Why doesn't some smart guy build Vincent motorcycles-made in China?

Question

Everybody wants one of these things but they are unobtainium. Twice I came thisclose to buying a basket case but some lucky b*****d got there before me with the cashier's check. They tried building them in Australia but the price is as high as a vintage one. Bernard Li tried using a Honda engine- missed the point entirely, still a beautiful bike. If just the parts could be gotten-some kind of club thing, several parts coming in the mail every month , a consortium of enthusiasts, I don't know. It's a complicated motor, perhaps a little re egineering using some Sportster parts....Anyone else interested in a group buy and how could I refine this business model- Remember there are hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts.Not in it for the money at all just highly motivated.

Answer 1

The Vincent was a great bike in its day. In 1950 the Black Shadow was the fastest vehicle you could buy, with any number of wheels.  Today it is a 'vintage' bike, and you'd really have to love them to own one and put up with the maintenance, unavailability of parts, etc. etc.  Most of the remaining examples sit on museum floors, they aren't ridden.

There have been several companies now making new Indians.  They aren't like the original Indian at all, they're just a Harley clone with fender skirts and they cost more than the house I grew up in.  I think two companies have made them and gone out of business.  I read last year about a company in England that was going to be making Nortons.  I saw a review and they didn't even LOOK like Nortons, they were just using the name.  If some company made Vincents again, it would be the same.  It would be like that Honda clubman they made a few years ago, it would look something like a Vincent, probably faster and more reliable, but made mostly in Japan and China.

The fact is that most bikes today of similar size could outrun a Vincent, beat it in any kind of race, and would last 3-4 times as long.  Not to mention you can get parts for them.  Who would want to pay $20-30k for a Vincent when you could buy a brand new perfectly good Honda for a third of that?

Answer 2

This doesn't really answer your question, but I thought you might be interested:

Several people have built this version of the Vincent out of Ironhead Sportsters:

http://www.sportster.org/tech/misc-ironh...

BTW, I think you may be mistaken about the new Indians being Harleys...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_(mot...

Answer 3

you are to into this to think logicaly, this will not be a long term profitable encounter, more like a small collectors dream. Vincent doent have a true following in the usa. I hate to say it but a harley pan head, oil leaking, work on daily would bring more interest.

Answer 4

I can't imagine anybody wanting anything made in China, especially a motorcycle..