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1950
Vincent Series C Rapide |
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Engine: 998 cc OHV, air cooled,
pushrod V-twin__
Power: 45 bhp @ 5200 rpm__
Top speed: 110 mph__
Production: 1936–1955 |
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The Series -ARapide
was the first production Vincent to
receive the V-twin engine. _The
bike's frame was a version of the brazed-
lug-and-steel-tube diamond frame used
by the Comet, but lengthened to accommodate
the longer V-twin engine. The rear
suspension was based on the cantilever
system patented by Phil Vincent while
at Cambridge.
The -1948-
Series C -Rapide
differed from the Series B -primarily
in its front suspension. _By
this time Vincent believed that the
Brampton fork had outlived its value,
but they had resisted adopting the increasingly
common telescopic forks, feeling that
they
were not sufficiently rigid in torsion,
did not offer enough adjustment, -and
did not handle well when ridden hard
when a sidecar
was attached. The replacement was a
new Vincent design called the Girdraulic
fork.
The Girdraulic -fork
was similar in -principle
to the girder fork. _The
lower blade was of -forged
steel, while the upper blade was of
heat-treated alloy -(L40
or RR56) forged by the Bristol Aircraft
Company. -The
forks pivoted on spindles of ground
40 ton steel.
Long coil springs ran beside each blade
from the fork ends to eccentric members
in the bottom links. Jounce and rebound
were controlled by a center mounted
hydraulic damper.
The company discontinued use of the
HRD monogram in 1950. The logo now simply
read The Vincent. Cast parts had "Vincent"
in raised letters.
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