Quaife Vincent ratios up until sometime in the early 2000s
1st 1:2.46
2nd 1:1.61
3rd 1:1.34
4th 1:1.075
5th 1:1
The 4th gear at just a 7% drop from top was likely racing inspired, as that was what Rod Quaife and John Surtees wanted the 5 speed for.
Eventually they changed that 4 th gear ratio to the current
1.134, which should be a bit more useful on a road bike.
Standard Rapide and late Shadow gears are
1st- 2.60
2nd- 1.61
3rd- 1.19
4th- 1
The 1.19 third in a standard Vincent is a really good road ratio for that engine in that it pulls hard from about 60 mph to over 100 mph.
The main reason for purchasing a Quaife has to be the shifting improvement. Also the cost might be lower than a standard gear cluster. The 5 speed Quaife was less expensive than a standard new 4 speed a few years back (10 already?) when gathering parts for the 1360 engine.
Glen
1st 1:2.46
2nd 1:1.61
3rd 1:1.34
4th 1:1.075
5th 1:1
The 4th gear at just a 7% drop from top was likely racing inspired, as that was what Rod Quaife and John Surtees wanted the 5 speed for.
Eventually they changed that 4 th gear ratio to the current
1.134, which should be a bit more useful on a road bike.
Standard Rapide and late Shadow gears are
1st- 2.60
2nd- 1.61
3rd- 1.19
4th- 1
The 1.19 third in a standard Vincent is a really good road ratio for that engine in that it pulls hard from about 60 mph to over 100 mph.
The main reason for purchasing a Quaife has to be the shifting improvement. Also the cost might be lower than a standard gear cluster. The 5 speed Quaife was less expensive than a standard new 4 speed a few years back (10 already?) when gathering parts for the 1360 engine.
Glen
