Fantastic video, really enjoyed it 👍 Interesting to see you look like a 60's rocker but obviously your too young😂 The yellow FS1E in the background gives it away, probably a 1977 model 😁 Hopefully the younger generation will carry on loving and maintaining these old bikes and these videos will help to encourage this, well done 👍
@@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel No worries, it's happened all my life, loads of people do it. My nextdoor neighbour at our first house called me Rob all the time we lived there even though I told him several times it Rod 😂 😁
Correct Rob, I am to young to be a true rocker/ton up boy at 55 years , but I was heavily influenced by my peers who where the real deal when I started ridding my first Triumph in the early eighties. They where all on Triton's, CSR Matchless's and Rocket Three's and the like. Yes my first bike was a Yamaha FS1E DX
The nicest guy you could ever wish to meet. My next door neighbour for years in Tonbridge and always infectiously enthusiastic. He's about 8 stone wet through(!) and could start my Firebird whereas my 20 stone struggled!! Lovely feller. Still talks to me!!
Fascinating. My dad had a Rapide. Brought it to Australia when we emigrated in 1960. Sold it in Melbourne in 1962 due to poor roads. In 2019 I was contacted out of the blue by a man in Queensland (1870Klm from Melbourne) to tell me he had the bike. I went to see him (On an RT11000BMW) and he let me ride it. I will never forget that moment.
Amazing, I had the same experience with my Dad's UK rapide, it had only relocated 20 miles since he last had it in 1957-went and saw it in 2018! :) Best rgds from Canada.
Bloody Brilliant bikes, when I lived in Sheffield Roland Metham had 4, yes 4 Black Shadows Two of which were race tuned and had racing sidecars.... then I’ve a friend who bought one, in 1960, asking the Bank Manager for a bank loan, which at first was refused when He said it’s for a motorbike. Then the manager said what bike. He sheepishly said a 1950’s Vincent Black Shadow. The loan approved and Bank Manager was pillion a ton up. Cracking Bikes The absolute beast and best.
I was born in 1957, and have wanted one of those for about sixty years. That is The Motorcycle of my childhood, never owned or even rode one, but a few Triumphs, a Norton, half a dozen Harleys, but nothing equals a Vincent, I've spent hours of my life staring at the dozens of Vincent's I've had the pleasure to "eyeball". Great video, great owner, sounds like one of my own pals, here in the colonies. Thanks so much for sharing your adventures. I've heard something about tools and Harleys, myself, and of course if you ride it a few hundred miles at a time, it needs maintenance. I road mine every day until I retired, and now have my shop fifty yards from my house, it was much better when the shop was fifty miles a way! Thanks, great bike, great interview and show. Top notch!! John McClain
Where are you from, Mr McLain? I'm in Okc.Ok. love to share bike tales with you sometime. Recently I was wiped out on a beautiful 02 Wide Glide Dyna. Still have 3 left thank the lord. Stay safe.
I didn't mean I have 3 left.i have a Harley XL1200 SPORTSTER . A Honda Shadow I bought while still busted up, 1 broken leg, a stand up guy took my 1st offer, brought it to my front door! With a new battery because he'd described it as anon runner! A class act! Even followed. Me to a tag office at 4:40 pm. Made the paper right. It's not often Integrity is shown like that!
Man, what a superb insider's look at the Vincent Black Shadow and Rapide. I only wish I could give it TWO Thumb's Up. But color me subscribed. Though American, I've always had a predilection for British, or even "British-derived" iron (namely my current mental health aid, being an Indian-made/British-designed original-style pre-unit Iron Cylinder '05 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 "Military", which I just adore). But I've had a couple of Nortons too (an ex-police 750 Commando and one of those N15CS "Desert Sled" hybrid things, which I still have in the shed), and a BSA 441 Victor Special single. I'm pretty sure a Vincent twin, even a lightly-tuned Rapide, might be a bit more than I might care to handle, but I'm sure I could give a nice 500cc Comet single a good home. Now bearing down on my dotage, I seem to have discovered a greater appreciation for the elemental virtues of an old long-stroke single. Anyhow, thanks again for the tour!
What a GREAT video! I’m a 67 year old rider, who started on a 1969 Trident in the early 70’s. A Vincent has always been the pinnacle for me, but unfortunately they’re very rare here in Australiaand they COST BUCKETLOADS!!! I've owned almost exclusively 1970’s Triumphs, but in 2009 I bought a 12 year old Harley Davidson Sportster 883. I fell in love with the V-Twin sound. I stripped it down to the last nut and bolt and rebuilt it with a set of 1275cc pistons and barrels. I refurbed the heads, upgraded the clutch and the oil pump and that bike has taken me all over Eastern Australia for the past 15 years. I get a lot of people ask me where I learned to do the work and they look at me funny when I tell ‘em I learned it along the way, just like all the other riders of my day. The number of bike riders I meet who have NEVER changed their own oil is frankly a little alarming to me, but the fact is the mindset I grew up with, was that you KNEW your bike and no self-respecting rider would even dream of putting their bike in the shop to do basic maintenance, like oil changes or tune-ups. Oh, if you had done the points, the tappets, and your plug chops, etc and the bike was still not quite right, you might take it to someone who knew more than yourself, but you tried your best to do it yourself, so you actually knew how the bike WORKED. I used to be dismissive of electric starts, but at my age, I’m damn glad to have one. I can appreciate the engineering that goes into some of the modern bikes, but they don’t interest me at all. I know that Suzuki Hayabusa will do umpty-trillion miles per hour, but they’re so lacking in character they leave me cold. Even the modern Harleys and Triumphs are a bit bland for my liking. All the electronic stuff they come with these days is just annoying. I guess that makes me an old fart. Well, the Vincent is the kind of bike I'd prefer, if I could ever afford one, but my Sportster does a nice job in the meantime. At 27 years old, it’s nearly regarded as a classic and that’ll do.
I've known Cosmo for the best part of 30 years since he moved in almost next door to me in Tonbridge and stopped in his RAC van as he was going past having seen my bikes on the drive. He's just one of he nicest guys I've ever met, enthusiastic to the nth degree and helpful to the last drop. Remember my Firebird, Cosmo which my 18 stone frame had difficulty starting but you got going in a trice. You may not know it but Evan (Cosmo) is an army reservist of some standing and has done many tours defending or shores at the cost of having to close his business whilst away.. He once took my Vincent for a specialist repair over to Colin Jenner of Conways fame near Maidstone and jogged back home to Tonbridge. Top Chap.
A Man from Ithaca Michigan USA had one and he loved it .. E.J. Potter he fell asleep riding his other bike and broke his leg.. He needed money for Welding School so he sold it.. Later he built a few bikes with V-8 Chevey enignes set the world speed recored for motocycles 3 times.. Had a bad crash in the UK when is chain adjuster bolt broke .. He spent a month or so in a UK Hospital....
İ loved your video👍 a friend of mine Eamon Waldron RIP had a Rapide in the early 1970's..we were a group of friends from Dublin who rode all around Ireland and the UK to Motorcycle Rallies. We rode to many Thistle & Antler Rallies in Scotland ..Eamon was a partner with Gerry Stevens who started MB motorcycles in Dublin. They became the Kawasaki agents for the ROI..MB motorcycles became Bikeworld who now reside on the Longmile Road Dublin where the Vincent and other classic bikes are displayed..thanks again for the video top class.
I worked as a mechanic for Big Sid Biberman, and he once let me drive his Shadow down the interstate. My impression is with all its power the bike is very smooth. When I returned to the shop, I said "What happened to the vibration. I took it up to 90 mph. I love your Norton tattoo. I have 3 Nortons, a 1950 twin, a 1971 750, and a 1975 850. Only the 850 is original and restored. I bought it new in 1975. the '50 I build from found parts, the '71 Has a '71 engine in a '72 frame. All three have Norton disk breaks. I'm not picky. The '50 is a smooth, sweet bike, which I use with a sidecar. Sorry for the Norton rant, but working for a Vincent expert was a great pleasure and privilege. After Sid passed, the Shadow auctioned for $137K
You are right... people look surprised that I do my own maintenance. It does save money but I do it myself because then I know it's done right. Never owned a Vinnie, but always admired them.... I remember the 50s when I first saw one (I was born in 1942)...... I used to ridecon the Mk2 Avons back in the 60s... my present bike is 32 years old and runs Road Riders which I have found are excellent.
Good man! When my mother was pregnant with me, my parents thought they were having a boy. I was supposed to be named Jon Vincent after my father's beloved '47 Rapide... but I threw a wrench into their plan!
I couldn’t stop smiling watching this video and not just because of the bike! The passion for his bike was beautiful. I love seeing examples of what motorcycles do to people and I love being reminded of why we ride. 🏍🖤
I don’t have a clue about motor cycles, but as a kid I couldn’t take my eyes off of my friends older brothers Vincent. He gave me a ride home which covered about a mile and will never forget that experience it’s a thing of beauty.
Great re the handbook. I think the health and safety culture also has a part to play in why maintenance is frowned upon. People were trusted to have a modicum of common sense back then. Love your passion mate 👍
Evan Cosmo's narration of this video is perfect! His knowledge and affection for the Vincent marque is so engaging and genuine that the 38 plus minutes flew by with never of moment of boredom. Top notch job! My bi monthly bout of Vincent fever has started once again!
Having been a biker for 58 years, my knowledge of Vincents was non existant until I found your video. Now I know why they always had this magical aura. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm. I have learned so much in such a short time. Can you arrange a time-shift so that I can go back and do it all again, and this time, own a Vincent!
My Grandfather kept seven Vincent's to keep his Black Shadow on the road. He manufactured munitions and engines during WW2 and he sought out a base (Albro Castle in St Dogmaels in Wales) that had a long road with a downward gradient as I'm pretty sure that early Vincent's didn't even have a kick start option...run and push and jump on was the order of the day
Great video! Thanks for all the information! I just inherited my dad's '47 Rapide. I want to get it running again and restore it as a tribute to my father. Long live the Vincent!
Best motorsickle ever made. Possess qualities which few modern machines have - top appearance, lifetime chroming (no longer legal worldwide) , adequate mudguards, top paintwork etc. The only things this bike needs are a front number plate, and blessing with holy water.
Great feature !!!... I bought my BSA Rocket Gold Star Replica from Cosmo and he's a lovely guy to deal with... He took care to give me as much info as he could about the bike I bought from him ... and he has a well deserved reputation for stocking quality bikes and providing excellent customer service both before and after purchase...
Thanks for those nice words Matt. Yes, Cosmo was a pleasure to deal with and has an excellent reputation in the industry. Oh, and if you want to see the classic motorcycle Matt bought from Cosmo, check it out on our channel, it's the video before this one!
What a lovely chap, genuine enthusiasm, I started on a Fizzy DX too. People say that it can be a disappointment to meet your hero, a Jota is lovely to look at but is often described as a pig to ride. It appears that the Shadow rides as well as it looks.
I'm totally in awe at what you have in that Bike- Aladin's Cave ! Give me a pint mug o'tea and a swivel chair _ I'd be perfectly content to just sit in the middle, with a tear in me eye ! Day - in, Day out ! brilliant video. many many thanks. lifted my spirits back off the deck !
Cosmo got 12 stone of Vincent love there, and a Norton tat. These days a restored Norton costs about 20K. I bought one in 1975 - it was a '74 - for about 5K. In San Diego. Then I weighed about 115 lbs. One hot summer day, while restarting hot, I kicked it over, but not all the way over, and there I was, doing a handstand on the handlebars. Thanks for showing the Vincents in such great detail, loved it all, knew nothing about them, only Richard Thompson’s song - IIRC his name .... Oh, says Red Molly to James, "That's a fine motorbike A girl could feel special on any such like" Says James to Red Molly, "My hat's off to you It's a Vincent Black Lightning, 1952" And I've seen you at the corners and cafes it seems Red hair and black leather, my favorite color scheme And he pulled her on behind And down to Box Hill, they did ride Oh, says James to Red Molly, "Here's a ring for your right hand But I'll tell you in earnest I'm a dangerous man For I've fought with the law since I was seventeen I robbed many a man to get my Vincent machine Now I'm twenty-one years, I might make twenty-two And I don't mind dying, but for the love of you And if fate should break my stride Then I'll give you my Vincent to ride" "Come down, come down, Red Molly," called Sergeant McRae "For they've taken young James Adie for armed robbery Shotgun blast hit his chest, left nothing inside Oh, come down, Red Molly to his dying bedside" When she came to the hospital, there wasn't much left He was running out of road, he was running out of breath But he smiled to see her cry And said I'll give you my Vincent to ride Says James, "In my opinion, there's nothing in this world Beats a 52 Vincent and a red headed girl Now Nortons and Indians and Greeves's won't do Ahh, they don't have a soul like a Vincent 52" Oh, he reached for her hand then he slipped her the keys He said, "I've got no further use for these I see angels on Ariels, in leather and chrome Swooping down from heaven to carry me home" And he gave her one last kiss and died And he gave her his Vincent to ride
I've read magazine articles about the iconic Vicent Black Shadow, but your video is the icing on the cake. Who can forget Richard Thompson's song about this legendary motorcycle.
In about 1960 my Dads uncle was driving a new EType ....metallic bluecoupe....flat out down the recently opened M1....when he was overtaken by a Black Shadowdoing a test run. Amazing era. As a kid I wouldstart giggling when my parents drove over 100mph....no speed limit....between pubs.....In the late 70s I rode a Rapide....high gearing...long legged hi compression motor...the owner sold it for $A1600....which was sfa. The guy who bought still has it.
Back in the 1970's one of my clients was the Treasurer of the Vincent Owners Club and he was just as passionate about his Vincent Collection as you Cosmo. One day he was in his garage unpacking packages of new spare parts that he had made in Lincolnshire by a specialist machinist, some of the parts he was going to send back together with a Fuel Tank off one of his Vincents he had sent away to be resprayed to me it looked perfect but Fred was not happy with it and the parts ... as they were not up to Vincent Standard!... Love it.
My favorite bike of all time. You are a lucky man to have access to Vincent's. They're pretty rare here in the states. I've been riding Harleys for a while now but have owned a few British bikes back in the 80's. I ran the wheels off of a 79 T140E and loved every mile. Brit bikes always have a unique personality that makes them both special and frustrating at the same time. In my opinion the Black Shadow is king of them all! Thanks for sharing this beauty.
"High days and holidays" indeed sir! I feel we're very fortunate to be entrusted with custodianship of one of these beautiful motorcycles and clearly you do too.
Always a pleasure to pay a visit into the shop, even if it's for help with a broken clutch cable on a crappy 125. Some amazing bikes in here, and a really nice guy too
Luvly. Probably never have the chance to ride one- now but great to hear about the road manners. Nice to see the Dominator project on the bench next to it too-That's a familiar scene for me...
Probably the most beautiful motorcycle engine ever built and my life long dream to ride one after 40 odd years on British , Japanese and European motorcycles. I have a selection of highly modified drag bikes including a blown hayabusa roag/drag machine with 300 rwhp. Stunning example Sir , you are clearly a very proud owner 👍 1 point to agree with from your excellent video , it's not about showing off or how you look , it's all about how these bikes make you feel . Add 1 sub from west Sussex
@@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel Look up "h and colin fallows" , Recent steady testing of busa at elvington when running in new engine. Gentle run , high 9 seconds @ 160 mph
Brilliant to watch this..your video. Many years ago I had the chance to buy a HRD Vincent, sat on it and my what a classic and well built motorcycle. I have my memories of that..... and I admire you and yours. 👍
Great narrative on the bike Cosmo. Your passion and knowledge on the vintage bike era is truly vast. Its nearly time for you to service my Goldstar to buy the way.......
This Cosmo guy is great. His enthusiasm and knowledge is addictive. He really loves Vincents and I admire them even more now that I know more about them. Ride safe and keep up the great videos 👍👍
It is so beautiful to feel your passion for this bike in your smile. I feel the same way every time I tell you about my 1968 Norton Commando or my Bevel Norton. ...Another world, which only those can feel, who can call such a hobby for themselves. I wish I could someday realize such a dream for myself as well. I am still young at the age of 30 - and I still have a lot of time for my dreams to become true.
An excellent and through report by an owner with years of experience riding and maintaining Vincents, both Black Shadow and Rapide ( he obviously loves them ). He also has a very complete shop..
I've been a fan of Vincent since reading about Clem Johnson and his "Barn Job" drag bike in the 60s, which was "based on" a Vincent. Nearly 70 years later, I finally had an opportunity to see a genuine Black Shadow in person a few years ago at the AACA Museum in Hershey, PA. It was a little smaller than I expected, but the incredible detail of the bewildering amount of exposed parts exceeded my expectations. Thank you for sharing your bike and experience with it.
How times have changed.....used to be a point of pride...do your own servicing...self-reliance....Today many people never even get their vehicles serviced.. definitely don't bother with it themselves. Granted, technology has made servicing too complicated but the disposable society culture has taken its toll. Vincents are from a simpler (better) time...wonderful stuff.. good on you for keeping them on the road! Cheers!
Loved this! I feel clued up now for if I ever see one, I'll be able to ask better questions to the lucky owner. My black labrador is called Vincent, after the black shadow! It was my grandfather's favourite bike, he told me about his lust for them when I was little and getting interested in motorbikes. He told me to get a black Vincent one day! I've ridden superbikes for nearly 20 years and old British bikes aren't really my thing, but man do I have a big soft spot for Black shadows! Makes me remember the old fella talking so passionately about being a badass after he got back from the war with a twinkle in his old eyes. Legend. Legendary bike. Best dog I've ever had too lol. Folk do refer to him as Vinnie -my black shadow- as he's always right beside me, cool eh!? Cheers for the great vid.
Yes when you own a classic and like you say get to know it it give you confidence to fix problems when something goes wrong in the middle of nowhere, but the modern machine is so complicated with all the electronic makes you to scared to try
Very nice video indeed which I enjoyed a lot. Thanks for posting this. I share the passion for Vincent bikes, currently owning a '52 Rapide, a '52 Black Lightning replica (very exact and built by the late, great Patrick Godet complete with Lucas KVFTT magneto) and a 1200cc Godet Egli-Vincent. I ride them all regularly. I have also owned a Manx Norvin in the past, featured on the front cover of August 1994 Classic Bike (lovely looking but horrible to live with). A few points which I will raise. The reason the side-stand is so terrible on the bikes is because they were originally designed for the Series B, which had a lower front ride-height with girder forks. The Series C which you feature here (like mine) uses the Vincent Girdraulic forks which give a higher front and results in the terribly precarious front stand(s). I carry a small block of wood in my jacket pocket to put under it when riding for this reason. You state that the Black Shadow has "much" bigger carburettors... the Shadow is 1-1/8" and the Rapide is 1-1/16", yes, an increase in choke area, but "much" bigger? The aluminium rims which were fitted at the factory for the Black Lightning were usually (and surprisingly) from Boranni in Italy, not Dunlop as yours seems to have. I don't know why this was so. You mention that the bike is a match for a modern bike of similar capacity... as much as I love the Vincent I have to vehemently disagree 🙂. Sure, these bikes can all cruise well above the UK national speed limit, but they are technically primitive in comparison in all other respects. I would also point out that original Vincent brakes are particularly terrible compared to a modern disc set-up... its something that as Vincent rider you have to come to accept and allow for or likely to meet with an unpleasant experience!
Luv it! The enthusiasm this gent has for his toy is quite infectious, and I relate in so many levels, not least trying to start a classic bike when I am being watched!😆
Delightful insight into the "vincent"tho never being in the fortunate position to have my own ,i love them just the same,( i have three triumph models tho,) i happened to meet an elderly gentleman some years ago whilst out on my pushbike, he had stopped at a nearby pub briefly, and saw my enthusiasm as i gazed in awe at his black shadow, he divulged the bike had competed at the I,O,M in 1954 when he then aquired the machine, we chatted a bit, then he said `could i kick his bike over for him as his (84 year old knees )*were a bit dodgy, barely able to contain my glee i followed his instruction and tried my heart out ,,"it didnt matter"he beamed ,"its easily bumped of down this hill " buttoning up his army greatcoat & helmet he was off, thump thumpety thump, dissapearing around the bend i listened as he slowed and turned then with that loping effortless cadence he appeared ,waved a cheery gauntlet and was gone, bless his heart, just to straddle his bike made my day,week,year, thanks for your video too , the permasmile is totally understandable .
Great video, my grandfather had a black shadow, and when my dad bought his new bike when he was demobbed, the vincent left the new bike standing. Always been my dream bike. I will stay with the RE until i can afford one.
Interesting Thankyou. Having had both (now Rapide) much will depend on the cam used in regard to exhaust note and which after market (Most are ) silencer. Shadows also had polished crankshafts and rods. Basically if you have a vin twin in 2021 you have one of the best Motorcycles ever built, not faultless by any stretch, but you are privileged, so ride the wheels off it please !
One of my uncles had a black shadow and his brother a Brough superior. My Dad had a Sunbeam 500 twin. I used to ride astride the tank between his, arms. Magic, I can still hear it now and feel the wind in my hair (if I still had any) and that was 70 odd years ago. Working class lads couldn't afford cars back then... But loved their bikes as did their wives and girlfriends. Gave them so much freedom..
In 1972 I could have bought a Black Shadow with a racing Steib chair from Coburn and Hughes in Harringay for £350 or so,but my wife would not agree because I am not much of a mechanic so I bought a Matchless G12 instead. Great bike.
My friend Colin bought his Black Shadow with Steib sidecar in 1961 for £115 , the owner wanted £125 ! Anyway he accepted the £115 because Colin was only 16 at the time and that's all he had. Colin rode the outfit home. This was the first and last time he would ride an outfit as it scared the hell out of him. He sold the Steib for £35 so the shadow only cost him £80. Colin sold the Black Shadow eight years ago. This is now my Black Shadow and I will take it to my grave 🙂
All good stuff and the first owner was a partner at Deeprose of Catford, I think they would have been selling Honda's when you started riding in 1980. The old fella next door was reminiscing about the old bike he used to ride in the '50's and I was quite surprised when he casually mentioned it was a Rapide one of the later ones (was it series C?) and how he had sold it for £40 I'd quite like one myself but all I've attained is a parts book so far! By the way the AP trounced the FSIE every time LOL.
Hi, I used to work at an electroplating company in Stockport “Hillgate Electroplaters” as a lad of 14 as a Saturday job they had a shop on Hillgate selling and refurbishing Vincent motorcycles, one of the old guys used to drop me off at home on his Black Shadow.. Brilliant. The electrplaters used to chrome parts and stove enamel frames and fork parts,they had a polishing shop and I always remember you couldn’t see out off the windows as the glass was coated in polish residue god knows what their lungs were like,the old guy in there used to smoke like a chimney as well. Those were the days.
The passion & joy that you have for this bike is amazing, it’s incredible how our bikes make us feel. I love this video, those bikes & their stories are so cool, your smile throughout this whole vid says so much.
Fantastic, really informative & rearly nice to see some one so passionate about the Vincent. Also nice to see the owner using it, hope you have many more safe riding years a head. Thanks, Ian.
Cosmo is such a lovable character! I had the honor and the pleasure to meet him in his garage in San Leonards-on-Sea, back in 2014. It's very good to learn that he's doing well. And if you are able to read this Cosmo, I'm that tall skinny, mustachioed and hairy Brazilian biker to whom you gave that beautiful Harley belt buckle saying that it was a gift from England. I keep it as the treasure it realy is. Thank you so much for your patience to answer my virtualy endless silly questions during my vitsits to your garage. Big hug from Brazil to you.
Most mortals dream of owning a single Vincent and you have a brace of them. Thank you for sharing. A Black Prince whistled past me on the A303 a few years ago. I hope the rider had a big grin because I did just watching.
Thanks for that fantastic video with all those good informations ! I have a lot of memories. My father used to own a Royal Enfield 500cc and I have a picture of it with my father, mother and me, sitting on it. I was about fife years old, sitting on the tank of the bike. We used to go on holidays like that, all the way from Switzerland to Denmark.
Thank you so much for such a quality recount of the Black Shadow. So many details that I've only heard before from my father while I was growing up in San Nicolas, Argentina. He owned an HRD back in the 50's, his first and last motorcycle. I have only one picture of my Dad on his bike, which he had to sell a few years before I was born. I have owned many modern motorcycles, but noting close to "la sombra negra", as my father called it. By now I've lived and worked in the U.S. for 35 years, about to retire, and ready to finally tackle my life-long dream of owning an HRD. I'll be studying your videos of course. Thank you!
My Dad had a Rapide in Britain many years ago . I have The-Poor-Mans-Vincent , a Yamaha TR1 (touring-Roadster 1-Litre) . Not many people realise that Yamaha purchased and stripped a Vincent Rapide as part of the-development of this bike , there are some beautiful examples made to look 'Vincent-eske' . So the Vincent still-lives-on, alive and well in the-heart of big-capacity Yamaha V-twins which might never have come-about without the Vincent-Legend . Dave NZ
Me, my mate and a corgi had the pleasure of meeting Evan at his shop in Hastings. Original Fireblade, Laverda Jota and a six cylinder Benelli 750 were just some of the jaw dropping specimens there and he is super accommodating!!
I really have enjoyed this video. I never was a hard core motorcyclist (I only ever owned and rode a small displacement Yamaha two-stroke RD-350). But, I frequently rode up the Pacific Coast Highway to The Rock Store in Malibu, California where I encountered some very special bikes, like the Vincent Black Shadow. Those were 'the days'. Thank you!
Richard Thompson (and and a manager I once worked for) got me interested in these bikes. This is a very informative and comprehensive video. I like the idea that it was something that working people could aspire to. I’ve never heard that before
Oh man. I've wanted one of these badly, since about 1985. Had a chance to buy a complete Shadow for $10k back then, or one that had been separated as he described, for $5k, in 1986 from an old old man in Long Beach who had several including older "HRD" type B models. I'll likely never own one, but I can still dream! My "winning the lottery" bike, I guess.
I saw a new Vincent Black Shadow at a Birmingham, Alabama motorcycle shop in 1951 or1952. I bought a new Triumph Thunderbird 650cc in 1951 for $795 at that shop shortly after the English pound was devalued, lowering the cost of the Triumph. I think the black shadow cost about $1000 to $1200 In those days. Can't remember the exact figure. I loved to ride. Thanks for your video.
Beautiful presentation of a magnificent bike. I'm waiting for this channel to do my favourite the 1968 Matchless 15 MK 2. Speaking of centre stand the best I've ever seen was on my 1946 Indian Chief which you tilted towards you on the kickstand then reached over the seat to swing the centrestand down then rock the bike on it.
You make a good point about lost skills. My first motorcycle at 14 years of age was a WWII surplus Harley 45 cu inch. flat head, hand shift, foot clutch. I also had an old Norton 500 single ridged frame. You saw double on the Harley, you saw triple on the Norton. Kept those bike running and rode all over Canada for many many years!
A great video, Cosmo! I'm old enough to recall replacing the piston rings on my Royal Oilfield, Crusader Sport, beside the road. The main hassle was the wait until all the parts were cool enough to be worked on 😆 And you can be sure at least one biker stopped to offer assistance, tools, a cig and even once, a cup of tea! I miss those times a lot. Thanks for the reminder! 😎
