1950 Vincent EGLI 'Type' Rapide

Swiss born engineer, Fritz Egli, opened his workshop in 1965 following a successful career as a motorcycle racer. He started to design and build frames, initially in an attempt to improve the handing of his Vincent Black Shadow and thus the Egli-Vincent was born. Using a similar design to the original Vincent UFM (upper frame member) but incorporating a large welded spine tube rather than a bolted box-section, his frame was lighter, more rigid and consequently stronger than the original. This, coupled with improvements in the suspension, swing arm and brakes, produced a bike that could really handle the powerful Vincent V Twin engine.

Egli produced around 150 Vincent frames themselves but also licensed the design to a number of ‘official’ manufacturers, who continue to produce motorcycles to the same design today, in addition to a number of other engineers that have built frames and specials based on a similar design.

This is the second of two bikes that were built privately by an engineer using the facilities of his own precision engineering company to produce parts of his own design, including the gear selector, rear brake assembly and controls and parts of the suspension. These parts are beautifully made from billet aluminium and are exclusive to these bikes.

The 998cc Rapide engine was rebuilt with new cases and placed into the new frame with Hinckley Triumph front forks and disc brakes. The engine spec is more or less standard with the exception of the use of two front cylinder heads so both the Amal concentric carbs could be mounted on the left hand side, 12-volt electrics and a remarkably light Norton clutch. The motor is also fitted with a decompressor and an extended kick-start lever to aid starting.

The bike remains in first class condition having only covered test miles and is supplied with its UK V5C registration document listing it as a 1950 Vincent. This is a fabulous motorcycle, a classic masterpiece that's unquestionably more than the sum of its parts, making it very hard to replicate for anything like today's guide.