Welcome to new Forum Website member, Dogmanwal

[Vincent H.R.D. Owners Club]

@Dogmanwal - welcome to the online Forum Website of the Vincent H.R.D. Owners Club Forum Website.

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[Dogmanwal]

An elderly friend of mine now passed used to tell me that he was a test rider for Vincent’s, he said he rode on the 100,000 mile test that was done on a Vincent, do you have any details or articles on this test? And any details of the riders? My friend was named James Reagan, not certain of the spelling,

I’ve done a search on Google and there is mention of the test but nothing about the riders.

Thanks in anticipation

Walt

 

[Simon Dinsdale]

I have a list of the standard Vincent factory test riders and cannot find anybody with name James Reagan or anything close. The 100,000 bike was roadtested for a total of 50 miles by Jim Sugg who was employed at Vincent as a tester and then was shipped out to a dealer in Liverpool called Reynolds.

I believe the actual 100,000 mile test was done by Tony Rose who was a private detective and he owned the bike at the time. It was not the factory exercise, they just serviced the bike in preparation.

That is as much as I know.
Simon

 

[Simon Dinsdale]

Just found this article on the internet about the 100,000 mile test and it shows Tony Rose on the bike with Jim Redman in the sidecar. Could Jim Redman be James Regan? Its just over half way down the page:

Roadburners to torque about! | Classic Bike Hub

Pete Kelly buries himself in the Mortons Motorcycle Archive to learn how the road testers of old viewed the lusty performances of the 998cc Vincent Black Sh ...

www.classicbikehub.uk

 

[Dogmanwal]

I have a list of the standard Vincent factory test riders and cannot find anybody with name James Reagan or anything close. The 100,000 bike was roadtested for a total of 50 miles by Jim Sugg who was employed at Vincent as a tester and then was shipped out to a dealer in Liverpool called Reynolds.

I believe the actual 100,000 mile test was done by Tony Rose who was a private detective and he owned the bike at the time. It was not the factory exercise, they just serviced the bike in preparation.

That is as much as I know.
Simon

Thank you, Jim Reagan was from Liverpool so maybe a connection with Tony Rose, maybe more will come to light

 

[Dogmanwal]

Just found this article on the internet about the 100,000 mile test and it shows Tony Rose on the bike with Jim Redman in the sidecar. Could Jim Redman be James Regan? Its just over half way down the page:

Roadburners to torque about! | Classic Bike Hub

Pete Kelly buries himself in the Mortons Motorcycle Archive to learn how the road testers of old viewed the lusty performances of the 998cc Vincent Black Sh ...

www.classicbikehub.uk

Just had a look at that photo and there is a likeness with Jim Reagan.

 

[Dogmanwal]

Just had a look at that photo and there is a likeness with Jim Reagan.

I’ve sent the photo to another friend of Jim’s, he also thinks that it is Jim Reagan,
jim was an engineer and he had studied with the Vincent founder. Said he was a brilliant engineer, but not a business man. Regards wal

 

[ericg]

I have a list of the standard Vincent factory test riders and cannot find anybody with name James Reagan or anything close. The 100,000 bike was roadtested for a total of 50 miles by Jim Sugg who was employed at Vincent as a tester and then was shipped out to a dealer in Liverpool called Reynolds.

I believe the actual 100,000 mile test was done by Tony Rose who was a private detective and he owned the bike at the time. It was not the factory exercise, they just serviced the bike in preparation.

That is as much as I know.
Simon

My Norvin's engine was a part of Rapide sold by Reynolds of Liverpool back in '51.
Were they a big Vincent dealer? How many machine sold through the dealership?

 

[Simon Dinsdale]

My Norvin's engine was a part of Rapide sold by Reynolds of Liverpool back in '51.
Were they a big Vincent dealer? How many machine sold through the dealership?

Reynolds sold at least 265 brand new Vincent's so one of the larger UK dealerships.

 

[Dogmanwal]

I’ve sent the photo to another friend of Jim’s, he also thinks that it is Jim Reagan,
jim was an engineer and he had studied with the Vincent founder. Said he was a brilliant engineer, but not a business man. Regards wal

Does anyone have a link to the article about Tony Rose and the 100.000 miles ride? There may be a mention of Jim in one of them.