My 1950 Vincent Black Shadow - with Paul Brodie

When I bought my Vincent at age 19, I was the youngest Vincent owner in BC. When I sold my Vincent 25 years later, I was still the youngest Vincent owner in BC. This is the story of that motorcycle 🤓🏁

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#vincent #blackshadow #motorcycle #fussyframebuilder

[rvanderw]

Paul, what a great journey you have taken us on! I remember meeting you at the Vincent Mara Lake Rally back in 1996. Your bike was considered exotic, one-off and well, weird and outrageous by many of the traditional Vincent crowd at the time, but your personal quest for innovation was strong. And no kickstart!... thanks for the memories.

[glenbreaks]

I got the urge to own a Vincent in 2003. I bought a Rapide from Oz, sight unseen. It ran fine but smoked a bit( no valve seals) I took the engine to John McDougall in order to have valve seals fitted. He insisted on rebuilding the entire top end and also went through the timing chest. The crank was OK as was trans and primary ( V3 clutch)
I thought that was all a bit uneccesary, however John wouldn't let it go without making everything perfect.
Here we are 55, 000 miles later with zero problems. We've done multiple big trips to Oregon, Ca., Wyoming, Alberta plus a tour of the UK including a wild lap of the IOM in 07. I think I really lucked out by taking that engine to John for valve seals.
As a young kid, I used to buy Ossa parts from Denis.

[ronsweeney]

Paul, just joined your ‘school’, you frequently compare Japanese bikes with British. Im sure that you are aware that the comparison misses a lapse of almost twenty years in design philosophy. The difference allowed the Japanese to improve and overwhelm the stagnant and the British motorcycle market. I’m 81 and have fond memories of the old bikes. As a boy my friend Geoff Baines and I spent hours in his dads back garden where he had a veritable treasure trove of old bikes. Geoffs mum called it a tip. But I clearly remember Brough superiors with Austin seven shaft drive engines adapted for side car use, black shadows and Knights and a host of other barely recognisable old marques. The only bike he had that was roadworthy was a Rudge ulster with desmodromic valve gear. We spent hours rummaging through junk that today would be priceless. Gloriously happy days for a fourteen year old. Thanks for the memories, Ron.

[andeanrider]

Older and wiser. What a journey. Thanks Paul.

[gosolobox]

My 6yo son in the background "We're not buying that guy coffee!" Lmao....

[bin_chicken]

Thanks Paul and Mitch. This is such a great of example of how sometimes, you need to get in there and start building something to learn. Even if you're afraid it might not work. Very nice work, nice bike and thanks for telling the story!

[erictaunton]

I was around in them days racing vintage with Alan demet we had a triumph t 160 yes the good days, but there was a guy racing black shadow he lived on the island he was a lawyer I think ps John was a good racer he was racing a Norton right. Anyway the factory said he would not get any more speed out of Vincent but he did top speed was162 mph old story. I have been watching all of your videos fantastic work thank you.

[stan]

In 1973, I came close to spending my $900 nest egg for a running 1950 Black Shadow. I arrived with the cash and a friend's van ready to git it. Deciding parts would be the issue, I went home and ended up building a CB750 cafe racer with Reg Curley and John Tickle parts and had a ball. Since then many bikes have taught me mechanical skills that may have been useful on that Vincent, but this video made me happier about my choice long ago. Thanks for sharing so much.

[johndeerea]

Great story, great memories, I bet a lot of sleepless nights over that project. Thanks for your journey.
Creighton in Hillsboro NH 🇺🇲

[pbombay]

That tool box in the old shop looks like like my Crappy Tire Mastercraft box circa 1985 that i still use today - great investment that was.

[markwybierala]

Thoroughly enjoyed the adventure of a fellow wrenchbender.

[ianbee]

Thank you, for coming out... allowing the rest of us to finally admit that we too, have all had (or still have) similar projects, that have bordered on the edge of embarrassment, because of their never finished state!

Great video (as always), and look forward to more work from you guys...

[Blackmatemax]

I am living the same process. It makes me feel good that I'm not crazy. Thanks for your insights. Greetings

[Hoggdoc]

Wow, I could never do a project that long. Kudos to you for sticking with it.

[frao]

The depth of mystique swirling around Vincent motorcycles is almost as fantastic as the bikes themselves. 👍🏁

[WireWeHere]

We're staring at my son's completely disassembled '94 RM125 when he asks, "What would Paul Brodie do?"

"TT-sshirt". So close.

[truethought]

Hi Paul, well you have most certainly put yourself through the mill of trial and error! If you don't first succeed, try, try again! Sometimes this is the only
way to get it right. I do admire your tenacity, you are a real tryer. Thank You again for your honest approach to life, showing the good and the bad.
When I was young, I liked the big J.A.P, 998cc OHV engines, and my friends liked the Vincent, telling me that it was far better, but thanks to You,
I now know I was right.

[hughferrier]

Interesting story. Wish you had kept it. Thanks for sharing.

[justinlantz]

Awesome! Thank you so much for sharing your life, Paul.

[Metal-Possum]

Moral of the story, if your friends don't have useful machinery, they're not friends worth keeping. ;)