The Vincent : Black Shadow

When you think of classic motor bikes, the names that come to mind are the obvious ones Indian, Harley Davidson, Triumph, but unless your a die hard motorbike enthusiast the name Vincent Motorbikes will just be another flip thru the magazine pages.Vincent Motorcycles has been and is still an inspirational model for bike builders of today. As they try to emulate the bikes of the yester-years for its minimalistic designs and advanced engine technology.

The Vincent Black Shadow  was designed using a unique stressed frame. The engine, instead of being cradled in frame rails,  was suspended from above, becoming an integral part of its structure. The Black Shadow as well as the other post Second World War Vincent’s featured several new  innovations such as a unique alternative to the primitive telescopic front forks of it’s day,  extensive use of aluminum , a sprung rear sub-frame and a unit construction V-Twin engine. Which at the time made some where around 60 horsepower.

The reason for its name Black Shadow is simple,  the entire bike  was colored black, even down to its engine. The reason for the black on the cylinder block is still disputed to this day. Some say that the black color just looked good, others say that it had  to do with heat transfer and dissipation. Whatever the reason for painting of the engine black,  was very different from anything else at a time when everything was polished or chromed.

The bikes inspiration was for the Royal Air Force, and soldiers serving in the war.The designers  at Vincent created a motorcycle that could be operated and maintained by men who had been injured in combat. The clutch could be operated with just two fingers, and maintenance was made far easier than anything previously available.

Although fewer than 1,700 Vincent Black Shadows were ever made, all hand crafted and assembled. It is now highly prized and sought after by  motorcycle collectors from around the world, and is valued in excess of  some where along $60 thousand US in today’s market. In the 1960s  however Vincent’s were being sold fora mere  $200 to $900.

Since then  Vincent has made a recreation of the old 30’s motorcycle but as a purist theres nothing like a classic. Though one bike builder comes to mind when a Vincent needs a modern twist thats none other then  Matt Hotch, of Matt Hotch Designs -(Fullerton ,CA) made his own interpretation of The Vincent Black Shadow and its racing cousin the Black Lighting combining the two race, and classic vibe in a magnificent work of  art.

The Black Lighting isnt shy of its racing heritage either,  it broke the 1948 world land speed record in the Utah Salt flats- 158mph.  Hotch’s bike recently sold at auction for a mere $300 thousand dollars. As the bike’s engine alone cost $100 grand. But what a gorgeous bike, here are some pictures of the original bike and Matt Hotch’s take on a classic motorbike.

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