Want to buy my first Vincent, a project Comet

[Martyn Goodwin]

Lino is in Portugal so UK registration is not important to him. If you hear of another at that sort of price it may work out worthwhile to ship it. The potential problem with buying long distance is that he may get a poorly described bike like the overpriced, cosmetically good, mechanically bad, bike that Martyn describes.

I knew I was taking a risk BUT I had a number of long telephone conversations with the seller and he sent me lots of photo's. Everything he told me and sent me was accurate. He had last ridden the bike in 1983. After that, during the 1980's and 90's the seller had paid "specialist firms" in the UK to do the restoration work on all of the bikes cycle parts, mechanicals and electrics.

When I received the bike I pulled the head off and could see that all of the top end was brand new as was the piston so I just put it back together and rode the bike. MISTAKE - it was all new but the workmanship was so shoddy that a complete top end rebuild was required after less than 500 miles. Likewise at around 3,000 miles the big end failed, due to a crap rebuild in the past - in there I found what should have been an almost brand new ALPA crank pin that seemed to be missing almost 30% of its rollers.

I figure the guy who sold me the bike had been an innocent victim of shonky repairers.

I now beleive with ANY old bike one buys that irrespective of appearances, irrespective of history, documented or not, a complete mechanical strip and rebuild is essential BEFORE you try riding it. And for a Vincent this may mean you need to budget around US$20,000 if you cannot do the work yourself. If however you are a dab hand with the tools and only need to pay for specialist work - like pin boring of the conrod; reassembly, alignment and balance of the crank and such like you can easily cut that cost in half.

Martyn

 

[headcreeps]

Thanks to everyone for all the input and sound advice so far.

I feel that a little background information is in order. I’m in the automotive repair industry (cars only) and my workshop performs engine and gearbox rebuilds regularly, so I have easy access to tools, experienced mechanics for brain picking, along with connections to painters, chrome plating, etc. Of course, modern cars are worlds apart from 1950s Vincents and I do expect some complications down the line.

I’m positive I can take care of the vast majority of the rebuild including engine/gearbox, although some things, balancing the crank like MartynG pointed out, will have to be handed over to a specialist. The work hours I’ll put in I’m not factoring in as a € cost, that’s part of the fun.

The main difficulty is finding the right bike. Something which has all or most of the parts but is not running/needs complete overhaul, or something in slightly better condition than that. Could even be something like this… one picture is very deceiving particularly one of such low resolution where you can hardly make out the components, but I’m just trying to get the idea across.
http://www.motorstown.com/images/vincent-comet-07.jpg

If this proves to be difficult to find, I might have to spend more for something in running condition, although I do tend to agree with MartynG’s opinion that even something represented as being in good condition should be stripped down and rebuilt to avoid the unpleasant and expensive experience he went through.

 

[Martyn Goodwin]

Remember, it will almost cost the same to restore/rebuild a twin as a single. Beyond the passion, you also need to consider the project in terms of an investment.

Martyn

 

[b'knighted]

Remember, it will almost cost the same to restore/rebuild a twin as a single. Beyond the passion, you also need to consider the project in terms of an investment.

Martyn

I don't entirely agree. You are right about the similarity in cost but I wholeheartedly disagree with considering as an investment.

Lino wants a bike to ride. If he buys a modern bike or car it will depreciate. The chances are that whatever he puts into The Bank of Vincent will repay him more than mere money. He may apparently pay over the odds but as someone on this forum once pointed out, he wouldn't have paid too much, just paid it too early.
These machines were built to be enjoyed not to be treated as investments.
If Lino gets it right, whatever he spends will pay non-cash dividends during his ownership, and may well recoup more cash than other vehicle purchases for whoever his will bequeaths it to.
If you look at the acquisition as an investment you can't thoroughly thrash (non-Cleese style) the machine as its makers intended. You may even be unwilling to risk it on public roads.
Our section's newest Vincent rider's partner, who also rides, said she won't ride the Rapide as it's too valuable. I pointed out that last time I threw the Knight up the road, on ice, it cost me some scratches, a mirror, a screen and a gearlever. Mirror and screen from my stock meant it cost £43 and about three days off the road. The scratches may one day polish out. When her partner threw his modern Triumph up the road, again on ice, it was written off.

 

[Martyn Goodwin]

I don't entirely agree. You are right about the similarity in cost but I wholeheartedly disagree with considering as an investment.

Lino wants a bike to ride. If he buys a modern bike or car it will depreciate. The chances are that whatever he puts into The Bank of Vincent will repay him more than mere money. He may apparently pay over the odds but as someone on this forum once pointed out, he wouldn't have paid too much, just paid it too early.
These machines were built to be enjoyed not to be treated as investments.
If Lino gets it right, whatever he spends will pay non-cash dividends during his ownership, and may well recoup more cash than other vehicle purchases for whoever his will bequeaths it to.
If you look at the acquisition as an investment you can't thoroughly thrash (non-Cleese style) the machine as its makers intended. You may even be unwilling to risk it on public roads.
Our section's newest Vincent rider's partner, who also rides, said she won't ride the Rapide as it's too valuable. I pointed out that last time I threw the Knight up the road, on ice, it cost me some scratches, a mirror, a screen and a gearlever. Mirror and screen from my stock meant it cost £43 and about three days off the road. The scratches may one day polish out. When her partner threw his modern Triumph up the road, again on ice, it was written off.

I think you have misunderstood me Ian. The point I was making is that if you start out with a basket case the total cost, excluding your own labour, of a twin vis. a single, once restored , is not that much different, but with a twin you end up with a bike that is worth a whole lot more. Thus Lino should not restrict his "search" to singles only.Martyn

 

[headcreeps]

All things being equal, twins are two maybe three times more expensive than singles.
Although I understand what you mean regarding restoration costs, my budget allows only for a single - if I’m lucky to find one - and that’s what I’m focused on.

 

[b'knighted]

I think you have misunderstood me Ian. The point I was making is that if you start out with a basket case the total cost, excluding your own labour, of a twin vis. a single, once restored , is not that much different, but with a twin you end up with a bike that is worth a whole lot more. Thus Lino should not restrict his "search" to singles only.Martyn

I do apolgise Martyn. You are correct - I had totally misunderstood you. It was the word "investment" that triggered my rant. I know that you have poured time, effert and cash into making your bike fit to ride. For your money you have got a whole lot more than just the bike by being a member of our collective of enthusiasts, we've gained something from it as well.
My rant is related to the fact that affordable riding bikes are getting scarcer as the investors drive the prices up by demanding profits in their selling prices. Sadly we all have to do that if the selling price is going towards a Vincent upgrade. For the most part once I get my grubby hands on a bike it is intended to stay with me until I don't know what it is. Then my carers can pass it on, hopefully to someone who will ride it. I do accept that they may need funds from it to pay for my care but that will not be why it was bought.

In Lino's case, if a Comet is hard to find for the funds available, a basket price twin is an even less likely to turn up.

 

[greg brillus]

I reckon watching John Cleese flog the cr-p out of a Vincent with a branch off a tree would be absolutely priceless......only difference is the Vincent wouldn't let him down like the old Austin.....would it..!!..??

 

[Monkeypants]

Another thing to keep in mind is the type of riding you plan to do. A group of us did a big trip this summer, 3,000 miles in about ten days. The speed limit in most areas was 70 mph and traffic was moving faster than that. There were lots of big grades and passes to go over, one at 11,000 ft and others not much lower. Aside from my weight, about 250-260 lbs with gear on, the bike was carrying luggage, gear, tools and spares for a ten day trip. I would not have wanted to do that trip with very much less power than the twin has. At times it would have been nice to have a bit more on tap.
On the other hand, if the roads Lino travels are more like the A&B roads in the UK, then a 500 single would be quite adequate, especially if ridden solo.
Glen