Viva La Vincent
Viva la Vincent
OUT OF THE SHADOWS, A BRITISH V-TWIN BUILT IN THE USA
DON’T LOOK NOW, BUT YOU CAN add the legendary Vincent name to the growing list of retro-bikes.
Headed by Eagle One car-care empressario Bernard Li, Black Eagle Motorcycles, based in Southern California, is set to sell an updated, made-in-America version of the classic 1950s British road burner. Currently, a prototype is being developed, with a production run of 2000 units tentatively scheduled for late 1994.
Li, 47, and a long-time bike enthusiast, was inspired to build a neo-Vincent by some of his Harley-riding friends.
“It’s not so much that they wanted a Harley-Davidson, it’s just that Harley made the closest thing to what they wanted,” Li says. “And what they wanted was a Vincent Black Shadow with decent brakes.”
Asked for details about the ’94 Vincent, Li says it will be powered by a five-speed, belt-drive, 1500cc VTwin of modem design, putting out 80 horsepower, to be built by an experienced-but-undisclosed manufacturing concern in the U.S. Singleand dualshock frame designs are being considered. Disc brakes will be standard. Expected retail price is between $10,000 and $15,000.
Li, who built Eagle One into a multimillion-dollar-a-year business, stresses that while some details remain to be worked out, he is optimistic that this new Vincent will make it to market. He would like to hear from riders interested in buying just such a machine, and can be reached at 2231 Faraday Avenue, Suite 101, Carlsbad, CA 92008.
“This bike will have a raw, elemental appeal,” Li says. “It will be a badass V-Twin; the bike your momma was always afraid of.”
David Edwards
