My 1950 Vincent Black Shadow - with Paul Brodie

[@rinokentie8653]

Nice story!

[@justinlantz7523]

Awesome! Thank you so much for sharing your life, Paul.

[@paulbrodie]

Thank you Justin.

[@rvanderw998]

Paul, what a great journey you have taken us on! I remember meeting you at the Vincent Mara Lake Rally back in 1996. Your bike was considered exotic, one-off and well , weird and outrageous by many of the traditional Vincent crowd at the time, but your personal quest for innovation was strong. And no kickstart!... thanks for the memories.

[@paulbrodie]

I wore the cams down getting to Mara Lake, and then set the tappets when the engine cooled. It the morning it was very hard to start (wonder why...) and there was a lot of backfiring in the first 20 miles. Then it kind of settled down. Back in the shop new cams got installed. Thanks for watching!

[@Peter-V_00]

One of the best videos ever on KZbin Paul.

[@paulbrodie]

Thank you very much. Appreciate it!

[@kennethbowry1521]

I have the chance to buy a B Rapide when I was sixteen for £150 but to me that was a fortune back in1963.

[@paulbrodie]

And now they sell for almost $100K I am told. Guess you should have finagled a loan! 😉

[@kennethbowry1521]

@@paulbrodie I did not have a Bank account then.

[@kennethbowry1521]

But that was in 1963, so if could build a Time Machine I could take some Gold back and complete the deal.

[@paulbrodie]

@@kennethbowry1521 Yes. Are you using Hindsight to analyze the previous situation? 😙

[@wanmuhammadfakhrullahwan8078]

👍👍

[@Puner54]

After all that you Sold it!?!?

[@paulbrodie]

Yes.

[@colinbatchford8007]

I'am building a Buell s1 a KTM 660 supermoto a Wood rotax and a Knight honda in a 20ft shipping container hear in the UK no electrics it helps when the weather is bright and mild you work with what you have.

[@gosolobox]

My 6yo son in the background "We're not buying that guy coffee!" Lmao....

[@paulbrodie]

Oh well, maybe someone else will buy us a coffee :) Thanks for watching!

[@glenbreaks5448]

I got the urge to own a Vincent in 2003. I bought a Rapide from Oz, sight unseen. It ran fine but smoked a bit( no valve seals) I took the engine to John McDougall in order to have valve seals fitted. He insisted on rebuilding the entire top end and also went through the timing chest. The crank was OK as was trans and primary ( V3 clutch) I thought that was all a bit uneccesary, however John wouldn't let it go without making everything perfect. Here we are 55,000 miles later with zero problems. We've done multiple big trips to Oregon, Ca., Wyoming, Alberta plus a tour of the UK including a wild lap of the IOM in 07. I think I really lucked out by taking that engine to John for valve seals. As a young kid, I used to buy Ossa parts from Denis.

[@paulbrodie]

Yes, John helped me out several times. He rebuilt the cylinder heads and said my valve springs were much too weak, put in stronger springs which wore out my cams. Overall though, I think he was a very good mechanic who understood Vincents. I guess you know he passed away a few years ago? :(

[@glenbreaks5448]

@@paulbrodie Yes, that was a big loss for the WestCoast Vincenteers. A few years ago I was at a rally in Oregon where 12 of the 17 Vincents had McDougall rebuilt engines. The 5 that he had not rebuilt were all trailered in! I've got the strong springs in my Rapide (RD), no probs to date. Although these aren't setup with higher pressure, still about 100 lbs seat pressure. The advantage to the RD is they maintain their spring pressure whereas the club springs go limp pretty quickly. But there were also lots of bad cams and bad followers around in the bad old days!

[@WireWeHere]

We're staring at my son's completely disassembled '94 RM125 when he asks, "What would Paul Brodie do?" "TT-sshirt". So close.

[@paulbrodie]

That's so funny. When I was learning how to build bicycle frames, I would always ask myself, "What would Tom Ritchey do?"

[@petetabor4974]

WWPD?

[@VMX42AUS]

Paul Brodie PhD Vincent Studies...😂😂😂

[@erictaunton2183]

I was around in them days racing vintage with Alan demet we had a triumph t 160 yes the good days , but there was a guy racing black shadow he lived on the island he was a lawyer I think ps John was a good racer he was racing a Norton right. Anyway the factory said he would not get any more speed out of Vincent but he did top speed was162 mph old story. I have been watching all of your videos fantastic work thank you.

[@paulbrodie]

Thanks Eric. I really do miss hanging around race tracks with my friends. A lot of great memories.

[@Metal-Possum]

Moral of the story, if your friends don't have useful machinery, they're not friends worth keeping. ;)

[@paulbrodie]

Not sure if I agree with you.

[@michaeldarby3503]

I had an old friend who collected Vincents ( his wife still has the collection I believe) in the 80s he put a Black Shadow engine in a Ducati 750 frame, it looked amazing and apparently rode real good, Don was in Australian Vincent owners and through him I got to meet Phil Irving, the engineer behind the vincents.

[@jameshickman5299]

I’ve seen pictures of a couple Vincent engines mounted in Ducati 900SS chassis, out of Australia. And an American Vincent expert, known as Big Sid, put a Vincent engine in a Ducati 900 roadster chassis. Made a good looking bike. He and the Australians called them Vincatis. I think someone wrote a book about Big Sid and his Vincati. Let’s be careful out there.

[@blackprince4074]

Gee! I read most of Phill's books as a teenager In Australia.

[@lunkydog]

I wonder if the Buell Blast bodywork designers saw this bike. I admire your dedication to a long term project.

[@tomthompson7400]

A match made in heaven ..

[@Blackmatemax]

I am living the same process. It makes me feel good that I'm not crazy. Thanks for your insights. Greetings

[@paulbrodie]

I think it's ok to be a little crazy... in the right way.

[@Blackmatemax]

@@paulbrodie totally agree. Thanks!

[@benc8386]

Did you make that bike or did the bike make you? There's no better education than a few years spent with an unreliable and preferably British vehicle when you're young.

[@paulbrodie]

Ben, that's a great question!

[@jimurrata6785]

Zen, and the art of motorcycle _fabrication_

[@robertklein9190]

Great story, but after 25yrs no kickstarter. But, I knew back in 72 when one was up for sale for $800.00, that was looking like a flat tracker, but would run, one look I could tell it was way too complicated and parts were unobtainable so passed on it. Bought my 73 MG 750 Sport and have been riding it ever since.

[@Hoggdoc1946]

Wow, I could never do a project that long. Kudos to you for sticking with it.

[@paulbrodie]

Yes it was hanging over my head for quite some time. Glad I finished it. Thanks for watching!

[@Copozeras]

no custom bike is ever done :)

[@paulbrodie]

Very true.

[@anderssoderlind90]

To have a small workshop with few tools we have all had I still have one that is 2.5x2 m but also friends with more equipment. My dream is a bigger place again so I can do bigger things but one day so. When I was younger I knew that there had been a Vincent where I grew up, I liked how the engine looks and searched for a long time but it was gone.

[@SubTroppo]

I am in love with the form of that engine. I wouldn't refuse a stock bike, but I could make do with just the engine, as now I'm a cyclist. I live in Brisbane Qld, and recently went to the GOMA exhibition (twice).; a little rich in Humpha-Dumphas for my taste but the Vincent and Brough Superior were the stars for me. ps Riding around Stanley Park on a borrowed bike cured the click in my knee and got me back into cycling.

[@paulbrodie]

Yes, the shape of a Vincent motor is very alluring. I know I got taken with it. Thanks for watching!

[@dallyjacobson2146]

That was great, it makes me feel better about my so-called waste of time projects, which I shall now call - my learning experience!! I too have to always be making something, anything. It must be pent up genius.

[@paulbrodie]

Wonderful, you made me laugh. Thanks for watching!

[@maxdavies5776]

I like the Vrod motor very robust. They made a girder front end modern mono shock system. In a zxr 750 frame.?

[@hillarylevenworth8824]

UFM..."Universal frame member"? I've owned Vincents for almost 50 years and have never heard that term. Upper Frame Member is what he was referring to. Must be Canadian thing.

[@paulbrodie]

Well, you are probably correct. It has been 22 years since I sold that bike...eh?

[@superkas]

Been following you since Exelcior that you've. You are so cool! Terima kasih sudah menambahkan subtitle Indonesia!

[@paulbrodie]

Indonesia, thanks for watching!

[@scottloudon14]

Ah I remember those times and all the things everyone thought of as I need those! Definitely must have's and entirely reasonable!

[@twowheels90]

A-Mazing! What a cool story. I got the same disorder where I can't leave anything stock. Got a XS650 and try to make all the parts myself. Thanks for sharing this story

[@ianbee456]

Thank you, for coming out... allowing the rest of us to finally admit that we too, have all had (or still have) similar projects, that have bordered on the edge of embarrassment, because of their never finished state! Great video (as always), and look forward to more work from you guys...

[@paulbrodie]

Ian, thanks for watching!

[@ADVtheMISSIONARY]

Amal carbs...but if the Captions are on its not an "M" :D i met a guy who went down the "NorVin" path of putting the engine in a Norton frame..... yep ill pass

[@paulojrg]

And I thought that I was the only one doing , re-doing, trying again... but it's more about the process than the end result.

[@441rider]

What a great journey, wonder if the Vincent is now a bitsa stock restored shadow. Rear chain adj on B50 had the eccentric disk concept. I met a guy on Fraser that had BSA's started my 441 b50 riding of 35 years after that and I modded the same 441 to 12-1 compression. At one point in '92 went to San Francisco and back via Napa, Redding chasing a 750 Duc and 650 DR. Life is about challenges, motorcycling old stuff is at best mechanical witchcraft.

[@paulbrodie]

I had a B50 but that big single was hard to start so I sold it to a friend. I think he still has it.

[@tednruth453]

"That's a fine motorbike" 😊

[@Richard_Ashton]

A girl could feel special on any such like.

[@cromBumny]

The Vincint sounds like it's a nightmare fir maintenance....yuk

[@-MacCat-]

You shared so many gems worth laughing at, empathise with, learn from and reminisce over! I think that had you been born before the wheel you would have been the storyteller that wandered from village to village enthralling all the good folk with tall, but true, tales. ...... hindsight ..... invented by a higher being to torture we mere mortals. Of that I am sure. Thank you, as always, for todays video.

[@paulbrodie]

Thank you Mac Cat :)

[@maxdavies5776]

So given the averages triumph using the VW bug components makes sence.

[@heyimamaker]

Love the story! 13:00 I have a similar Beach tool box, I think it's Beach. I got it from my Grandfather, but mine has one more row of narrow drawers. I am waiting for my Dad to hand down his Kennedy machinist tool box :)

[@purebloodheretic4682]

As your probably aware, some Australian Engineers Re-Created the Vincent for Classic Road Racing called the 'Irving Vincent' the latest version is 1600cc making 200hp! It's a work of Art! Cheers👍

[@paulbrodie]

Yes, I have seen the video. It really is quite remarkable what they have achieved. Thanks for watching! 😉

[@ronsweeney5898]

Paul, just joined your ‘school’, you frequently compare Japanese bikes with British. Im sure that you are aware that the comparison misses a lapse of almost twenty years in design philosophy. The difference allowed the Japanese to improve and overwhelm the stagnant and the British motorcycle market. I’m 81 and have fond memories of the old bikes. As a boy my friend Geoff Baines and I spent hours in his dads back garden where he had a veritable treasure trove of old bikes. Geoffs mum called it a tip. But I clearly remember Brough superiors with Austin seven shaft drive engines adapted for side car use, black shadows and Knights and a host of other barely recognisable old marques. The only bike he had that was roadworthy was a Rudge ulster with desmodromic valve gear. We spent hours rummaging through junk that today would be priceless. Gloriously happy days for a fourteen year old. Thanks for the memories , Ron.

[@paulbrodie]

Ron, That's so cool you got to play with really old "priceless" bikes when you were so young. I doubt if that sort of thing happens much any more, if at all. We all have to remember that what is happening is like a snapshot in time and may never be repeated. Thanks for watching! 😉

[@p51bombay]

That tool box in the old shop looks like like my Crappy Tire Mastercraft box circa 1985 that i still use today - great investment that was.

[@paulbrodie]

I have had all my toolboxes many, many years. They can last a long time :)

[@paulwithers9194]

A great video to go with your fascinating story. Love it that you included the actual mileage as you continued to work on it and the way you reflected on the journey you were on ... Vincent was motivation but the bike was product of developing your skills - certainly makes me feel better about frustrations I have with my own projects but don't realise how much I've learnt and applied elsewhere.

[@paulbrodie]

Yes, the Vincent really was a great learning experience for me. That's great you have your own projects too. Thanks for watching and commenting :)

[@frao4160]

The depth of mystique swirling around Vincent motorcycles is almost as fantastic as the bikes themselves. 👍🏁

[@paulbrodie]

Yes, Mystique with a Capital M.

[@WILKSVILLE]

@@paulbrodie More like a capital £ !

[@hensleyshobbies-doug7761]

There's been a lot of folks who covered the song Vincent Black Shadow, with Red Molly, good tune but I like the way the Del McCoury band covered it, I guess because I'm an old country boy. Haha, there's even a band named Red Molly after the female in the song. But yeah, I never could afford a Vincent, too far out of reach for me.

[@paulbrodie]

Thanks for watching!

[@rickfazzini22]

Very interesting story Paul, I have a similar story (in that it was a learning experience)that involves a 1972 Pontiac. Thanks for sharing.

[@eduardosampoia5480]

Interesting watch...that's some serious OCD...you should have just bought a Japanese bike or a Harley.

[@paulbrodie]

I have (3) Harleys that are called Aermacchis, and I do have a Honda V-twin street bike. I just like #makingstuff

[@scottreed6191]

Paul, Love it! Thanks for the videos!!! I suffer under the same journey, LOL. I appreciate and can relate to the effort. Keep up the great work. I currently on a quest to keep my old custom (continually modding) Harley going and a 20 plus year build on a vintage Stingray racer. Long live the doers! Down with the naysayers! S

[@paulbrodie]

Thank you Scott. Yes, I agree with your philosophy 100%! 😉

[@rocksolidhugo]

Wonderful stories, thank you for sharing

[@maxdavies5776]

Prince william got triumph motorcycles production upto scratch. The HQ of vincent HRD Kawasaki - HD. Is in england. The obvious thing to me is to use the triumph components interchangable with vincent & norton. ? 2 stroke stuffing & millyard UK are great craftsman id recomend they be a part of the group too.

[@paulbrodie]

If you can organize all that I take my hat off to you!

[@davidforeman2734]

Thanks for sharing. I remember lots of the story on that bike. That was very interesting.

[@Rick-uu5yo]

Shouda/coulda/woulda...... When I was in my late teens/earlty twenties, I spent every Thursday scanning Motorcycle news for Vincent motors. I wanted to build an Ogri Norvin. Once I came across most of a motor that had been run in a drag bike but it was missing casings and so many other unicorn-poop parts that I declined. Many years later, 92 or 93, I had a chance to get a complete Shadow for CAN$20k but it was bad timing for me, new job, buying a house. Too late now. I watch them on videos like this. 'Still have a copy of the parts manual! The right side of the Black Shadow motor is, in my humble opinion, the best looking bike motor that ever existed.

[@paulbrodie]

Yes, it's a bit like the housing market I think. $20K for a Shadow is a deal nowadays. I hear they go for uo to $100K now. Oh well, we all makes decisions that might be regretted later. Thanks for watching!

[@MrTriple3]

wow! that was some learning experience.

[@kendonahve924]

My previous comment made me think of the word "ruefully" and that brought me to think about "ruthless" and if they were connected etymologically. So..... how many remember that old ditty that goes.... Ruth rode on my motorbike Directly back of me I hit a bump at 65 And rode on ruthlessly

[@paulbrodie]

Never heard that before.

[@jamesweber4938]

Have you ever heard of Hillgate Electroplating in Stockport, Cheshire U.K ? They used to recondition Vincents back in the 60's and 70's.

[@paulbrodie]

Sorry James, I have not heard of them. I acquired my Vincent in 1974...

[@kimeldiin1930]

Your alternator drive seems interresting , have had some differrent ideas.... maybe an external oilpump driven from the magneto drive...and from that a tooth belt....Hmmmmm.....

[@paulbrodie]

I tried a few different ways. It's not easy adapting an alternator onto a Vincent!

[@kimeldiin1930]

My first Vinni I walked to start with the valve lifter pulled it was super easy.....it started pulling faintly after a few steps , then one just let go of the lever.....I also hear u succumbed to the period of badly hardened vinnie parts, frustratring that . FAR better today.....I still have a set of those self destructing camfollowers in a wee box somewhere .........

[@paulbrodie]

My cam followers were working fine until a friend suggested stronger valve springs, and that was not a great idea...

[@philipspencer1834]

Paul: if you had your time again (as they say in the best leadership course debriefs) what would you have done differently with your Vincent?

[@paulbrodie]

Good question. I would have made my own frame, with the geometry I wanted. The Vincent head tube angle is way too slack, for one thing. Back then I didn't have the skills or the confidence to make my own frame... Thanks for watching!

[@maxdavies5776]

Thermo fan cooling system.

[@nightster6378]

I have a 1951 Vincent Comet I chased for 35 years only getting it 3 years ago from a friend and getting him to commit to giving me first refusal many years ago. It is complete and was running not long before I got it. It will go on the road hopefully this year or next, it has gathered a lot of patine and it is staying. He does have a set of twin crankcases I hope to purchase. As the saying goes you have the patience of a saint. A very interesting story. Do you know who has the Vincent or where it is today?

[@paulbrodie]

I believe Ron still owns it, and he is somewhere around Merritt, BC.

[@kimeldiin1930]

Looking at this 4 the 4th time....Need new cams n' followers 4 mine do not get any response on my emails from anyone, ..... top of that the cancer surgery left me with w big neurome imitating a kidney stone attack all the time.. terribly hard to concentrate ....walking is off the possibility list....

[@paulbrodie]

Sorry you are having a tough time after your surgery. I wish you the best... 😉

[@bin_chicken80]

Thanks Paul and Mitch. This is such a great of example of how sometimes, you need to get in there and start building something to learn. Even if you're afraid it might not work. Very nice work, nice bike and thanks for telling the story!

[@paulbrodie]

Thank you. Yes, I did learn an awful lot working on that Vincent...

[@stevecarlisle3323]

Paul, you remember the used motorcycle parts shop on Boundary Road, North, Burnaby side. I bought my share of parts from them

[@paulbrodie]

I do remember it.

[@kimeldiin1930]

As a dress rehearsals 4 this vinnie I am now rebuilding my Thruxton Velo for Classic Racing.

[@paulbrodie]

Good luck Classic Racing. Keep the rubber side down :)

[@ErgonBill]

I can hear Phil Irving grumbling from his grave 😂. Ah, the folly of youth, but I'm sure you learned a lot.

[@paulbrodie]

Yes I did learn a lot. Thanks for watching!

[@1crazypj]

That was interesting. The Suzuki 500 carbs, even though about the right size (32mm?) wouldn't work as they had the wrong type of fuel discharge being designed for a piston port two stroke. (get richer as airflow rises) I made emulsion tubes for the ones I used on Yamaha XS650 (bored to 800cc) The 'Lectron copies were really drag race carbs, on or off with no transition circuits When I was 14 or 15, we had a local character who was kicked out of VoC for 'converting' a series C Rapide into a chopper (really, he only fitted 12" over forks and struts to rear) Ken something (I forget) Front of crancase was around 16" high and looked stupid (He was about 6' 5" so it kinda fitted him though).

[@paulbrodie]

Wow, never heard of a Vincent chopper! I can imagine it looked pretty bad. So many stories, and lots of good ones too. Thanks for watching :)

[@1crazypj]

@@paulbrodie Your welcome it's interesting. I subscribed for the motorcycle stuff as I didn't get back into cycling until I was 38 when I needed to get fitter .( I had read an article about 'exercise, getting older' - seems silly now) I was living in Porthcawl South Wales at the time when 'the two Martins' were internationally know in mountain bike community although never managed to 'bump into either' even though MBUK had done a photoshoot

[@74elsinore]

I would like to have you, Abom79, rather b welding, Allan Millyard, Vasily Builds, Grind hard plumbing, 2vintage, w1engine builder, 805roadking, iwan pras, keith517000, Moto Mule, and Make it Extreme as neighbors.

[@paulbrodie]

We can all be your virtual neighbours. Thanks for watching!

[@Kevin_747]

Great story. I always admired the contraption vibe the Vincents gave. They remind me of ironhead Sportsters, a bunch of parts that almost fit.

[@paulbrodie]

Thank you Kevin.

[@stevecarlisle3323]

WOW,. Westwood, Mountain High Racing at its best. Go out there now and see if you can find it 😣

[@paulbrodie]

I did. Couldn't tell where the track used to be.

[@Jaysqualityparts]

Paint from NASA 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@thinkpadBentnoseTheBlind]

Why does 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' come to mind when i hear that name Vincent black shadow?

[@paulbrodie]

I'm sure there's a connection someway, somehow ... 🙃

[@steveanderson9718]

Paul, Those who criticize..... cannot do ! That was one heck of a learning curve on that Vincent..... enjoyed every minute of It ! I've still got that Van Tech Frame I got off of you . Keep doin the Kool Stuff that your doin !! Steve

[@paulbrodie]

Hi Steve, I'd forgotten all about that Van Tech Frame! Thanks for watching :)

[@محمدالشاهد-ط3ل]

May God bless you with health

[@59vaughn]

An epic hoot....hats off to you....

[@WilliamChitham]

Great story but what did it go like??? Pull like a tractor, corner like on rails or ...?

[@paulbrodie]

Not super fast, head angle was too slack to be sporty, no bad habits, and vibration. I like my Honda better. Thanks for watching!

[@G58]

Outstanding unique 2.5 decade learning project. I wonder where it is now and what it looks like. I have a very dilapidated Honda CBX550 similar to Megan’s. The idea was to do a café racer. But café racers are more passé racers these days. But since I don’t like breaking bikes, it’s still sitting there with the two CB-1s, the CBR125, the two VF750Fs (one USA model Interceptor and one European in boxes) and a 125 Varadero - all begging to be restored. So I have a worse case of what you had. Great vid. Thank you for sharing

[@paulbrodie]

Yes, you certainly have a few projects to tackle :) I hope you find the motivation!

[@G58]

paul brodie Cheers Paul. Right now my time is preoccupied with caring for my Mum who’s 90 and recovering from some health issues. All the bike stuff is on hold - except in my head.

[@h-j.k.8971]

Lovely Story :-)

[@davemcmullin9417]

Admire the balanced viewpoint in retrospect. Although with far, far less talent and fabrication, I had done 2 long term motorcycle projects - Laverda RGS and a more recent Harley Softail. Wrenched far more than rode too. Learning experiences is very appropriate ... can relate to 'listening' very closely rather than enjoying the trip. Don't want to discourage anyone, but there is a lot of subtlety between the lines of this experience. Can't speak for you however been bitten by mystic and legend more than once... and well, not all the rides live up to the dream. Having said that, still get emotional and silly about a Vincent Comet ... perhaps one day. Thank you for sharing your fabrication techniques, experiences and guidance - very much appreciated.

[@paulbrodie]

Dave, thanks for commenting. Yes, not all rides live up to the dream. So true! Hope you get your Comet, even though some people refer to them as "Half a Vincent".

[@TheMotorEddy]

Great to hear your stories, Paul. My late uncle Brian had a Rapide (and a single-cylinder Comet, and most of a Meteor too). Only the Rapide Series C got completed in his lifetime, but it was a fabulous machine. He had stainless spindles made up for the Girdraulic forks, but they were too snug in the blades of the aluminium fork, galled & seized on the rippled tarmac of London's South Circular and the bike spat him off down the road. Both Brian & the Vincent are long gone, but I still wear his Lewis Leather jacket, bearing the patches which were sewn on after the event.

[@paulbrodie]

Wow that's a cool story. Vincents don't always have the best reputation for handling, and some say they even have a "hinge in the middle" when pushed hard. Thanks for watching!

[@andyspencer6308]

Ed, might that have been Brian King by any chance?

[@TheMotorEddy]

@@andyspencer6308 No....Brian Clark.

[@Mark-vx5dt]

I'm only half way done the video and gotta stop to leave a comment, this is so great Paul, such a great story! I love the photo of your old basement workshop, with the Beach tool boxes and that stache! Bring it back!?

[@paulbrodie]

I don't think it's coming back, sorry.

[@cinemafx1]

Liked your video Paul. Good here Dennis M mentioned. We are good friends.

[@paulbrodie]

Hi Rod, thanks for tuning in :)

[@murraymccann1417]

Cool story Paul, the body work kind of resembles a Britten. Do you know if the bike is still rolling around, or did it get restored to original?

[@paulbrodie]

Thank you Murray. The gentleman I sold it to still has it, I understand, and looks pretty much like it did.

[@jameshickman5299]

Greetings, Well, you certainly came by your fabrication skills honestly. And you’ve acquired an interesting sense of style. I see now how you gained the confidence to design mountain bikes, reinvent the Excelsiors, and build the Aermacchi race bikes. And to live with bump starting a Vincent Black Shadow. Very impressive. You’re a better man than I am, Paul Brodie. I tried to run a 750 Norton Commando using a single 34mm Blue Magnum carburetor. It carbureted well, but ran out of Bret above 60mph. Still topped out an 105mph, though, or at least that’s what the speedometer said. I had to go back to the worn out Amal carburetors. I still have the Blue Magnum, though. I really love the smooth action of that chrome flat side carburetor. Maybe put it on a nice 500 single, or even a 350 Aermacchi. Hmmmmmm. Well, I can dream, can’t I? Anyway, I’ll be watching your progress on the new Aermacchi. It’s coming along nicely. Is it going to be another race bike, or will you put it on the street? Good luck. Take care, and... Let’s be careful out there.

[@paulbrodie]

Thanks James. Nice comments! My Aermacchi is a race bike, so not for the street. My friend Mick Hart might race it one day, or I might take it to the salt flats if the US border ever opens up again. Thanks for watching!

[@hughferrier5837]

Interesting story. Wish you had kept it. Thanks for sharing.

[@paulbrodie]

Thank you Hugh. I was always working on it and not doing enough riding. That was the problem.

[@jorgeperez2347]

WoW, It is awesome how that bike evolve. I am a declared fan of that carbon Fiber insert on the gas tank. Great video and story as always!

[@paulbrodie]

Thanks for liking my carbon fibre gas tank insert :)

[@thomaslawry5238]

Very interesting Mr Brodie. The trials and tribulations of Vincent caretaking. Is the bike, under new ownership, still in its current form? Vincent specials (e.g. Norvin's ...etc.) are notorious for exceeding the patience of their custodians. Very few, other than the Egli can command maximum value, after all the blood sweat and tears have been expended in putting the bike back on the road.

[@paulbrodie]

I believe it is more or less in it's final form. I think when it sold the price was about 1/2 of a "regular" Vincent..

[@ravenhhca]

I our community of builders in Ottawa in the 60's we had a genius. He managed to up his Black Shadow's displacement to 1600. He raced it at Mosport. He also put a small block Chevy in the back seat of a VW Beatle and one in an Austin-Healey. Lost track of him when he went to work for OMC.

[@simoncullum5019]

Irving Vincent in Australia still sell a racing 1600cc version

[@maxdavies5776]

I had dreams of making a unitary construction cast pattern set for the VW bug motor. Allowing the 350-500cc pistons to be assembled in any format. - v single or strait. Including a strait 3 cyl 1500. air cooled. Fan forced.

[@paulbrodie]

What happened to your dreams?

[@maxdavies5776]

Life

[@jimforsyth2.]

It's always the angles

[@cpdevon]

When your motor(cycle) becomes your existence, your existence becomes your motorcycle. I have the same issue. Bought used I. April 2000, has changed forms 5 times. Still a work in progress. It's a passion. I'm never satisfied. My goal is it must look cool but still be functional.

[@worldofameiso5491]

Twenty years fannying around, and at the end what you ended up with is not a Vincent.

[@paulbrodie]

That's true, but I got a whole education learning how to modify and re-engineer this motorcycle.... :) I have no regrets.

[@jimforsyth2.]

The angels man I know

[@daedaluscan]

What fun. As a friend told me today "Remember its all self inflicted"

[@paulbrodie]

Yes, I have no one to blame but myself.

[@markwybierala4936]

Thoroughly enjoyed the adventure of a fellow wrenchbender.

[@paulbrodie]

Mark, thanks for watching.

[@francisrampen9099]

Hi Paul! In the 80's I was walking by a yea olde bike shop in Hamilton that was closing down. On their greasy work table sat a Vincent motor. I had never seen or heard of Vincent at that point but I knew I had to have it. I asked the old owner what he wanted for it and he said $200. I told him I would have it and went to beg, borrow and if necessary roll pedestrians to get the cash. By the time I got back loot in hand the shop was closed and I could never track down the owner. From your story he may have saved me years of fruitless distraction... it is a cool thing still.

[@paulbrodie]

Francis, you have a great story too! If you had bought it your life could have taken a turn and gone a different direction. Those are the things we'll never know. Thanks for watching!

[@francisrampen9099]

​@@paulbrodie Yes the road not travelled but I have had quite a few other distractions. I appreciate anyone who can rebuild a Vincent clutch. Keep up the great content.

[@paulbrodie]

@@francisrampen9099 If I remember, there were 3 or 4 of us standing around in my shop looking at that clutch. Smart friends. After a while we figured out that there were 3 separate issues going on with that clutch all at the same time!

[@francisrampen9099]

@@paulbrodie I had a buddy who made himself a Norvin. Having never ridden the stock design I have no idea whether it was an improvement and whether this was a good move. His bike was a good one and was remarkably reliable. I helped him rebuild the clutch and it was a real engineering education.The Vincent seemed to be solutions looking for problems.

[@paulbrodie]

@@francisrampen9099 You are so right, " Solutions looking for Problems".

[@seansysig]

Mikuni’s Oh purists must have yelled foul

[@paulbrodie]

Purists used to complain about almost anything non-standard. Now there is a purist who recently added an SV650 fuel injection system to his Vincent...

[@jaratt85]

I think this project is the dream of a lot of guys out there. (and a few women) Good luck ever finding even a basket case Vincent ever again.. at least under $10k. We've got a basket case 1946 Indian Chief that's missing a lot of parts and has some rust issues from being flooded repeatedly in Mississippi. My late grandfather helped my dad buy it (loan of course) because he worked on them in the US Army in WW2. Unfortunately almost 30 years later it's still never really had anything done to it other than some guy in MS blasted and painted the frame (without pulling the headstock bearings -.-) my sister and I did a lot of sanding on that thing, until we bled, sitting on our back porch while it was raining in 1993/4. Almost everything was destroyed by the floods, the bottom of the frame has rust (not that bad but it's there) the bars had no nickel left, the seat pan was gone, the floor boards were completely rusted, the fenders were gone, the trans was rusted solid, the internals of the engine were rusted badly.. the pistons look usable but the rings are broken and rusted solid to them so they'll just go in my piston collection. The outer hoops of the rims were junked but the hubs were salvageable. All in all that numbers matching bike has very little left of it.. Personally I'd do similar to you with the Vincent.. it'll never be original again so why try to make it so? I'd do what I'd do to anything.. hot rod it and make it rideable. I'd figure out how to put disc brakes on the front and a bigger Harley drum out back. I'd bore it out and stroke it and up the compression and get a good set of cams and carbs for it. I'd make a good exhaust that looked like the old racing exhaust and put some small fenders on it. I'd also get an early Harley trans from Baker that's got their 5 or 6 speed kit in it and run that, my point is make it rideable at modern speeds, or at least make it handle and stop better than a Harley. The only thing off that bike that was in immaculate condition was the tanks. They just need cleaned and painted and a set of badges found for them. It'd be one hell of a video series to put up on KZbin if I could. Unfortunately the reason it's never really been touched in 28 years is.. I'm autistic and have a bunch of medical issues, working is almost impossible. My dad's a retired US Air Force MSgt that doesn't really have any money, his back and a couple other issues forced him to pretty much retire at like 52 and at 64 all he has is his disability pay. We've unfortunately never had extra money, and never will.

[@paulbrodie]

Sounds to me like the Indian Chief is a Project waiting to happen....

[@jaratt85]

@@paulbrodie if only I had money.. like everything else in my life. I'm 37 and still live at home with my parents and don't even own my own car.. Hell I'm sleeping on a 14 year old mattress because I can't afford another.. and I own 1 pair of jeans.. and honestly they're too big for me since I lost weight. (by about 4 inches)

[@burbman60]

OK! I see a Parilla Hi-cam on the shelf. Pretty great.

[@paulbrodie]

Yes. My friend Fritz gave that to me. Empty cases...

[@mikeburton7077]

I was wondering what you were about,listening to your story I realised you are quite a gifted engineer, sacrilege to modify a Vincent but your bike and you did what you wanted to it . I have a 57 cub and restoring it, also a 65 ss80 and a 61 super rocket, enjoy your videos

[@paulbrodie]

Thank you Mike.

[@iplaymytele]

Brother Paul...! The guy who flatten his header pipes sounds like my neighbor who thinks any internal combustion machine can be repaired with a hammer....😹😹😹