Vincent Black Shadow was the world's fastest standard motorcycle until 1972 when Kawasaki Z1 900 was presented (Vincent Black Lightning was even faster ....). If you want a motorcycle from the 40's or 50's that can be used in today's traffic with good comfort, performance and reliability even on long trips, then probably Vincent is one of the better choices. Every spare part is still available.

Front Frame Member comes from a Vincent Series C Rapide 1000 cc of 1952 and was purchased from Laggan's Motor in Lerum 1969-08-16. Rear Frame Member is from Vincent Comet 1951. The motorcycle is registered as a 1000 Vincent Rapide 1951. According the front frame number correct model year should be 1952. The original Rapide was imported to Sweden by the importer, Motor Company Malte Blohm in Gothenburg and was delivered April 22, 1952 to a customer in Örebro County with reg.no. T 12152. Between 1953 and 1963, five different owners in the Karlstad area owned it and it had reg.no. S 1326. In 1964 it came to Laggan's Motor in Lerum and was scrapped.

The most characteristic difference between Series C and Series B was the new Girdraulic forged aluminum front fork.

The engine is a Vincent Series D Black Shadow from 1955. This was the last year of Vincent production and most of the models were now almost totally enclosed in plastic panels. Black Shadow was technically quite similar to Rapide, but was tuned another 10 hp and was more carefully built (the parts with the best fit was reserved for Black Shadow). The main difference between the Series C and Series D engines was that the magnet now was replaced by battery ignition with ignition coils. Typically, these Black Shadow engines were painted black, but not this. Although a very small number (only 15 ) Vincent "White Shadow" was built with unpainted engines in Black Shadow specs, this is not the reason why this engine is blank. This engine was specially commissioned as a loose engine to be built into a sidecar racing bike. It was imported by a Swedish air force pilot, but he crashed with his SAAB A32 Lansen jet before he could build his sidecar racing bike. Soren Skoog bought 1978-12-30 the then still unused engine from the pilot's heir. As the engine was not designed to be mounted in a standard frame it had the shorter cylinder head bolts. These were exchanged for the standard to allow for bolting the brackets between the cylinder head and frame.

Since the builder had a whole store full of Vincent parts and solid experience, he could choose the components that he knew worked best. This is why it is not built strictly as an original Black Shadow. Everything has been modified to produce a capable touring bike. What differs from the original are:

12 volts electrical system with Italian Marelli alternator (purchased from Fritz Egli). An electric starter is hidden on the underside of the engine. The kickstarter remains as reserve. 7" headlamp with H4 halogen bulb. Modern high power ignition coil.

Carburetors are modified with float bowl extensions and K&N air filter. Also the manifolds are modified.

The multi-plate clutch is specially built of parts from Vincent and Triumph.

The wheels are built with rims from the Touring-version, that are 1" less than normal, 19" front and 18" rear. This was done to make it easier to find good tires for the machine.

Front fork has been improved with some stainless steel parts and nylon / graphite coated bushings. Slightly softer springs in the fork.

The speedometer is the type Black Shadow 5" Smiths who was reset to zero to match the new engine's mileage. During a trip to Norway the speedometer wire was broken, so the odometer today reads about. 2000 km (1250 miles) less than actual distance . Graded in km/h.

Additional equipment consists of side bags, top box, windshield, clock, turn signals, mirrors and a crash bar with position light.

1980-04-21 the bike had resurfaced in this new guise, and was without remarks inspected at the local MOT station.