Prairiehammer

Yeah, we've done the "Rollie Free" pic before, but the Supercharged Black Lightning I posted is NOT the same bike that Rollie rode in the swimsuit pic. His bike was not supercharged or faired. The story behind the one I posted: Read more: http://www.way2speed.com/#ixzz2yawCzs1D Credit our work when you share Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Share Alike Follow us: @melwindaniel on Twitter | way2speed on Facebook Britain’s most charismatic manufacturer, Vincent, began production in 1928 and built several hundred machines a year until 1955, when – to universal disappointment – the company went out of business. They were very much in their prime after WWII when they introduced what became the most frequent choice of machine for the Blue Riband of Motorcycling, the 1000cc Black Lightning. In the late 1940s, American rider and former Indian racer Rollie Free had gained the World Speed Record for Unstreamlined Motorcycles at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA, on a modified Vincent. Famously, the last few mph had proven elusive until Free stripped down to his bathing trunks, whereupon he thundered through the traps at a mean magical two-way average speed of 150.31 mph. This achievement prompted Vincent to introduce the Black Lightning model, incorporating a similar engine specification, of which barely 30 examples were ever produced, a machine that is today regarded as the Holy Grail of post war motorcycles. Traditionally, by its very nature, Record Breaking is the most demanding of arenas, with few true contestants. In 1949 however The Motor Cycle, Britain’s leading 2-wheel publication, offered a Trophy, plus a generous £500 prize [more than the price of a new ’Lightning, already the country’s most expensive bike!] for the first successful all-British attempt on the absolute World Speed Record, held since 1937 by BMW at 173.54 mph. In the same year Reg Dearden, a popular high profile motorcycle dealer at Chorlton-cum-Hardy [Manchester], purchased a Black Lightning expressly for the purpose, direct from the factory. He returned the bike to Stevenage early in 1950 to have a purpose-built supercharger fitted, together with other extensive modifications. This included strengthening and lengthening the main frame by about 6 inches. The work was undertaken under the personal supervision of Phil Vincent, MD, and took several months to complete. Public appearances of the Vincent, thereafter, were infrequent, and while NSU upped the Speed Record to 180.29 mph in 1951, the modified Vincent lay dormant. In 1953 it was announced the intended rider for the Record attempt would be 500cc World Champion Les Graham, but tragically he was fatally injured in the 1953 Senior TT, causing yet another reduction in enthusiasm for the Record Breaking project. The setting by NSU, in 1956, of a new Speed record at Bonneville, at 211.40 mph, seemed to rekindle Dearden’s interest, for it was reported he would now fly the bike to the Salt Flats in his own Cessna aeroplane, for one last serious attempt. Yet again it came to nought when the CAA refused to certify the aircraft for this type of transportation. The Vincent thus stayed unused and neglected at Dearden’s premises over the next decade until sold to a friend of his, Eric Biddle, in 1970. Biddle never used the machine, eventually selling it to Michael Manning, a scientist, who lived in Pennsylvania, USA. Manning took it to a Vincent Owners Club Rally in Canada, in 1977, where it was allegedly started but not ridden, and after returning to his home in Philadelphia it again remained in storage until acquired by the present owner, a Texan collector, in 1987. An aficionado for the Stevenage product who has had a lifelong association with Vincents, the owner was struck by the obvious originality of the Reardon Supercharged Vincent, following a gentle re-commission of the bike. He has started the bike on several occasions, confirming the racket emitted by those huge open pipes resembles no other. In 1999 well-known UK photojournalist Mick Duckworth sampled the Vincent on a remote Texas highway for a 7-page feature in Classic Bike. Reaching a speed close to 100 mph in bottom gear he bravely engaged second, at which point he remembered precisely what a precious artefact he was riding. Happily the test ride concluded safely, with the owner saying, “You’ve probably ridden this further than anyone in living memory!” Today this extraordinary Black Lightning reposes in all its visual potential, slightly oily, yet with original HT leads, fitted with its first-fitted OE Avon tyres, and even the factory’s black rim paint remains in place. Original low mileage ’Lightnings are rare, supercharged ’Lightnings are rarer still. This one is unique!

Yep. 1949 Vincent Supercharged. Notice I edited the photograph in the background, showing Rollie laid out on the bike for his famous swim suit run? I didn't want you or anyone else to have too many clues.

The Kestrel, 2010 by Falcon Modified alternator, aluminum, brass, brass mesh, bronze, BSA A-10 transmission, cloth, copper, glass, gold leaf, Firestone tire, iron, leather, leather rope, Loctite, nickel, paint, palladium leaf, rubber, safety wire, stainless steel, steel, Suzuki GS550 clutch, tape, Triumph generator cap, De-unitized 1970 Triumph Bonneville engine, GP carburetors, Venom Avon tire, Borrani WM1 wheel, Borrani WM2 wheel. http://www.falconmotorcycles.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/04-Falcon10-Kestrel-01.jpg

"1930 two stroke motorcycle" Google image search. Sorry, about jumping in too fast with my guess, Kurt. We got the Satan at the same time.

Can't see the engine. That should make it tough.

You Devil, You. 1930 Satan.The company of Sikyr-Rott described the Satan as a 'robust vehicle built to take account of the poor state of the Czechoslovak roads". This example has a 10hp 540cc sidevalve engine. http://www.realclassic.co.uk/placefiles/prague13082606.jpg

"1961 or there abouts"...funny. It is a 1968 Jawa 350 V4. Next? Did you notice the similarities of the Jawa engine configuration to the Villa "V4"?

OK, to keep this game moving along (and because I am impatient by nature) I will submit another bike for y'all to guess, while we await Venture83_98 next submission.

BTW, Steve. The bottom two photographs you posted are photos of a modern REPLICA. Not of the original motorcycle. Just sayin'.

Yes, sir. That is a 1982 Honda VF400F. The smallest V4 that Honda made. I didn't know that model had been made, until I found it for this game. If you can find the exact same pics that I posted when you answer, it adds to the fun (and difficulty) of this game we are playing. I've often been able to quickly identify the motorcycle presented to us for guessing, but have sometimes spent considerable time seeking the same photo that the OP showed. Keep playing, though. You guessed correctly, now you have to give us one to guess. http://cdn.mkimg.carview.co.jp/carlife/storage/1467646/plus/4d0e0d15df.jpg http://cdn.mkimg.carview.co.jp/carlife/storage/1467646/plus/d96c02fc13.jpg

I can not speak about the MAC as I have never had them, but on MAC's Catalog, MAC Performance says that their muffler is made to fit 1983-1993 Ventures. http://www.shop.macperformance.com/media/MotorCycleCatalog.pdf I do have a set of Jardines on my '83. I got those Jardines from a friend who had them mounted on his 1987 Venture. Unbolted them from his '87 and bolted them onto my '83. No problem.

Sorry, No. Close but not correct.

Van Veen OCR 1000. Dutch Wankel. Circa 1979. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8-O-7lji83s/UL6h9QqPcSI/AAAAAAAAAfk/GSORlPEvF0w/s640/Van+Veen+OCR-1000.jpg

Sorry for the discontinuity. I have been out of internet service for awhile. Try this on for size:

Danuvia SupeRetro 510i http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8mwtd4Czrfw/UKDYxnVelLI/AAAAAAAApQg/Chf1kwRhcR0/s1600/Danuvia-SupeRetro-510i+-+Modern-Cafe-Racer-.jpg

In addition to the side stand switch, consider the programming for the Ignitech. When I first installed the Ignitech, I could ride off with the kickstand down. It was a matter of programming in the correct setting. Now, with your situation of dropping 500 rpm at idle when kickstand is down, that is strange, but before I swapped out anything, I would consult with Dingy and see if there is a fluke in the Ignitech settings.

Maybe not as simple as the Fruni, but compared to today's bikes, simple.

Here's your pic. http://p1.bikepics.com/2009%5C05%5C21%5Cbikepics-1674280-full.jpg

1972 Suzuki GT750 'Water Buffalo'. My brother had one back when it was new. Forty years later (last year) he bought another. http://autolibra.com/images/suzuki-gt-750-1972-1977-10.jpg

If you are asking about the First Gen Venture weight, it depends on the year and model:

The Dunlop Elite II/491 RWL is still being made and sold. http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/tire-catalog/road/touring/491-elite-ii/ http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/6031/i/dunlop-491-elite-ii-touring-white-letter-front-tire http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/6030/i/dunlop-491-elite-ii-touring-white-letter-rear-tire

That site was built by our very own mbrood. Mike Brood.

When I picked up my '91, the exact same thing was happening. When I got it home a spritz of WD40 on the channel change buttons immediately fixed it. One of the channel change buttons was stuck down.

Let's go back to a simpler time.

Voxan Charade cafe racer.http://image.motorcyclistonline.com/f/newsandupdates/motorcycle_news/122_1010_whatever_happened_to_voxan/34684353/122_1010_14_o%2Bvoxan_motorcycle%2Bright_side_view.jpg http://www.diseno-art.com/images/Voxan_Charade.jpg http://media.onsugar.com/files/2010/09/38/4/641/6410843/db/Charade04.jpg http://avcmc.iinet.net.au/201208/images/mike_voxon.jpg