Original Vincent Motorcycle
by J P Bickerstaff
A review by Al
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The good burghers at Capricorn Link have excelled themselves for Christmas 2009.
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The Black Shadow was the first motorcycle that could out-run the Smiths 120 MPH speedometer |
J P Bickerstaff's Original Vincent Motorcycle is just the thing to decorate the coffee table of the discerning motorcycle renaissance man.
"The definitive guide to model evolution and 100% originality", the rear of the dust cover states, modestly. "All production versions 1946-55 covered in depth. Contains more than 200 specially commissioned colour photographs. Minutely researched text covers original specification and equipment."
It is hard to argue with this mighty blurb.
The four page introduction gives a brief introduction to the legend and mystique of the marque, and then it's fact time. Ten pages on the Series A machines - singles, Rapides, wartime and post-war. Twenty six pages on the Rapide series B, C and D.
Fourteen pages on the Black Shadow. Eight pages on the Meteor Series B. And so on through the Comet, the Black Lightning, the Grey Flash, Black Knight and Black Prince.
After this comes comes information on buying a Vincent, parts availability and so on, followed by a data section with specifications of all the relevant models.
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After five years of making Hurricanes, what better celebration of V-day than the 1946 998cc V-twin Series B Rapide? |
In the introduction, Bickerstaff says "The Vincent-HRD was not a mass-produced item, manufactured to exact specification. Developments was a continuous process and individual customer, or dealer, requirements would often be accommodated. In the years since production ceased, drawings and records have been dispersed, and memories have faded. It is, therefore, not possible to describe every original feature, and option, for the standard models."
Despite this, the data section is quite comprehensive. It notes modifications through the production runs of the Series A, for example, with the clutches going from three springs to six, a new magneto introduced, grooved rocker bearings fitted, the second gear going from 24 to 23 teeth, a modified gear selector pawl spring, a steel oil pump worm, revised crankshaft drilliung and a Lucas stoplight switch in 1947. The table lists changes right through to 1953.
And the photos are fabulous. The iconic specially made 150 MPH speedo, lots of big black Vincents - muscular Rapides and Lightnings, lithe Comet singles and Black Princes in their bathtub bodywork. Oh, and a couple of big red Vincents. For the US market, of course.
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Chinese Red. <shudder>. It reminded the Americans of some Indian or other. |
Jacqueline Bickerstaff is an electronics engineer who develops radar and satellite systems, and rides Vincents in her spare time. She's clocked up a quarter of a million miles on her Rapide. She's big in the Vincent-HRD Owners Club, and served as their technical officer for some time. She owns a 1926 sidevalve Vincent and a 1953 cyclemotor as well. She seems to know what she's writing about.
The book costs $74.99. It's available from all good bookstores. If your local bookstore doesn't have it, it's probably because they aren't a good bookstore. If they are interested in becoming a good bookstore, they merely have to send an email to books @ capricornlink.com.au and order some copies of Original Vincent Motorcycle.
About a gross should do.