Test ride of 'Enigma', a 1950 Vincent Black Lightning (owned by Walo Bertschinger), by Paul d'Orléans, at the Grossglockner Hillclimb in 2010. Filmed by Michael Bachmeier (www.kraftstoff...)
Actually, bump-starting a bike was standard practice for road racers until the advent of starter rollers in the 1980s, and the technique necessarily involves a side-saddle bump to help with traction, so the bike doesn't simply skid on compression. Trying to leap fully on the saddle from a run is not only very difficult to do without barking your shins or squashing your balls, it also means you have to start the whole process again if the bike doesn't start. If you're side-saddle, you simply slip off and push again. In 35 years of bump-starting race bikes, I've never toppled over once. Never happens.
oh man, sitting here in Austria as a German listening to a Richard Thompson song, and google what a "black lighting" is, immediately falling in Love with this bike and than realising that your Mother once ridden a XT500 (witch I was allowed to ride at the tender age of 16 years). And now being here with a big grin ony face and knowing that I will suck off all information I can get of this bike, just make me grin more and more. hallelujah, what a Bike!!!
1:40 man in an anorak, no gloves and no helmet stops and gives advice on safety, expecting to be taken seriously. He then departs riding on the left hand side of the road (in Austria).
I wuz wondrin' about that myself because of the lights. They would have had to be added because Black Lightnings were sold "full race" only to the best of my knowledge. To me the greatest m/c will always be the Vincent Black Widow with the BL a very close 2nd.
@SpeedTriple59 ; Ah, it's a 50s-era jacket, with no label left - very short (meant for high-waisted jeans) horsehide D-pocket, very Yank. Strange plastic waist-belt buckle. Found at a flea market in San Francisco.
That is how RACERS once started their bikes! Considered MANLY by cafe racers in the UK Europe Kiddies! I preferred to start the Ducati Diana and NSU Konsul II that way... My '49 Indian Scout... Harley Sprint... I had a blown right ACL from a bike crash.... Could not afford a kick back trashing what was left. 4-F no 'Nam 1967...
"Ruining it for everybody!?" That...that... "richard cranium" obviously doesn't know what a _Black Lightning_ is! Ruining it for everybody... PFFF! 🤦🤦🤦
This was a closed-roads event on the Grossglockner Pass, which is a toll road and subject to such closures. The approach road is solely for the Pass, and there was considerable signage in the local village (5 miles down the hill) telling them there was a motorsports competition happening that weekend, with the times the road would be open. Thus, the only traffic on the approach road was for the event, and very tolerant of warm-up and plug-testing tearaways...
Even a guy could feel special on any such like; my CB500 doesn't really give the same vibes; doesn't really attract red-head beauties either :( That's only good for you old boy, my wife says...
When you bump start a bike (no other way on a Vincent BL), it doesn't always work first time. You ride sidesaddle, ready to jump off and give it another go until you're sure it is going to run.
I've wondered the same thing. When I had dirtbikes, there was a time I had to bump start mine like that, but I would hop up and come down on the seat straddle it. Side saddling like this guy did is a good way to accidentally just go on over and lose it on the right side.
When I used to ride here in the UK. in th 50'ande60's it was common practice to bump start sidesaddle whether you needed to or not your centre of gravity is more towards you and if you come unstuck you tend to land back on your feet rather than the bike going over, also most girls in skirts preferred to ride sidesaddle. People were far less safety conscious.I don't remember seeing anyone fall off.Bikes were a lot lighter then.You also had the added fun of setting the choke and ignition manually and if you're running on the flat you lose speed straddling the bike.
Run and bump was once how ALL GPs were started... The IOM TTs etc. A European Thing No stupid wheelies off the line.... The FIM ended that about 1977....
