1953
Vincent Series C Rapide - Specifications & Review
Article Complete Info
| Articleid | 922608 |
|---|---|
| Category | Sport touring |
| Make | Vincent |
| Model | Series C Rapide |
| Year | 1953 |
Chassis, Suspension, Brakes & Wheels
| Frametype | Engine stressed member w/triangle rear |
|---|---|
| Frontbrakes | Expanding brake (drum brake). Two 7´ drums single leading |
| Frontbrakesdiameter | 178 mm (7.0 inches) |
| Frontsuspension | Girdraulic - Hydraulic dampened Girder |
| Fronttyre | 300-20 |
| Frontwheeltravel | 76 mm (3.0 inches) |
| Rearbrakes | Expanding brake (drum brake). Two 7´ drums single leading |
| Rearbrakesdiameter | 178 mm (7.0 inches) |
| Rearsuspension | Monoshock with twin spring boxes |
| Reartyre | 350-19 |
| Rearwheeltravel | 102 mm (4.0 inches) |
Engine & Transmission
| Borexstroke | 84.0 x 90.0 mm (3.3 x 3.5 inches) |
|---|---|
| Clutch | Dry Shoe with single plate servo assist |
| Compression | 6.5:1 |
| Coolingsystem | Oil & air |
| Displacement | 998.00 ccm (60.90 cubic inches) |
| Enginedetails | V2, four-stroke |
| Exhaustsystem | 2 into 1 |
| Fuelconsumption | 5.50 litres/100 km (18.2 km/l or 42.77 mpg) |
| Fuelsystem | Carburettor. Amal 276 |
| Gearbox | 4-speed |
| Greenhousegases | 127.6 CO2 g/km. (CO2 - Carbon dioxide emission) |
| Ignition | Lucas Magneto |
| Lubricationsystem | Dry sump |
| Power | 45.00 HP (32.8 kW)) @ 5300 RPM |
| Topspeed | 175.0 km/h (108.7 mph) |
| Transmissiontypefinaldrive | Chain |
| Valvespercylinder | 2 |
| Zerotoonehundred | 6.000 seconds |
Other Specifications
| Coloroptions | Black,red |
|---|---|
| Modificationscomparedtopreviousmodel | Series C had Girdraulic forks with cast aluminium blades. Series B had standard girder. |
| Starter | Kick |
Physical Measures & Capacities
| Alternateseatheight | 826 mm (32.5 inches) If adjustable, highest setting. |
|---|---|
| Dryweight | 206.0 kg (454.2 pounds) |
| Fuelcapacity | 17.00 litres (4.49 gallons) |
| Groundclearance | 152 mm (6.0 inches) |
| Overallheight | 1,080 mm (42.5 inches) |
| Overalllength | 2,172 mm (85.5 inches) |
| Overallwidth | 654 mm (25.8 inches) |
| Powerweightratio | 0.2184 HP/kg |
| Seatheight | 813 mm (32.0 inches) If adjustable, lowest setting. |
About Vincent
Country of Origin:
United Kingdom
Founder:
Philip Vincent (with engineer Phil Irving)
Best Known For:
Rapide and Black Shadow/Lightning performance twins; engineering audacity
Company History
Vincent built motorcycles that outran their era. With unitized engines as stressed members, cantilever rear suspension, and breathtaking performance, the Black Shadow and Lightning set standards in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Phil Irving’s engineering—compact, serviceable, and robust—made speed sustainable on real roads. Low volumes and rising costs ended production, but the legend grew: Vincents became talismans of ingenuity and bravery. Today they symbolize a time when radical thinking and impeccable machining could put road bikes beyond contemporary imagination, and when a British twin could feel like tomorrow parked beside yesterday.