The Best Motorcycle Ever Made

A lot of motorcycles would be nominated for that list, but one that every enthusiast would put in the top 5 would be the Vincent Black Lightning. What is amazing is that this revolutionary bike was made in 1948, and was the fastest production bike well into the 1970s, 20 plus years after the company ceased production.

Vincent motorcycles started when a young Phillip Vincent acquired the rights to the trademark of the well respected British HRD motorcycle in 1928. With the help of engineer Phil Irving, Vincents got better and better. Besides adding power, the Vincent machines pioneered features that were innovations to motorcycle technology. This included the first full rear suspension, a foot shift 4 speed gearbox, V Twin engine, and side stands. The Vincent Black Shadow of 1948 pushed the envelope further, with a cruising speed of 100 mph, and a maximum speed of 125, despite the speedometer’s 150 mph top peg.

The Vincent Black Lightning also came out in 1948, and was a sensation in the motorcycle world. It had a top speed of 150 mph, and was rated at 70 horse power. On September 13 of 1948, Rollie Free became the worlds fastest motorcyclist at a speed of 150.313, riding a specially tuned production model Vincent Black Lightning on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

The previous record was 136.183 mph, set by a Harley Davidson. Free’s riding leathers had torn in earlier runs of 147 mph, and they were scooping air and flapping, so for the record breaking run, he wore a speedo and sneakers, and extended his legs back to reduce drag. Vincent Black Lightnings went on to win races and set records all over the motorcycle world. Unfortunately, the company went out of business in 1955. Never forgotton, Black Lightnings are much sought after. A Black Lightning is dangled by Bruce Wayne (George Clooney) in the movie "Batman and Robin", to entice the juvenile deliquent Robin (Chris O'Donnell) to stay on at the Wayne mansion. Recently, bluegrass song of the year "Vincent '52" by Richard Thompson, Rumor and Sigh CD, was centered on a highwayman, his girlfriend, and his 1952 Vincent Black Lightning.

Comments

[Patrick L. Reilly]

It was not George Clooney as Batman that enticed Robin to stay on with the Black Lightening. It was Val Kilmer as Batman in the 1995 movie Batman Forever.

Patrick L. Reilly, Ph.D.
Principal Engineer
Lead Patent Strategist
INtel Corporation

[Jack]

I love Vincent machines.

Richard Thompson wrote that song and sings it better than anyone but I believe it is the Del McCoury Band that does the bluegrass version.

[Pual D Stevens]

Trying to find out when radial mounted brakes were first invented for motorcycles

[Greg A. Wilson]

What would the approximate value of a Vincent Black Lightning be at the present time, if one was placed on the market, in pristine condition?

[KYLE B SCHALOW, OWNER METRIC AND DOMESTIC CYCLES LLC]

ALL HAIL ROLLIR FREED! HE IS A LEGEND! AND A HERO.

A Black Lightning sells according to provenance. Prices will range from a low of $200,000 to a high of $350,000 US, more, if someone REALLY wants the bike. Keep in mind there are fakes out there & some bikes had more than one engine.
Alyn Vincent

[Stephen Hawkings]

Funny that anyone would feel the need to sign anything in such a fashion haha:

Patrick L. Reilly, Ph.D.
Principal Engineer
Lead Patent Strategist
INtel Corporation

Get a grip douchebag.

[Neil]

I think you will find that an American bike called the Flying Merkel was the first with full rear suspension in something like 1908!
However I happen to think that Vinnies were the best bikes ever made and for me the best looking too.
Neil UK

[Neil]

I have just found aphoto of a Merkel with a sprung rear end at this site:
http://theflyingmerkel.com/ogphotos/photo05.htm

[Neil]

Another interesting bit of trivia, is that initially P. Vincent kept the HRD (Howard R. Davies) logo but when selling in America people thought that it was some sort of special Harley Davidson (the common misconception being that the R stood for "Racing") so he changed the company name to Vincent to avoid this confusion.