 124MPH with his son on the back in 3rd gear over the mountain.

My friend, a former INOA president, asked the BS owner if he knew of any Norton or other Britt-bike meet ups taking place this week. The guy ignored him. Thinking he hadn't been heard, my friend asked again and was again totally ignored. He tried a 3rd time with the same result. During these attempts, the BS owner responded to questions from others about his bike. I have never run across such a rude fellow-biker though my impression is that he does not consider any non-Vincent owners to be "fellow bikers" I was once interested in a Vincent though could never have afforded one. But seeing the personality change that appears to goes with it, I'm happy I was unable to purchase one. The Norton/Triumph/BSA guys we run into are all very friendly...as are the Honda, Yamaha, Benelli, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Royal Enfield, etc guys (and gals)...

SO, if you are thinking about buying a Vincent Black Shadow, check with your family doctor about any available meds to counteract the personality change...
Click to expand...
Sorry but does B.S stand for belligerent shithead ? :)
 
  • Haha
Reactions: baz
I have only experienced this once with a Harley rider
A few of us were in a group talking
A bloke pulled up on a Harley
We soon realised he would only talk/respond to one of our mates that had just bought a Sportster
He asked him what the problem was ,he just said "I don't talk to anyone that doesn't own a Harley"
Very weird IMO
 
baz said:
I have only experienced this once with a Harley rider
A few of us were in a group talking
A bloke pulled up on a Harley
We soon realised he would only talk/respond to one of our mates that had just bought a Sportster
He asked him what the problem was ,he just said "I don't talk to anyone that doesn't own a Harley"
Very weird IMO
Click to expand...
I spent a few hours today with a guy that has heaps of bikes and I mean heaps including a HRC V...http://www.trevorhallmotorcycles.co.nz/
A really great and knowledgeable but always it just takes one twat to get on your goat...
I remember years ago this motorcycle gang type member said to me and me mates at his club house...its so good to see nice maintained british bikes arrive here..as he said to us...."any geek can own a Harley" :)
 
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Welcome to the Isle of Man :D

Non Vincent owner expressing an interest in any Norton bike meets going on you may have found out about Mike?
 
MexicoMike said:
My wife and I plus another couple were out and about yesterday here at the IOM (Manx GP). We were at Port Erin for lunch. A (rather young) guy had his BS and was holding court, allowing folks to sit on the bike while explaining, among other things, about hitting 124MPH with his son on the back in 3rd gear over the mountain.

My friend, a former INOA president, asked the BS owner if he knew of any Norton or other Britt-bike meet ups taking place this week. The guy ignored him. Thinking he hadn't been heard, my friend asked again and was again totally ignored. He tried a 3rd time with the same result. During these attempts, the BS owner responded to questions from others about his bike. I have never run across such a rude fellow-biker though my impression is that he does not consider any non-Vincent owners to be "fellow bikers" He could have at least answered with, "Sorry no, I don't"

I was once interested in a Vincent though could never have afforded one. But seeing the personality change that appears to goes with it, I'm happy I was unable to purchase one. The Norton/Triumph/BSA guys we run into are all very friendly...as are the Honda, Yamaha, Benelli, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Royal Enfield, etc guys (and gals)...

SO, if you are thinking about buying a Vincent Black Shadow, check with your family doctor about any available meds to counteract the personality change...
Click to expand...
No time for that
 
They won't do 124 in 3rd. The crank would be in pieces.
The factory broke many stock cranks during Picador testing.
They realized that a new type of crank had to be developed for the Vincent to sustain 6000 rpm.
It was only used in the Picador drone engines and in a few race bikes.
My 1360 has a modern version of the Picador crank installed so it's safe to rev to 6500.
My Rapide has a stock crank best kept under 5500.
124 in 3rd is about 7000 rpm.
If it was attainable power level would be very low with any factory Vincent cam as they fall off a cliff at 5500.

Glen
 
No they’re not normally like that at all, in fact most are very down to earth in my experience.

It’s even similar with the Bruff Sup lot. They have their annual gathering not far from me so I’ve been a few times. Even though they all have £80k-£250k+ machines, they’re all thoroughly down to earth and quite accommodating of uneducated questions from oiks like me !
 
worntorn said:
They won't do 124 in 3rd. The crank would be in pieces.
The factory broke many stock cranks during Picador testing.
They realized that a new type of crank had to be developed for the Vincent to sustain 6000 rpm.
It was only used in the Picador drone engines and in a few race bikes.
My 1360 has a modern version of the Picador crank installed so it's safe to rev to 6500.
My Rapide has a stock crank best kept under 5500.
124 in 3rd is about 7000 rpm.
If it was attainable power level would be very low with any factory Vincent cam as they fall off a cliff at 5500.

Glen
Click to expand...
They only claimed 125 flat out on top didn’t they Glen?
So 124 in 3rd sounds fanciful unless MASSIVELY over geared.
But anyway, it wouldn’t do it two-up.
 
I think there were two 1950s magazine road tests claiming 125 and 129 mph for the Black Shadow.
These roadtests are often quoted as proof of the bike's speed. Any honest owner will admit that 125 in top isn't happening, much less 129.
I passed a lovely Godet restored Shadow at the IOM Sulby Straight , both of us flat on the tank. My Rapide speedo showed 115. The GPS says it's only 112. I guess he was doing just shy of 110. Not bad at all for a couple of 65-70 year old bikes but a long way from 129!

Glen
 
What was the proven speed of Rollie Free’s famous run at Bonneville …. thought it was somewhere in 130 mph zone ….
 
worntorn said:
I think there were two 1950s magazine road tests claiming 125 and 129 mph for the Black Shadow.
These roadtests are often quoted as proof of the bike's speed. Any honest owner will admit that 125 in top isn't happening, much less 129.
I passed a lovely Godet restored Shadow at the IOM Sulby Straight , both of us flat on the tank. My Rapide speedo showed 115. The GPS says it's only 112. I guess he was doing just shy of 110. Not bad at all for a couple of 65-70 year old bikes but a long way from 129!

Glen
Click to expand...
Any idea what your big un is capable of ?
 
Craig said:
What was the proven speed of Rollie Free’s famous run at Bonneville …. thought it was somewhere in 130 mph zone ….
Click to expand...
Rollie went just over 150 but that was with a Black Lightning. It's widely believed that an alcohol fuel mix was used for those runs.
 
Fast Eddie said:
Any idea what your big un is capable of ?
Click to expand...
I'm not sure. The speed in the video is as far as I've taken it.
That's 127mph in third on the five speed.
One day I'll take it to a place where I can legally try the remaining gears. That will probably be a racetrack in the USA.
 
Glen , I went to see the “Age of Aquarius car back in mid 70’s in Sask.” rocket powered rail , he ran 3 times over the 1/4 mile all 300 mph + , before he did his runs there were a few alcohol burners those things were fast as well … can’t imagine 150 on any bike at this stage in life ….
 
I'm getting that way too.
Things come up fast enough at 70 mph on a public road.

I do wish we still had a local track.

Glen
 
baz said:
I have only experienced this once with a Harley rider
A few of us were in a group talking
A bloke pulled up on a Harley
We soon realised he would only talk/respond to one of our mates that had just bought a Sportster
He asked him what the problem was ,he just said "I don't talk to anyone that doesn't own a Harley"
Very weird IMO
Click to expand...
Sadly, SOP here.
 
The same can probably be said about a small percentage of young owners of any pricey marque. However, ...

I've never run into that behavior in conversation, but I'm not very sociable. In public, I keep my mouth shut for the most part.

I've been around motorcycle owners that I would never hang out with that is certain. As common as it is, I've never really understood people that get their persona tied up in what toys they own. As Seinfeld said, It's just stuff.

Young guys have issues they don't know they have. The aging process generally takes care of that.
 
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