{"id":7894,"date":"2020-10-14T08:35:53","date_gmt":"2020-10-14T08:35:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/?p=7894"},"modified":"2020-10-14T08:44:27","modified_gmt":"2020-10-14T08:44:27","slug":"vincent-black-shadow-the-most-desirable-bike-in-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/vincent-black-shadow-the-most-desirable-bike-in-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Vincent Black Shadow &#8211; The Most Desirable Bike in the World?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and that\u2019s as applicable to motoring as it is to art, music or indeed, other people. But few can argue that this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/cat\/15\/647\/\">Vincent Black Shadow<\/a>, recently sold in a Car &amp; Classic auction for \u00a375,000 and the highest price so far, is anything but stunning. It&#8217;s not only a wonderful creation in its own right, but it has been looked after throughout its life which, if it were human, would have seen it retiring five years ago and spending its time gardening and secretly feeding grandchildren sweets when their parents weren\u2019t looking.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-7898\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8139-800x533.jpeg\" alt=\"Vincent, Vincent Black Shadow, Black Shadow, motorbike, motorcyce, classic motorcycle, classic motorbike, carandclassic.co.uk, car and classic, car and classic auctions, motoring, automotive, bike, motorbike,\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8139-800x533.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8139-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8139-2000x1333.jpeg 2000w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8139-765x510.jpeg 765w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8139-1020x680.jpeg 1020w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8139-1800x1200.jpeg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vincent, as a brand, has a wonderful heritage, conceived during the pioneering years of aviation. Its story began in 1924 when former WW1 Royal Flying Corps pilot, Howard Raymond Davies, formed motorcycle manufacturer HRD Motors. Davies had been shot down in 1917 and was held prisoner until the end of hostilities and during that time, he formulated the basis of the motorcycles he would produce.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While his bikes did well in racing, the company didn&#8217;t do so well in business and in 1928, it went into liquidation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-7899\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8163-800x533.jpeg\" alt=\"Vincent, Vincent Black Shadow, Black Shadow, motorbike, motorcyce, classic motorcycle, classic motorbike, carandclassic.co.uk, car and classic, car and classic auctions, motoring, automotive, bike, motorbike,\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8163-800x533.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8163-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8163-2000x1333.jpeg 2000w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8163-765x510.jpeg 765w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8163-1020x680.jpeg 1020w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8163-1800x1200.jpeg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enter young engineer Phil Vincent, who was looking for a way to start producing his own brand of motorcycles, having already built one and patented a new form of rear suspension. He bought the rights to the HRD name, its designs, jigs and all remaining hardware and formed HRD Vincent, re-locating the company to Stevenage, Hertfordshire.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1931, Phil Irving joined HRD Vincent and, along with original HRD engineer EJ Massey, they set about revolutionising motorcycling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Original models used a variety of engines, from JA Prestwich (JAP) and Villiers with varying (read average to disastrous) degrees of success and it wasn\u2019t long before Irving decided they needed to manufacture their own powerplant. The result was a 499cc single-cylinder motor which was used in the early Meteor and Comet bikes. Then, in 1936, Irving came up with the idea of effectively joining two of these single-cylinder engines together to form a V-twin, giving an improvement in performance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-7896\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8142-800x533.jpeg\" alt=\"Vincent, Vincent Black Shadow, Black Shadow, motorbike, motorcyce, classic motorcycle, classic motorbike, carandclassic.co.uk, car and classic, car and classic auctions, motoring, automotive, bike, motorbike,\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8142-800x533.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8142-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8142-2000x1333.jpeg 2000w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8142-765x510.jpeg 765w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8142-1020x680.jpeg 1020w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8142-1800x1200.jpeg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first bike fitted with the V-twin was the Series-A Rapide that used a host of innovative features, including the cantilever suspension.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the outbreak of the Second World War, production shifted from motorcycles to munitions, though Vincent engines were also put to use in a variety of applications.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following the end of the war, production resumed with the introduction of the Series-B Rapide. This was a far more developed motorcycle, with a unit construction (engine and transmission sharing the same casing) which allowed it to become a stressed member and the motorcycle as a whole to be stiffer and lighter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-7895\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8167-800x533.jpeg\" alt=\"Vincent, Vincent Black Shadow, Black Shadow, motorbike, motorcyce, classic motorcycle, classic motorbike, carandclassic.co.uk, car and classic, car and classic auctions, motoring, automotive, bike, motorbike,\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8167-800x533.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8167-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8167-2000x1333.jpeg 2000w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8167-765x510.jpeg 765w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8167-1020x680.jpeg 1020w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8167-1800x1200.jpeg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two years later, the Series-C Rapide was introduced, using Vincent and Irving\u2019s front-suspension girder forks but for the first time, with hydraulic damping. Like the Series B, it was offered in two states of tune; the 45bhp Rapide or the 55bhp Black Shadow. A racing version of the Black Shadow, the Black Lightning, went on to set the land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1948 with racer Rollie Free riding, lying on the seat and wearing only swimming trunks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By this point, bikes were being exported to the USA and to avoid confusion with the domestic Harley-Davison (HD) brand, the HRD was dropped and the bikes were known just as the Vincent. The final version, the Series D, was launched in 1954.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By the mid 1950s, sales were beginning to slow and the company looked to diversify, with three-wheelers and a return to aviation, this time developing the Picador, a version of the 998cc V-twin for aeronautical use. Unfortunately, the airframe the engine was destined for never made it off the ground and in 1955, the company produced its last motorcycle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-7901\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8191-800x533.jpeg\" alt=\"Vincent, Vincent Black Shadow, Black Shadow, motorbike, motorcyce, classic motorcycle, classic motorbike, carandclassic.co.uk, car and classic, car and classic auctions, motoring, automotive, bike, motorbike,\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8191-800x533.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8191-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8191-2000x1333.jpeg 2000w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8191-765x510.jpeg 765w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8191-1020x680.jpeg 1020w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8191-1800x1200.jpeg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It tried several other ventures but went into liquidation in 1959. The Vincent name continued in the world of motorcycling though, as various engines were used in Norton frames to create the NorVin specials and in 1996, three bike fans developed the RTV range of bikes, using engines based on Irving\u2019s original design. Sadly, this company ceased trading in 1998 but later that year, Bernard Lii, who had acquired the trademark in 1994, launched Vincent Motors USA, to develop and build bikes based around the Honda V-twin engine. Tragically, he was killed in a motorcycle accident and this project ended.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The final time the name was seen was on the Irving Vincent, a modern bike re-engineered from Irving\u2019s design and produced by the Horner brothers \u2013 Ken and Barry \u2013 in Australia and using the name with the blessing of Irving\u2019s widow, Edith.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-7903\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8137-800x533.jpeg\" alt=\"Vincent, Vincent Black Shadow, Black Shadow, motorbike, motorcyce, classic motorcycle, classic motorbike, carandclassic.co.uk, car and classic, car and classic auctions, motoring, automotive, bike, motorbike,\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8137-800x533.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8137-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8137-2000x1333.jpeg 2000w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8137-765x510.jpeg 765w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8137-1020x680.jpeg 1020w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8137-1800x1200.jpeg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #036300;\">The Vincent Black Shadow<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s far more to the Black Shadow than simply a higher-performance variant of the Rapide. The company already had \u2018The world\u2019s fastest production motorcycle\u2019 with the Rapide, which could hit 110mph but both Phils \u2013 Vincent and Irving \u2013 felt that increased performance would pave the way for a whole new generation of tuners and racers. However, Vincent MD Frank Walker disagreed, refusing to sanction development, so Irving and George Brown built two bikes in secret.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The new bike was introduced to the press at the Earl\u2019s Court motor show in 1948 and was an instant success. Motor Cycling magazine tested it at 122mph and in 1949, The Motor Cycle gave it 99 out of 100 because; \u201cnothing, it is said, is perfect\u201d. It went on to set the record for the fastest production bike, at 125mph.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The number of bikes has been the subject of some debate but 1774 seems to be the most accepted figure, ensuring a degree of exclusivity for the model. It followed the general developments of the Series B, C and D Rapides but featured black-enamelled cases on its blueprinted engine to distinguish it from the more mundane models in the range.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At a time when British motorcycle engineering was the best in the world, the hand-built Black Shadow was the best of the best and it developed a loyal and passionate fanbase. Many feel it was the first \u2018superbike\u2019, blending performance with handling and practicality and, with its combination of black panels and chrome embellishments, it is a stunning machine to look at, as well as ride.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-7897\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8132-800x533.jpeg\" alt=\"Vincent, Vincent Black Shadow, Black Shadow, motorbike, motorcyce, classic motorcycle, classic motorbike, carandclassic.co.uk, car and classic, car and classic auctions, motoring, automotive, bike, motorbike,\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8132-800x533.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8132-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8132-2000x1333.jpeg 2000w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8132-765x510.jpeg 765w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8132-1020x680.jpeg 1020w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8132-1800x1200.jpeg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was stacked full of design features that were way ahead of their time; the rear wheel was reversible and had drive-cogs fixed to either side with a different number of teeth, so that it could be swapped if the bike was being used in mountainous terrain or with a sidecar, for example. The front girder forks were far stiffer than the normal telescopic versions and hydraulic damping gave a surprisingly good ride. The single instrument had a large, circular speedometer that read to 150mph and the bike was adjustable to fit any rider; foot pedals and seat position, for example, could be altered to suit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #036300;\">Famous Fans<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s not surprising that the Black Shadow found favour with the great and the good. Hunter S Thompson was a fan, mentioning his bike several times in <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and renowned car and bike aficionado, Jay Leno, owned ten Vincents at one time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Black Shadow was also on the big and the small screen; it made appearances in ITV\u2019s <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inspector Morse<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the 1965 spoof spy movie, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Intelligence Men<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, starring British comedy legends Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise. Fully-faired examples were also ridden by the Thought Police in a 1957 adaptation of George Orwell\u2019s <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1984<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and presenter Richard Hammond rode one in BBC <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Top Gear\u2019s<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Race to the North, pitting the then-fastest Bike in the World against the Fastest Car in the World, the Jaguar XK120 and a steam locomotive.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #036300;\">This Example<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-7902\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8151-800x533.jpeg\" alt=\"Vincent, Vincent Black Shadow, Black Shadow, motorbike, motorcyce, classic motorcycle, classic motorbike, carandclassic.co.uk, car and classic, car and classic auctions, motoring, automotive, bike, motorbike,\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8151-800x533.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8151-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8151-2000x1333.jpeg 2000w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8151-765x510.jpeg 765w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8151-1020x680.jpeg 1020w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8151-1800x1200.jpeg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The bike that recently sold on the Car &amp; Classic auction was an excellent example of a Series-C Black Shadow. Sold originally in 1950 by Jordan\u2019s of Hull, one of the north\u2019s most renowned motorcycle dealers, its provenance was confirmed by the esteemed Vincent Owners\u2019 Club (VOC) and was presented with a host of original paperwork, including log books, works order, completion note and a certificate of authenticity from the VOC.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both cosmetically and mechanically, the bike was in excellent condition. Its paint was delightful and it started and ran perfectly \u2013 a testament to not only the care it has experienced over its 70 years but also the quality of the original design and engineering. It rightly wears its \u2018Made in England\u2019 markings with great pride.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was also clearly desirable. The opening bid was significant and increased in large values, until the \u00a375,000 sale price was reached.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #036300;\">So why was this one worth so much?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Something is only worth what someone else will pay for it (unless you&#8217;re an insurance underwriter, then it&#8217;s worth around 30% of what everyone else thinks) and the fact that this bike achieved \u00a375,000 in the middle of a global pandemic is a clear demonstration of its desirability.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Black Shadow is a truly iconic motorcycle; it was the fastest production bike in the world at the time \u2013 in fact, right up until 1973. It rode as well as it went. It was beautifully engineered with the kind of innovation that made British engineers revered around the world. It was born from the ashes of WW2 by engineers that had helped to win the war for the allies. It was the kind of bike that you could imagine parked on an airfield in Kent, waiting for its Spitfire-pilot owner to return from a sortie and head to the pub on it. There were only 1774 of them made and nine people wanted this one when it came up for auction. However, only one could have it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-7900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8200-800x533.jpeg\" alt=\"Vincent, Vincent Black Shadow, Black Shadow, motorbike, motorcyce, classic motorcycle, classic motorbike, carandclassic.co.uk, car and classic, car and classic auctions, motoring, automotive, bike, motorbike,\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8200-800x533.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8200-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8200-2000x1333.jpeg 2000w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8200-765x510.jpeg 765w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8200-1020x680.jpeg 1020w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_8200-1800x1200.jpeg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Placing a pre-auction value on a bike like this, with such general as well as specific provenance, is always difficult and verges on impossible. Various auction houses around the world range from US$60,000 to $100,000, depending on condition but arguably, the purest way to determine the value of an object like this is to place it at auction. And while to many, \u00a375,000 is an awful lot of money, both the seller and the new owner can attest that it is an awful lot of motorcycle with an awful lot of heritage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In fact, to the buyer, it&#8217;s a bargain. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and that\u2019s as applicable to motoring as it is to art, music or indeed, other people. But few can&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":7902,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"categories":[792],"tags":[15,1647,2372,963,2117,13,1880,1629,794,2373,14,2370,2371],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.10 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Vincent Black Shadow - The Most Desirable Bike in the World?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A 1950 Vincent Black Shadow recently set the record for an auction on Car &amp; Classic \u2013 \u00a375,000. 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