1951 Vincent Comet

[srob]

My brother just turned up with his 'new' bike which is, as the title hints, a 1951 Vincent Comet! It's in need of a bit of a spruce up, but it's all there and will make a really nice bike when done. The single might be seen as the poor relation to the twin by some, but they're still a lovely looking bike (and twins are stupid money now). Jesus it's heavy though! Has anyone else had much to do with Vincents?

[makatya]

I do love old brit bikes. I do some work at the black country museum in Dudley. Always takes me ages there as I spend most of the time looking at the old bikes. My pops used to have the shadow. What a bike that was. A mate of mine renovates old British bikes. He turns all his own nut and bolts etc to exactly the same as the originals. If you get stuck on anything let me know and I will put you in touch with him.

Mak.

[MTBR]

A good friend of mine tours around Europe on a lightly tuned Rapide C. I watched that old bike drag passed a group of Harley "lifestylers" on the straight by the Paul Richard Circuit in the South of France. The Vincent was doing about 110 two up.

A couple of years later, I helped him build and tune an Egli framed racer. We took it to Monthelery (Coupe de Moto Legends) and won best Vincent Special. Not bad for a bike built in a one horse stable nr' Marseille! He and the bikes are in New Zealand now, where I believe he is working on an even better Egli Vincent.

[Hooli]

looks great, one day i'll have a vincent too.

[Laird]

I drove a Black Shadow some time ago,it was a bitch to ride as the girdraulic forks seemed to have a mind of their own, the engine though was a peach. IMO a Norvin would be the ultimate combination of performance, handling and style.

[freddytin]

Anyone remember Brian Chapmans " Mighty Mouse " ? He trounced the opposition on the strip with his Comet derived missile.


Found a link......http://www.trakbytes.co.uk/mouse.html

Love the bit where it describes running the " mouse" to the strip in the sidecar of his outfit....Real garden shed stuff.

Edited by freddytin on Sunday 25th November 20:03

[aeropilot]

Laird said:

IMO a Norvin would be the ultimate combination of performance, handling and style.

(or an Egli-Vincent)

You can have a 'brand new' one for 25k....

See below....

http://www.johnmosseyrestorations.com/JMR_norvin.htm 

http://www.johnmosseyrestorations.com/JMR_eglivincent.htm 

[Laird]

Nice, the Egli reminds me of a Ducati SS....I bet it shifts too

[bikerkeith]

Yes Freddytin, I do remember Mighty Mouse, in fact I still have a cassette recording of the bike, at a Blackbushe meeting sometime in the early 70s.

[freddytin]

bikerkeith said:

Yes Freddytin, I do remember Mighty Mouse, in fact I still have a cassette recording of the bike, at a Blackbushe meeting sometime in the early 70s.

C'mon , that has got to be one of PH s finest videos......If you would be so kind ?

[srob]

Just a quick update- we had the Comet running yesterday! Stuck a gallon of fuel in it, checked the oil, worked out what was going on with the choke on the carb (it's a modern replacement)- two kicks and she fired up! Sounded good, a bit 'whiney' from the timing gears but nothing much. Look out for updates in Classic Motorcycle!

I've never seen Mighty Mouse, but I did see Nero (or Super Nero, I can't remember which) at the BMF a few years ago. I think it was George Brown's son riding it. It was the last year they held a sprint there, someone was killed when they hit a tree just after. On a similar note- does anyone else go to watch any historic racing? If so, you'd have seen the Mogvin- a Vincent twin engined morgan.... thing!