Vincent Rapide
Encyclopedia
The Vincent Rapide was a motorcycle designed and built at the Vincent works in Great North Road, Stevenage
, Hertfordshire
UK during the war and released to the press before end of hostilities. The prototype was the Series A 47.5° V-twin
launched in 1936. With 6.8:1 compression, it produced 45 bhp. It is often purported that Phil Irving
was trying to find a replacement for the 500 cc Vincent Comet
engine. There were two blueprints on his desk, and one had fallen on top of the other, to demonstrate a "V" formation. There is no evidence to prove this, however. Its frame incorporated the first cantilever
rear suspension, used on all subsequent Vincents. Other innovations included a foot gearchange instead of a hand-operated gearlever, a four-speed gearbox instead of two or three and a side stand.
The high power meant that the gearbox and clutch did not cope well. and it was developed into the ‘Series B’ which had internal oil pipes and the gearbox integrated with the engine casting (Unit Construction
). The angle between the cylinders was increased to 50° instead of the 47.5° of the Series A engine, which allowed the use of the engine as part of the frame. The Rapide had ‘’Girdraulic’’ front forks and triangulated rear springing to prevent front end twist under hard braking. and the cantilever rear became the most widely used form of rear suspension for motorcycles after 1980. Brakes were dual 7 inches (177.8 mm) single-leading shoe (SLS), front and rear.
A more modern hydraulic shock absorber and spring assembly later replaced the old twin springs and friction damper. The rear seat was supported by a sub-frame down to the rear frame pivot point, providing a semi-sprung seat with 6 inches (152.4 mm) of suspension.
The Series B had a Feridax Dunlopillo Dualseat, and a tool tray under the front. The Series "B" also had an inline felt oil filter instead of the metal gauze of the Series "A".
Vincent used quickly detachable wheels, making wheel and tyre changes easier. The rear wheel was reversible, and different size rear sprockets could be fitted for quick final-drive ratio changes.
The brake & gear shift were adjustable for reach to suit individual feet and the rear mud guard was hinged to facilitate the removal of the rear wheel.
The Series C, which Vincent produced from 1949-1950, featured a 998cc, 50-degree V-twin that put out between 45 and 55 horsepower, depending on the state of tune (Rapide or Black Shadow). Period tests demonstrated that the bike was easily capable of speeds in excess of 100 mph.
The letters HRD were discontinued in 1950. Vincent were trying to enter the American market, and did not want any confusion with Harley-Davidson (H-D). Falling sales of expensive motorcycles caused closure in 1956. Vincent refused to compromise on quality, which, unfortunately, kept the price up. It has often been said that the firm was guilty of "over engineering". One comment made about this was that "Vincent is a solution in search of a problem."
Stevenage
Stevenage is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England. It is situated to the east of junctions 7 and 8 of the A1, and is between Letchworth Garden City to the north, and Welwyn Garden City to the south....
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
UK during the war and released to the press before end of hostilities. The prototype was the Series A 47.5° V-twin
V-twin
A V-twin engine is a two-cylinder internal combustion engine where the cylinders are arranged in a V configuration.- Crankshaft configuration :Most V-twin engines have a single crankpin, which is shared by both connecting rods...
launched in 1936. With 6.8:1 compression, it produced 45 bhp. It is often purported that Phil Irving
Phil Irving
Philip Edward Irving OBE, C.Eng., M.I.Mech.E., M.S.A.E., was an Australian engineer and author, most famous for the Repco-Brabham Formula One and Vincent motorcycle engines...
was trying to find a replacement for the 500 cc Vincent Comet
Vincent Comet
The Vincent Comet was designed and built at the Vincent works in Great North Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England]. Developed from the Vincent Rapide by Australian engineer Phil Irving in 1935, it was one of four 499 cc single models...
engine. There were two blueprints on his desk, and one had fallen on top of the other, to demonstrate a "V" formation. There is no evidence to prove this, however. Its frame incorporated the first cantilever
Cantilever
A cantilever is a beam anchored at only one end. The beam carries the load to the support where it is resisted by moment and shear stress. Cantilever construction allows for overhanging structures without external bracing. Cantilevers can also be constructed with trusses or slabs.This is in...
rear suspension, used on all subsequent Vincents. Other innovations included a foot gearchange instead of a hand-operated gearlever, a four-speed gearbox instead of two or three and a side stand.
The high power meant that the gearbox and clutch did not cope well. and it was developed into the ‘Series B’ which had internal oil pipes and the gearbox integrated with the engine casting (Unit Construction
Unit construction
Unit construction is a term used to describe the design of larger motorcycles where the engine and gearbox components share a single casing. The term is sometimes applied to the design of automobile engines and was often loosely applied to motorcycles with rather different internal layouts such as...
). The angle between the cylinders was increased to 50° instead of the 47.5° of the Series A engine, which allowed the use of the engine as part of the frame. The Rapide had ‘’Girdraulic’’ front forks and triangulated rear springing to prevent front end twist under hard braking. and the cantilever rear became the most widely used form of rear suspension for motorcycles after 1980. Brakes were dual 7 inches (177.8 mm) single-leading shoe (SLS), front and rear.
A more modern hydraulic shock absorber and spring assembly later replaced the old twin springs and friction damper. The rear seat was supported by a sub-frame down to the rear frame pivot point, providing a semi-sprung seat with 6 inches (152.4 mm) of suspension.
The Series B had a Feridax Dunlopillo Dualseat, and a tool tray under the front. The Series "B" also had an inline felt oil filter instead of the metal gauze of the Series "A".
Vincent used quickly detachable wheels, making wheel and tyre changes easier. The rear wheel was reversible, and different size rear sprockets could be fitted for quick final-drive ratio changes.
The brake & gear shift were adjustable for reach to suit individual feet and the rear mud guard was hinged to facilitate the removal of the rear wheel.
The Series C, which Vincent produced from 1949-1950, featured a 998cc, 50-degree V-twin that put out between 45 and 55 horsepower, depending on the state of tune (Rapide or Black Shadow). Period tests demonstrated that the bike was easily capable of speeds in excess of 100 mph.
The letters HRD were discontinued in 1950. Vincent were trying to enter the American market, and did not want any confusion with Harley-Davidson (H-D). Falling sales of expensive motorcycles caused closure in 1956. Vincent refused to compromise on quality, which, unfortunately, kept the price up. It has often been said that the firm was guilty of "over engineering". One comment made about this was that "Vincent is a solution in search of a problem."