Vincent Black Shadow Start up Tutorial. 

No other motorcycle grabs my attention like a Vincent.

In 1951 my friend and I swapped bikes for a short ride. He took my 500 cc Matchless single and I tried out the Black Shadow. It was the first time I had gone over 100 mph. It was amazing! The engine was probably turning about 4000 rpm. Hard to remember the revs after 65 years, but I have never forgotten that ride.

That has to be one of the scariest starts I've ever seen in my life. Absolutely beautiful. Black Shadow had just the most beautiful instruments.

I like the priming ritual and how the bike roared into life! That’s a man’s man motorcycle!

Not gonna lie that start up scared the hell outta me😂

Imagine doing a 100mph along the Great North Road on an English summer's evening in the 1950s when the bike was new.

Brilliant. The bike and gentleman both represent a quality from a bygone era. Keep up the good work sir.

Hi Peter what a very pleasant surprise finding you on UT. We met a few years back, I visited you and had a great time admiring your wheels. Having had a series "D" from new for several years. You did invite me back, but due to the loss of my wife and "father time" catching me up, sadly that opportunity was lost. At 92 the Vincents still stir my blood. Finding your video is a very welcome break to the monotony of my life. I wish you well. And thanks for starting the Black just the sound brings back memories of many happy rides in the past .

To me being ancient the Shadow is the greatest motorcycle ever built in its day it was not just a bit quicker or handsome it was on a different The only game changer that came after it was the Honda 50

This was THE superbike of its day. Its absolutely gorgeous.

That was a small atomic explosion when she fired up!

Damn the British are so thoughtful about the rider having to service bus bike with no extra stands etc, etc, amazingly engineered machine, valve lifter carb chokes on bars

Goddamnit, I'd trade my wife for this bike...

So far ahead of its time,

Seeing that bike fire up was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. Amazing bike.

Thank you sir for that excellent tutorial. Magnificent bike.

A great classic motorcycle. Really love the ideas of a rear stand and front stand for maintenance on the wheels but especially love the idea of the hinged rear mudguard. Now modern street cruisers could learn a lesson from this magnificent bike.

30 years ago I owned a 52 Black Shadow I bought at a local swop meet. I owned it for two years never could start it. Sold it for twice what I paid for it . LOL now I could buy one for ten times what I sold mine for.

Love those big Smiths dials, what a great piece of engineering design.

How many people have caught fire, whilst walking past you're bike on start up 😉😂😂😂😂 Nice 👍 .. just putting my eye's back in my head.

What a treasure. A bit sentimental for me being born in 1952 and named Vincent. Songs have been written about it. As a biker I can appreciate it’s beauty and history.

That motorbike is amazing. The sound is a perfect music... wowww

I remember when you could find these for sale for £150 in the Exchange & Mart along with £20 BSA & Triumphs.....I should have bought them all!!!!

£50,000 if not more of pure British Engineering at it's best. When it started wow!!!. Lovely machine

That is a very beautiful bike you are such a lucky man to have it God bless you

Ah! If only you had been about in the mid sixties when a friend rebuilt one of these. We were unable to start it on the kick so pushed it for half a mile on a long straight Norfolk road before achieving success. For those who have not pushed one of these to bump start think of Rugby training multiplied severally! Wonderful to be present at this masterly demonstration. G. Luff

Today, what were once the necessities of life have become anti-theft devices! They were (and are yet) wonderful motorcycles - I've ridden one many times - a dear old friend owned one and talked me through the very same procedure, verbatim. That was long ago and far away, but I've never forgotten the feel of that Vincent. Motorcyclist since 1968, still the finest bike I've ever ridden.

I have wanted one of these since I was a kid, beautiful machine, I'm sure you enjoy every mile on it.

IT'S ALIVE! Amazing , makes modern bikes look and sound nondescript!

Yo tuve este motor cuando yo vivía en Cuba. En Primera alcanzaba 110 Km/h . La potencia y ligereza de este motor no la tenía ninguno otro. Yo lo disfruté mucho, aunque por correrlo tuve algunos pequeños accidentes sin consecuencias. El mejor motorcicleta del mundo sin duda.

Talk about blasting into life! Love those old v twins For me new bikes don't do anything for me,they are all a copy of one another, but give me just about any old bike and I'm in heaven, love my 2002 buell thunderbolt😀

That's a Chaotic Motor, Hard Sound can feel lots of moving components, just loved the sound, i bet it feels better when it rides!

Thank you Peter! A great step-by-step guide to starting one's Shadow. Five years ago, I bought one and am waiting for the right day to ride the beast.

outstanding quality and craftmanship from fork to taillight ! what a motorcycle ! what a brand ! thank you !

Beautiful machine from a lost age.

Bloody nice machine..you can tell your a proud owner ya lucky buggar..thats dedication..good job mate!!

Still one of the best looking bikes ever made

My father named me after this bike, I hope one day I can own one in his honor. Beautiful ride and you seem like a wonderful steward!

Thank you for sharing! We are all caretakers of our iron steeds. Thank you for being such a good steward of the HRD Vincent Black Shadow!

What a beauty- looks great with two same size instruments

What a beautiful machine!!

Beautifully engineered bike and still looks good today,definitely a design icon.

Fantastic, love the start procedure and what a sound when the beast started!

BAD ASS! Those are the two words that come to my brain!

Twenty five years ago I found a 53’ Black Shadow at a local swop meet bought it for 15K USD ! Had it for two years sold it for 25K USD. Thought I scored ! Never could start it so never rode it.

A Pal has one, and he is hopeless. Takes him forever to get it going this will help and the link is being shared, thank you..I reccon he will learn a lot

It was way ahead of its time.

Thank you for shaing the wonder that is Vincent!

If you ever drove one do you remember the take off from zero? It had a single plate clutch that broke inertia to get the bike moving, then the centrifugal clutch took over. With a clunk if you gave it lots of throttle. Do you remember the way the seat went up under hard braking? They were all engine with front and rear suspension bolted on. Oh for the good old days!

It literally 'Fired up'! That was amazing!

Oh dear, what o music. Starting of this beast would turn quite a few heads around the cafes on this motor-centred island. Thank you dearly for showing, Peter. It'd even rock around one of the poor Mercs - that are more than twelve in a dozen here - parked behind...

A very nice looking bike none the less.

Peter loved the video production. Don't profess to know much about Vincent bikes as I'm a velocette aficionado but loved this informative production. Keep these videos coming. Absolutely 💯 % loved it 🙂

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

I used to alarm people whilst demonstrating the tip-over onto the side stand and dragging the center stand into position, so that the bike was balanced at a 30 degree angle, on both the side stand and center stand which allowed removing the rear wheel from the skirted rear fender of my '48 Indian Chief. To remove the front wheel, I stood the bike up on the center stand raised the front end and put a an object under the engine with front wheel raised just enough to clear the front skirted fender during removal. Removing a wheel on the side of the road, and fixing a 5.00X16 flat with tire irons, blood sweat and cheers, was no small thing that thankfully didn't happen often. Could have used compression release but Indian didn't have one.

If you ever find yourself in Western Australia , there's a Lobster fisherman in Jurien Bay that has a collection of over 50 vintage motorcycles , 30 of them are Vincent across the history of the marque .

Always a great but rare favourite.

Clever little helpful ideas, features. Stands to lift front wheel is great idea.

What a lovely bike, great sound. Obviously a lot of work gone into looking after this machine but it must be a pleasure to own. Enjoy.

You make Sturges jealous , YES the whole FUCKING TOWN !

Absolutely brilliant! A fantastic motorbike in a fantastic condition.

Congratulations this is a awesome piece of bike history

Nice bike, love the two matching gauges, plus the two front heads. I had a shadow once, no one showed me how to start it this way, I just pulled the compression release in, kicked it hard as I could and let the compression lever out while it was still spinning from the kick. I was able to start Vincents that would not start the "proper way" I believe because I got the motor, and therefore the MAGNETO rotating faster.

la mejor vincent que llevo vista realmente una joya

Excellent video, loved it when she fired up.

Absolutely wonderful, wonderful.

I had no idea the complexity of this machine. The non cable driven tach was also very unexpected as well !

What an amazing iconic machine -thankyou.

You’re not going to make a quick getaway on this beauty.

If I can ever afford one I will definitely buy a Vincent of any model one day

Came here after hearing Carmela Soprano’s father mention in the episode I’m currently watching! He says something like “in my day there was a bike called the Vincent black shadow.. boy, did that thing take off!!” Ha pretty cool! Actually seems like a very highly regarded bike.

A pivoting rear mudguard defines spannering yer own motorcycle, So practical

That was perfectly done, and that is a perfect bike. Thank you.

Superb! My dream bike to own, my bucket list to ride........

British engineering at it's finest.

My Rapide had twin 5 inch instruments when I bought it, I sold the tacho as it looked a bit Mickey mouse to me. 😄

a most beautifully unique sound thank you !

Dear friend, you remind me of magical moments with this bike! I flew for the first time in 1954 I was 14 years old, my father had bought one in 1952. Rapid type, then processed only engine and shock absorbers, 220 kmh! I drove this bike for 15 years, great bike! With all the flaws typical of that time but I have never betrayed. CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR MOTORCYCLE MAGNIFICENT! Surely hay greatly improved the ignition magnet, it was not easy to start, let alone so black fuel to make smoke! Congratulations!! Marcello. amico, tu mi fai ricordare momenti magici con questa moto! Ho pilotato per prima volta nel 1954 avevo 14 anni, mio padre ne aveva comprata una nel 1952. Rapid type, poi elaborata solo di motore e ammortizatori, 220 kmh! Ho guidato questa moto per 15 anni, grande moto! Con tutti i difetti tipici di quel tempo ma non mi a mai tradito. CONGRATULAZIONI PER LA TUA MAGNIFICA MOTO! Sicuramente hay migliorato notevolmente il magnete di accensione, non era facile da far partire, e tantomeno cosi rica di carburante da fare fumo nero😉 Tanti auguri! Marcello.

Lovely bike...starts like BOOM!!

My friend had a Shadow that he had just finished rebuilding in his shed. I went over to see if he had finished it yet; he had and he asked me to start it as I had boots on and he was in slippers. I started to kick it over And without my noticing he fully advanced the timing! I was violently propelled upwards hitting my head against the shed roof and straddled the filler caps on landing. I took a long time to forgive him.

Excellent. Very good commentary.

That explosion... That was deliberate right?😉😉 Absolutely beautiful sir, thank you for the post.

Hard to believe in the sixties when I was fifteen I was offered one of these for £15 it was lying under our school boathouse under a tarpaulin. I lifted it and there was this dirty Vincent then the caretaker came round and said do you want to buy it. A bit of tinkering and he started it up, but I had to decline as I could only ride a 250cc when I became 16. I ended up flogging my 10 speed bicycle for £16 and bought a 250cc BSA for £8 and the other £8 went on insurance.

Enjoyable tutorial, cheers.

What a beaut! A great riders motorcycle. Always fancied a Vincent twin, but never had the money. Never mind, my old well used and well loved BMW GS is a great riders motorcycle too.

The King of bikes!

Sounds so good!

Sounds like thunder... Great!

5:37 That startup might be the sexiest thing I had ever laid my eyes on!!

Oohh! better buy a lottery ticket, only chance I've got of getting one

When she started up I actually jumped!

Wonderful beast.

WOW.. just, WOW!!

5:39 heart skipped a beat

Beautiful bike ! 👍

Sounds real mean and it was a Great bike.

If a Bike company would just bring it back !!!

'Tickling/Pumping' the flooding rod on the carburetor(s) is totally unnecessary and only serves to lengthen the time required to flood the carb. Just hold the button down, which holds the float down and allows fuel to flood the carb. When fuel exits, release the button! I see folks performing this 'pumping/tickling' action on British bikes all the time, and it just shows they're not aware of the mechanism involved in this pre-start maneuver.

Love it...what a lovely bike

Beautiful bike!