The legend and history of Vincent Motorcycles both loom large over the motorcycling community. Upon seeing a Vincent motorcycle in the flesh for the first time, you’re instantly struck by the lines and proportions. Sure, it helps that most Vincents you’ll see now have undoubtedly been well cared for by their current custodians, but all the polishing in the world couldn’t help if it was anything less than it is.
How much do you know about the man behind the marque, though? Philip Vincent is revered today as a design genius whose insatiable search for speed was seemingly relentless, up until it wasn’t. By 1955, a Vincent Black Lightning had set a new world speed record of 185 miles per hour—but just months after that crowning achievement, the company closed shop. The man behind the myth and legend that bore his name never brought another bike to market—and eventually died in 1979, having spent the family fortune on the development of his precious motorcycles.
