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General Chat (Vincent Related)
My first ride on a Vincent, yesterday evening!
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<blockquote data-quote="AngloArm" data-source="post: 23628" data-attributes="member: 2326"><p>Hello Tracey and thanks for your comments about my post. I would be happy to write another post as long as it has something useful to contribute to others. I'm not a fan of twitter and blogs, though I have a feeling I could get quite easily hooked to that kind of digital expression. With regard to the Club et al, M.P.H. is a well produced and presented journal which always has something helpful and interesting to read and I'm pleased to find the V.O.C. envelope on my porch floor once a month. I have had much kind and helpful support from several club officials both before and after buying the Vincent, for which I am extremely grateful - Many thanks to Gordon Powell in particular who advised on my purchase and helped in the process to reclaim the original VRM for my machine. </p><p>I have not yet attended any organised events. I am sure I will. I do like to go to events by myself and prefer to ride alone as opposed to in a group though I did apply for a place on the 'Spirit of the 60's' run several years ago which is organised by the Westland motorcycle club. Unfortunately personal circumstances at the time prevented attendance though I'd like to experience that event! I have attended the Kop Hill Climb in Princes Risborough Buckinghamshire which I can thoroughly recommend to all. I believe they are taking applications now for a non timed 'exhibition' run up the hill, that takes place in September. Only saw 1 Vincent in 2009 but do not recall seeing any last year. Perhaps we should remedy that if there are any places left.</p><p> </p><p>As for young blood in the V.O.C. it's a position not easily remedied. Firstly what age range is regarded as the source of young blood? Should we say late 20's early 30's or late 30's early 40's ? It depends on the average age of those who attended the meeting at which the issue was raised but I would take a shot at that age to be between 55 to 65. I'm 47 so I may be slightly younger blood but realistically, what age group should the V.O.C. honestly think can be attracted? And how can it attract motorcyclists who cannot realistically afford to become a custodian to the machine. </p><p> </p><p>How many Vincents were produced - 12,000 to 13,000 ? How many are left now. 9,000 - 11,000? How many are affordable ? Well that depends on what one considers affordable but I would suggest - none. I had to sink a large portion of my savings into funding my purchase. Would I have wanted a Vincent in my late 20's early 30's - I don't want to upset anyone but actually no, because I considered the styling an older person's motorcycle, say that of someone in their 40's. I'm now taken with the design - again I'm now 47. When I was 15 I wanted a British bike but it was not a Vincent. In truth I knew about the name but absolutely nothing about the machine. So perhaps we should educate and promote the marque to younger motorcyclists. But the machine must be affordable for them to consider. Could I have afforded one in my late 20's? Possibly a Comet or a Rapide in need, but it was not a priority as I was saving a deposit for my first house. How much can a younger person reasonably put aside to enjoy a luxury when even those who are allegedly more able to secure a well paid job through a university education are £10,000 - £30,000 in debt - like my daughter who loves the look of my Vincent. </p><p> </p><p>I would argue there is a declining number of potential motorcycle enthusiasts in Great Britain. I come from that generation in the 1970's when there was an abundance of choice of 50 c.c. motorcycles or mopeds as they were called for legal reasons - You may recall those noisy smokey machines - Fantic Motor, Puch, Garelli, Yamaha, Suzuki and the 4 stroke Honda's, and many teenagers who wanted to ride. I started on a 2 stroke KTM 'Comet Cross' of all things funnily enough. But most young lads and a few ladies in the mid to late 70's wanted a Yamaha FS1E' or Suzuki AP 50. Personally I wanted a british bike but that was the low point in the British Bike industry and they were non existant - the B.S.A. badged 'Brigand' was I think japanese engined but restricted. Another major nail in the coffin for young riders was the introduction of restricted output 50c.c. motorcycles. They were as dangerous for their lack of power as were the tuned Suzuki's or the infamous 70 m.p.h. Garelli moped.</p><p>The nation of motorcyclists generation had now bought affordable cars but there were enough of them driving on the road to have an understanding and memory of the perils of riding a bike to give us 'learners' enough room on the road to learn safely. Not many of those gentlemen and ladies driving any longer I'm afraid. And therefore when my 11 year old son spent several hours trying to persuade me to buy him a motorcycle I was not over enthusiastic about it. Off road yes, but he will want to ride on the road when 16, like we all did but with millions more much faster cars and proportionally more bad drivers - that we never had to avoid. Therefore I don't think he will be inheriting the Comet for very many years , if at all.</p><p> </p><p>So the odds stack up against us as time goes on. No great choice of young desirable sports motocycles from the big manufacturers. If only John Bloor's Triumph company (and frankly who else could in Britain) manufactured a properly proportioned 50 c.c. motorcycle and then sponsored a 50 c.c class motorcycle challenge for the machine, then we'd see hope ahead albeit in 15 -20 years time when those riders grew up and had jobs that afforded them the opportunity to consider buying a Vincent. Though how much will a Vincent sell for then?</p><p> </p><p>The last great boon in youth riding I recalled was in the 1990's but in much reduced numbers and the popular machine appeared to be those small wheeled automatic rev and go machines which I would argue are not going to produce many 'devoted' lifetime motorcylists that will work their way through the marques to arrive at Vincent ownership. And a good Yamaha pre restriction FS1E will set one back over a Thousand pounds now!! Much of the the Gameboy/Playstation et al generation don't seem to have the desire to get up, get out and get on a bicycle let alone a motorcycle, that previous generations had. So I can't see it in great numbers. Vincents are expensive and young blood tend to want Japanese and you can safely wager even Chinese if things carry on as they are. With all that money that's where a larger number of Vincents could all end up too.</p><p> </p><p>Never mind a 500 c.c Vincent, if the V.O.C. want to introduce young blood then someone needs to build a modern affordable traditionally styled 50 c.c. Vincent. Hopefully made in Britain though more likely India or China. But then watch club membership rise.</p><p> </p><p>Here's another idea to increase club membership with fresh blood, not necessarily young and make Vincents affordable.</p><p> </p><p>The V.O.C. could place an advertisement in motorcycle news with the following heading:</p><p> </p><p> 'Would you like to become the custodian of a Vincent motorcycle?'</p><p> </p><p> Then an offer for demonstrably genuine prospective enthusiasts who join the club and prove veritable, of the opportunity to buy a share of ownership of a Vincent in much the same way many private pilot licence holders do with aircraft. A share of machine ownership always legally remains with the club so it will not be lost to any speculators. The vehicle is 'booked out' from a secure location when available, with the agreement of all those in the pool signed up to that machine. And they all contribute to servicing and maintenance with support from the club. It seems to work for private pilots.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="AngloArm, post: 23628, member: 2326"] Hello Tracey and thanks for your comments about my post. I would be happy to write another post as long as it has something useful to contribute to others. I'm not a fan of twitter and blogs, though I have a feeling I could get quite easily hooked to that kind of digital expression. With regard to the Club et al, M.P.H. is a well produced and presented journal which always has something helpful and interesting to read and I'm pleased to find the V.O.C. envelope on my porch floor once a month. I have had much kind and helpful support from several club officials both before and after buying the Vincent, for which I am extremely grateful - Many thanks to Gordon Powell in particular who advised on my purchase and helped in the process to reclaim the original VRM for my machine. I have not yet attended any organised events. I am sure I will. I do like to go to events by myself and prefer to ride alone as opposed to in a group though I did apply for a place on the 'Spirit of the 60's' run several years ago which is organised by the Westland motorcycle club. Unfortunately personal circumstances at the time prevented attendance though I'd like to experience that event! I have attended the Kop Hill Climb in Princes Risborough Buckinghamshire which I can thoroughly recommend to all. I believe they are taking applications now for a non timed 'exhibition' run up the hill, that takes place in September. Only saw 1 Vincent in 2009 but do not recall seeing any last year. Perhaps we should remedy that if there are any places left. As for young blood in the V.O.C. it's a position not easily remedied. Firstly what age range is regarded as the source of young blood? Should we say late 20's early 30's or late 30's early 40's ? It depends on the average age of those who attended the meeting at which the issue was raised but I would take a shot at that age to be between 55 to 65. I'm 47 so I may be slightly younger blood but realistically, what age group should the V.O.C. honestly think can be attracted? And how can it attract motorcyclists who cannot realistically afford to become a custodian to the machine. How many Vincents were produced - 12,000 to 13,000 ? How many are left now. 9,000 - 11,000? How many are affordable ? Well that depends on what one considers affordable but I would suggest - none. I had to sink a large portion of my savings into funding my purchase. Would I have wanted a Vincent in my late 20's early 30's - I don't want to upset anyone but actually no, because I considered the styling an older person's motorcycle, say that of someone in their 40's. I'm now taken with the design - again I'm now 47. When I was 15 I wanted a British bike but it was not a Vincent. In truth I knew about the name but absolutely nothing about the machine. So perhaps we should educate and promote the marque to younger motorcyclists. But the machine must be affordable for them to consider. Could I have afforded one in my late 20's? Possibly a Comet or a Rapide in need, but it was not a priority as I was saving a deposit for my first house. How much can a younger person reasonably put aside to enjoy a luxury when even those who are allegedly more able to secure a well paid job through a university education are £10,000 - £30,000 in debt - like my daughter who loves the look of my Vincent. I would argue there is a declining number of potential motorcycle enthusiasts in Great Britain. I come from that generation in the 1970's when there was an abundance of choice of 50 c.c. motorcycles or mopeds as they were called for legal reasons - You may recall those noisy smokey machines - Fantic Motor, Puch, Garelli, Yamaha, Suzuki and the 4 stroke Honda's, and many teenagers who wanted to ride. I started on a 2 stroke KTM 'Comet Cross' of all things funnily enough. But most young lads and a few ladies in the mid to late 70's wanted a Yamaha FS1E' or Suzuki AP 50. Personally I wanted a british bike but that was the low point in the British Bike industry and they were non existant - the B.S.A. badged 'Brigand' was I think japanese engined but restricted. Another major nail in the coffin for young riders was the introduction of restricted output 50c.c. motorcycles. They were as dangerous for their lack of power as were the tuned Suzuki's or the infamous 70 m.p.h. Garelli moped. The nation of motorcyclists generation had now bought affordable cars but there were enough of them driving on the road to have an understanding and memory of the perils of riding a bike to give us 'learners' enough room on the road to learn safely. Not many of those gentlemen and ladies driving any longer I'm afraid. And therefore when my 11 year old son spent several hours trying to persuade me to buy him a motorcycle I was not over enthusiastic about it. Off road yes, but he will want to ride on the road when 16, like we all did but with millions more much faster cars and proportionally more bad drivers - that we never had to avoid. Therefore I don't think he will be inheriting the Comet for very many years , if at all. So the odds stack up against us as time goes on. No great choice of young desirable sports motocycles from the big manufacturers. If only John Bloor's Triumph company (and frankly who else could in Britain) manufactured a properly proportioned 50 c.c. motorcycle and then sponsored a 50 c.c class motorcycle challenge for the machine, then we'd see hope ahead albeit in 15 -20 years time when those riders grew up and had jobs that afforded them the opportunity to consider buying a Vincent. Though how much will a Vincent sell for then? The last great boon in youth riding I recalled was in the 1990's but in much reduced numbers and the popular machine appeared to be those small wheeled automatic rev and go machines which I would argue are not going to produce many 'devoted' lifetime motorcylists that will work their way through the marques to arrive at Vincent ownership. And a good Yamaha pre restriction FS1E will set one back over a Thousand pounds now!! Much of the the Gameboy/Playstation et al generation don't seem to have the desire to get up, get out and get on a bicycle let alone a motorcycle, that previous generations had. So I can't see it in great numbers. Vincents are expensive and young blood tend to want Japanese and you can safely wager even Chinese if things carry on as they are. With all that money that's where a larger number of Vincents could all end up too. Never mind a 500 c.c Vincent, if the V.O.C. want to introduce young blood then someone needs to build a modern affordable traditionally styled 50 c.c. Vincent. Hopefully made in Britain though more likely India or China. But then watch club membership rise. Here's another idea to increase club membership with fresh blood, not necessarily young and make Vincents affordable. The V.O.C. could place an advertisement in motorcycle news with the following heading: 'Would you like to become the custodian of a Vincent motorcycle?' Then an offer for demonstrably genuine prospective enthusiasts who join the club and prove veritable, of the opportunity to buy a share of ownership of a Vincent in much the same way many private pilot licence holders do with aircraft. A share of machine ownership always legally remains with the club so it will not be lost to any speculators. The vehicle is 'booked out' from a secure location when available, with the agreement of all those in the pool signed up to that machine. And they all contribute to servicing and maintenance with support from the club. It seems to work for private pilots. [/QUOTE]
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General Chat (Vincent Related)
My first ride on a Vincent, yesterday evening!
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