Any gearhead would appreciate the British Vincent Black Lightning motorcycle, made from 1948-1952. They were magnificent machines, 1000cc (61cu/in) of fire-breathing fury which would give some super bikes a run for their money even today. Looking part boxer, part ballerina, part weightlifter and part steam locomotive, Lightnings were strictly for racing so very few were made. They had no kick starter, no mufflers, no lights, no side stands, no speedo. The street-going version was the slightly slower Black Shadow, which had 100 more pounds, 25 fewer horsepower, and a "Bonniksen Isochronous Speedometer" which required 6 years of college to understand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnaugYA ... motofuruta
The Lightning was the fastest motorcycle of its day, setting numerous Bonneville land speed records which were far beyond any other bikes' capabilities in those years.
One of the most-famous motorcycle pictures of all times shows a Black Lightning being ridden to a world speed record on the Great Salt Lake in 1948 under Rollie Free. To give the bike the opportunity to go as fast as possible, Free stripped off all his leathers (which the Vincent had shredded during earlier runs), took the saddle off the bike and laid down across the rear fender. Wearing only tennis shoes, bathing trunks and a required helmet, Rolly Free rode his Vincent to the new motorcycle world speed record of 158mph, breaking his own prior record of 153mph.
The bike inspired this song, sung by Red Molly. I enjoy the dobro and the three-way love story; boy loves girl, girl loves boy, boy loves Vincent.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlumFUw ... dMollyBand
Like the song says, "now Nortons and Indians and Greeves won't do; they don't have a soul like a Vincent '52". I also like the reference to "angels on [1000cc Square Four] Aerials in leather and chrome, swooping down from heaven to carry (him) home".
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