[I was squared away when I first got out of the Service in '68. I saved
most of my money in "Nam, and when I got out I bought a new BSA Hornet,
that's a 650 factory flat-tracker....and put it on the street....it was fast.
And I bought this 250 Bultaco Pursang MK III for racing.]

That Hornet must have made quite a street bike[X(]!

My racing was post Nam also, a close encounter of the worse kind with the NVA ended my Marine career on Christmas Eve of '67 and I spent the next year in the hospital. Unable to find a real job, I flat tracked a BSA (not as well as that Dick Mann guy, a KR and finally a XR 750. I did enduros on Husqvarnas, Bultacos, and anything else I could get a sponsored ride on until more gainful employment brought it to a halt. The money was OK but not nearly as much fun.

I never did any road racing which doubtless accounts for my still being alive today

The nostalgia gets thicker and thicker!

jess

[PS: Picture is the Black Lightning. wr. ]

Absolutely gorgeous machine, BIll. Is it still around?

jess

Jess:

Very seldom was it that clean. I have no idea where it is now, but I hope it's still making someone happy.

It will sound strange, considering the inflated prices on them now, but I really did buy a complete Vincent Rapide for $25 in '62 or '63. It was bedraggled, and had a bent fork blade. I had it running for less than $100 total. Making it look good was several more bucks, of course.

Sid Biberman had a Lightning he called "The Rattler." His was set up for alcohol and dragging. Sadly, it is no more. It went out west and the new owner parted it out rather than reinstalling the complete road package.

Pictures here are my last street Vincents. The "C" Rapide is on top, the "C" Shadow was taken at a show in North Carolina. Rode it there, wiped it off and pout it on the stand, then rode it home. I can't do things like that anymore.

I sold out in '74, haven't had a motorbike since. Been tempted though. The Aprilias look like fun.

Bill.

Back to the business at hand....I have an OS .15, and an OS .25
(worn out) that were both one flippers....and they were both air
bleed carbs. The .25 was one of the best idling two strokes if ever
had, and very reliable.

Just about any small engine will start easily....if it is properly primed
and hasn't been sitting for months. If they sit and get gummy....

....a spin with the electric will get them going.

jessie....I'm still riding........I got this shaft drive cruiser a month ago.
It's an 1100 Yamaha air cooled V-twin....very smooth. 75 degree crank.
You know you're getting old when your bike has floor-boards.

Dave.

"Black Lightning"? Is that a Vincent? (It is a long time ago, when I was just a yowth...)

keep those darn bikes off the airplane page - I can't concentrate!
My cousin has recently restored (perfect 10 restoration ) a Bonneville and my kid just picked up a clapped old Yamaha twin which he is restoring (I never thot anyone would restore a Yamaha).
First bike I ever really rode was a BSA Golden Rocket.
I still want a Hayabusa (the ultimate cheap thrill).

Mick:

The 1000cc Vincent bikes were the Rapide, the "Normal" touring bike, the "Black Shadow," which was a lightened and more powerful version of the Rapide. Finally there was the "Black Lightning," a;so commonly just called the "Lightning." This last was an even more lightened version, built to order, a real fire breather.

With careful tuning the Shadow would peak out around 140 mph. Doesn't sound like a lot now, but you have to remember we're talking about the early 1950s, when a fast Ford would just barely make 100 mph. And all the Chevrolets had only six cylinders.

Sid's Lightning, the "Rattler" I mentioned, ran that speed in a 1/4 mile drag, burning alcohol.

Some Jap company (think it was Honda) greatly insulted the memory of Vincent by calling one of their rice burners a "Black Shadow." And now there's a fellow on the west coast who has bought all rights to the Vincent name, he's trying to get production started on a "New" Vincent with a Jap engine. An even greater insult to Phil Vincent.

Bill.

PS: Sorry Dick, this one has really gone off topic. My last Beezer was a "Big Valve Super Rocket" 650cc. wr.

I don't think this is off topic at all. We are talking engines, hobbies, and enjoying ourselves. What better topic

I can't currently ride due to shoulder surgery resulting from a traffic accident. My Harley keeps giving me reproachful looks. (Let it be known that the accident was quite spectacular and NOT my fault).

I have however been plagued by a urge to acquire and restore an old Britbike.* My wife could probably develop a real dislike for you Bill

jess

*My first "real" motorcycle was a BSA, following a Cushman motor scootor which my mother reluctantly approved of despite the thing's repeated efforts to kill me.

jess

Yeah, in the 50s 140 mph was 'going a bit' - it wasn't until 1979 that I had a bike that would do that - a Yamaha FJ 1200.

Bill, I would have said a YDS1 was more than 'reasonably fast' and yes, they did rattle - weren't in racing fettle until the pistons were slapping well. By the time I got to ride one they were up to YDS7 and the YDS1s were getting on a bit. Did focus the mind somewhat when that 250 hit the power band... and you were listening to every noise the engine made in case it was considering nipping-up - always happened as you were dropping into a turn. Had a good supply of leather patches for my arse though.

Is it a recognised truth....

...that only moderators can take a thread WAY off topic and get away with it


dave

Mick:

I had the full kit with the YDS1, it came with two sets of cylinders, pistons, and heads. You changed the cylinders for port timing, the pistons and heads gave you four different compression ratios, all to set it up for a particular track.

"Reasonably fast" means it was a competitive machine at the time, ir you had a big enough set to run it at its limits it would do the job.

But I still didn't like it.

120-130 through the uphill turn at the Glen was a lot more fun.

Bill.

ZagiDave:

Depends on the forum, thread, and moderator. 1/2A is pretty casual.

Bill.

....at least I tried to fake it !!!

Wouldn't know. I haven't seen a thread off topic. Whatcha talkin about?

jess

Hey Jess if that brit bike bug bites hard my buddie has a nice Norton 750 Commando he would part with sittin in my shop.

It is biting pretty hard, but unfortunately, so are other things..Trying to get shoulder to work post surgery, deal with court case re same, Finalize my late mother's affairs, perform some repairs to her house, get my house ready for sale, ad nauseum. Nothing difficult is ever easy[&o]

jess