Teaser...

Fast Eddie · Aug 14, 2015

"The Classic Motorcycle" magazine editor James Robinson took my Vincent out for a gallop recently, apparently it will be featured in the October issue, out in the beginning of September. Here's one of the pics they took (somewhat better than I can manage with my iPhone):

Paul · Aug 14, 2015

Beautiful. Thanks for sharing !

bryan b · Aug 14, 2015

Hi
Good looking bike ,have you had it a long time .

Fast Eddie · Aug 14, 2015

bryan b said:
Hi
Good looking bike ,have you had it a long time .

15 years. 15 very long and very expensive years...!

worntorn · Aug 14, 2015

Lovely Nigel

Unusual throttle cable routing. Normally it heads for the busy little space between tank and UFM. Was there insufficient room there?

Glen

Fast Eddie · Aug 15, 2015

worntorn said:
Lovely Nigel

Unusual throttle cable routing. Normally it heads for the busy little space between tank and UFM. Was there insufficient room there?

Glen

Yes it is 'unusual' Glen, and I know it doesn't look very nice. But its deliberate, and is a case of 'function over form' as it gave the nicest throttle action and zero uneven pull on the cables (lock to lock) which happened when routed under the tank. It is complicated by the fact that I'm running Mikuni carbs and 2 front heads, space above the carbs, between the tanks, and generally everwhere, is tight, so routing will never be really 'stock'!

Triton Thrasher · Aug 15, 2015

worntorn said:
Lovely Nigel

Unusual throttle cable routing. Normally it heads for the busy little space between tank and UFM. Was there insufficient room there?

Glen

Too easily caught in something, the way they're routed in the photo.

Triton Thrasher · Aug 15, 2015

Triton Thrasher said:
worntorn said:

Lovely Nigel

Unusual throttle cable routing. Normally it heads for the busy little space between tank and UFM. Was there insufficient room there?

Glen

Click to expand...

Too easily caught in something, the way they're routed in the photo.

And do they not scratch the tank, on full lock?

Fast Eddie · Aug 15, 2015

Triton Thrasher said:
Triton Thrasher said:

worntorn said:

Lovely Nigel

Unusual throttle cable routing. Normally it heads for the busy little space between tank and UFM. Was there insufficient room there?

Glen

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Too easily caught in something, the way they're routed in the photo.

And do they not scratch the tank, on full lock?

On a racer I'd be concerned about catching during mid corner fairing bashing escapades, but on the road, I think I'd have bigger things to worry about of owt came that close!
No the cables do 't catch on the tank.
But I may try alternative options one day.

Triton Thrasher · Aug 15, 2015

I wouldn't go club race scratching on it either, but there are narrow roads with overgrown hedges, there's wheeling it backwards out of a shed, or in a crowded ferry hold, there's the wind pressure at 100mph into a headwind.

Nice bike.

Fast Eddie · Aug 15, 2015

Triton Thrasher said:
I wouldn't go club race scratching on it either, but there are narrow roads with overgrown hedges, there's wheeling it backwards out of a shed, or in a crowded ferry hold, there's the wind pressure at 100mph into a headwind.

Nice bike.

100mph?

Never been above 70... :mrgreen:

worntorn · Aug 15, 2015

Fast Eddie said:
worntorn said:

Lovely Nigel

Unusual throttle cable routing. Normally it heads for the busy little space between tank and UFM. Was there insufficient room there?

Glen

Click to expand...

Yes it is 'unusual' Glen, and I know it doesn't look very nice. But its deliberate, and is a case of 'function over form' as it gave the nicest throttle action and zero uneven pull on the cables (lock to lock) which happened when routed under the tank. It is complicated by the fact that I'm running Mikuni carbs and 2 front heads, space above the carbs, between the tanks, and generally everwhere, is tight, so routing will never be really 'stock'!

I also have a Rapide here with two front heads and Mikunis. You've reminded me that I did have difficulty with the throttle cables on that one. I did eventually get them to work through the tank to ufm space, but it took forever to sort. Will take a photo and post it.
How do you find starting with the Mikunis? I have a lot of difficulty with this one, whereas the Amal Premiere equipped Rapide starts very easily. Also the Mikuni bike is very cold blooded whereas the Amal bike runs right almost as soon as it starts up.

Glen

Fast Eddie · Aug 15, 2015

worntorn said:
Fast Eddie said:

worntorn said:

Lovely Nigel

Unusual throttle cable routing. Normally it heads for the busy little space between tank and UFM. Was there insufficient room there?

Glen

Click to expand...

Yes it is 'unusual' Glen, and I know it doesn't look very nice. But its deliberate, and is a case of 'function over form' as it gave the nicest throttle action and zero uneven pull on the cables (lock to lock) which happened when routed under the tank. It is complicated by the fact that I'm running Mikuni carbs and 2 front heads, space above the carbs, between the tanks, and generally everwhere, is tight, so routing will never be really 'stock'!

Click to expand...

I also have a Rapide here with two front heads and Mikunis. You've reminded me that I did have difficulty with the throttle cables on that one. I did eventually get them to work through the tank to ufm space, but it took forever to sort. Will take a photo and post it.
How do you find starting with the Mikunis? I have a lot of difficulty with this one, whereas the Amal Premiere equipped Rapide starts very easily. Also the Mikuni bike is very cold blooded whereas the Amal bike runs right almost as soon as it starts up.

Glen

When I pulled the dust sheet off after last winter, I turned the fuel on, put the chokes on, and it started first kick!
I didn't drain the sump, charge the battery, fill with fresh fuel, nothing!
Whilst that is a sign of my neglect, it also goes to show how well the bike starts, 99.9% of the time it is a first kick starter, hot or cold or inbetween.
Why is it so good? Sadly its not an indication of my Vincent superiorority! The carbs were fitted and set up by Patrick Godet. He fitted his exhausts with built in gas analysers and had it on his rolling road for extensive testing and setting up. He did a bloody good job... Tre Bon!

Jeandr · Aug 15, 2015

Nice looking Vincent, I like the front drum 8)

Jean

worntorn · Aug 16, 2015

A bit tortuous but it works.

Teaser...

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This might be a good compromise. I had Venhills make these cables up in their featherlight spec. They also made steel bends for the Carb top entries. If I was doing this again the cables should be 2 or 3 inches shorter overall.
Carbs are Amal and heads are stock, but it could also work on the two front head Mikuni equipped bike. The routing is pretty gentle and the Featherlight cables are low friction, so it's a nice easy throttle.

God those indicators are ugly. They are needed, but I must change them to something more palatable one day.

Teaser...

Fast Eddie · Aug 16, 2015

Thanks Glen.

Indeed, new cables with 90 degree formed ends for the carb tops are on my list of things to do (although they're a fair way down said list)!

How were Venhill to deal with when getting custom cables made? Did you give them a drawing, or sample, or?

Presumably new indicators are quite near the top of your list...?!?

worntorn · Aug 16, 2015

Venhills were excellent. They also made up front brake cables in an extremely heavy gauge but still with the Teflon lining, which means less cable friction, more effort getting through to the brake arm.
I made up drawings for them, then faxed them thru.

Yes, sadly, after looking at the photo today, the indicators must go.

grandpaul · Aug 19, 2015

What a beautiful bike.

What is the deal with the '2 front heads' mod?

Bernhard · Aug 21, 2015

worntorn said:
A bit tortuous but it works.

[
/quote]

love the "bed spring2 on the front brake arm :!:

Fast Eddie · Aug 21, 2015

grandpaul said:
What a beautiful bike.

What is the deal with the '2 front heads' mod?

Front heads were alleged to have a better port shape, particularly suited for making bigger etc. so was seen as a 'hot rod' mod back in the day. Personally, I don't believe it makes the slightest difference unless you're going BIG with the ports.

I only have 2 front heads because that what it came with.

But I actually think it looks better !

Teaser...

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