The Spares Company
Club Shop/Regalia
Parent Website
Contact Officials
Machine Registrar
Club Secretary
Membership Secretaries
MPH Editor and Forum Administrator.
Section Newsletters
Technical Databases
Photos
Home
What's new
Latest activity
Forums
New posts
What's new
New posts
Latest activity
Information
Bike Modifications
Machine Data Services
Manufacturers Manuals
Spare Parts Listings
Technical Diagrams
Whitakerpedia (Vincent Wiki)
The Club
MPH Material Archive
Flogger's Corner
Obituaries
VOC Sections
Local Sections
Local Section Newsletters
Miscellaneous
Club Assets
Club History
Club Rules
Machine Data Services
Meeting Documents
Miscellaneous
Essential Reading
Magazine/Newspaper Articles/Letters
Adverts and Sales Brochures
The Mighty Garage Videos
Bikes For Sale (Spares Company)
Log in
Register
What's new
New posts
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Home
Forums
Forums: Public Access
Tech. Advice: Series 'B' / 'C' 500cc/1000cc Bikes
FF57 and its bigger brother
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Tom Gaynor" data-source="post: 21537" data-attributes="member: 4034"><p>As recounted several times, I've experienced three tank-slappers (none Vincent) and "am difficult" to persuade that they can be "managed". Accordingly I fitted an hydraulic steering damper when building the bicycle, thus making tank-slappers things i didn't have to think about. It remains the best single reason for fitting one: £50 for peace of mind - a bargain! So while fitted with FF57/2 it has never given me any cause for alarm, I'm covered anyway. </p><p>As timetraveller (Norman: something more concise? I'm measurably older by the time I've typed your n-d-p....) has said, there isn't much clearance between guard and cowl, but since the bike sits on its centre stand "topped", which is the worst case, and the wheel moves FORWARD on initial deflection, I've seen no signs of involuntary intimacy. </p><p>It is scarcely fair, but having raced a Petty Norton, it's difficult not to judge everything by that. The Vincent feels "remote" by comparison, as though the front MIGHT be about to let go, or might not. With the Petty, I KNEW. I suspect however that this has a lot to do with tyres, and that a 20 x 3.00 just doesn't have a big enough footprint. And while it is as sticky as race tyres were 30 years ago, it is nowhere near as sticky as modern race rubber. I raced a 350 Manx, which had a 3.50 x 19 Speedmaster front, and a 4.10 x 19 Avon GP rear, both in race compound, and it was fantastic. I actually managed to get among the Hondas. But at the end of the weekend the front was slick on one side, with the last three ribs completely worn off.</p><p>Too cold today for Vincents, so no comparison yet. Today I rode the Sunbeam S7 45 miles, the only other post-war fully engineered design. (Everything else, from BSA, AMC et al, was a parts-bin special that could have been built in any back street garage. Discuss...)</p><p>I don't so much ride it as "drone" it, at a serene 60 mph. Interesting that on a steady throttle it has very good steering through the twisties: the problems come when the throttle is closed, and torque reaction leans the bike to the left. Opening it leans it to the right. Makes right-handers interesting... And reminds me of the joke about Georg Meier(?) in the '39 TT on the blower BMW. When he took off over Ballaugh Bridge the motor stopped and the bike revolved...</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Tom Gaynor, post: 21537, member: 4034"] As recounted several times, I've experienced three tank-slappers (none Vincent) and "am difficult" to persuade that they can be "managed". Accordingly I fitted an hydraulic steering damper when building the bicycle, thus making tank-slappers things i didn't have to think about. It remains the best single reason for fitting one: £50 for peace of mind - a bargain! So while fitted with FF57/2 it has never given me any cause for alarm, I'm covered anyway. As timetraveller (Norman: something more concise? I'm measurably older by the time I've typed your n-d-p....) has said, there isn't much clearance between guard and cowl, but since the bike sits on its centre stand "topped", which is the worst case, and the wheel moves FORWARD on initial deflection, I've seen no signs of involuntary intimacy. It is scarcely fair, but having raced a Petty Norton, it's difficult not to judge everything by that. The Vincent feels "remote" by comparison, as though the front MIGHT be about to let go, or might not. With the Petty, I KNEW. I suspect however that this has a lot to do with tyres, and that a 20 x 3.00 just doesn't have a big enough footprint. And while it is as sticky as race tyres were 30 years ago, it is nowhere near as sticky as modern race rubber. I raced a 350 Manx, which had a 3.50 x 19 Speedmaster front, and a 4.10 x 19 Avon GP rear, both in race compound, and it was fantastic. I actually managed to get among the Hondas. But at the end of the weekend the front was slick on one side, with the last three ribs completely worn off. Too cold today for Vincents, so no comparison yet. Today I rode the Sunbeam S7 45 miles, the only other post-war fully engineered design. (Everything else, from BSA, AMC et al, was a parts-bin special that could have been built in any back street garage. Discuss...) I don't so much ride it as "drone" it, at a serene 60 mph. Interesting that on a steady throttle it has very good steering through the twisties: the problems come when the throttle is closed, and torque reaction leans the bike to the left. Opening it leans it to the right. Makes right-handers interesting... And reminds me of the joke about Georg Meier(?) in the '39 TT on the blower BMW. When he took off over Ballaugh Bridge the motor stopped and the bike revolved... [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
The Series 'A' Rapide was known as the '********' Nightmare?
Post reply
Home
Forums
Forums: Public Access
Tech. Advice: Series 'B' / 'C' 500cc/1000cc Bikes
FF57 and its bigger brother
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
Accept
Learn more…
Top