I was thinking about my Vincents as I read an article on riding a Rapide in the latest issue of Motorcycle Classics. I have owned two of them, one was a Comet 500 and the other was a Norvin project.
I imported the Comet from England and it took almost two months to get to me in New Mexico. It was a really cool little bike, the amount of detail put into even the small Comets was amazing. I rode it for a while and it did take some getting used to. It handled a bit differently and felt hinged in the middle. I would love to have it still.
The other bike was a Norvin project, someone had taken a Rapide engine and cut the transmission off. I guess it made sense to whoever it was to mess up a classic engine and run it with a BSA gearbox ?? It was installed in a Norton Featherbed frame with Roadholder forks. The engine looked pretty good and I think it was rebuilt. If the engine had not been cut I would have kept it but as it was I sold it on.
I really would like a Rapide before it is all over, big money so we will see.
