Beschreibung:

Bernard Li's first attempt at a neo-Vincent took a simpler and more direct path than the Honda-powered concepts that were to come later. RTV, an Australian company, was involved in its own attempt at producing a modern Black Lightning, and was making a Vincent-lookalike air-cooled 1200cc motor. Based on Phil Irving's archetypal 50-degree V-Twin, it was modernized with improved materials, updated internals, a redesigned clutch, and an electric starter. Li arranged for an RTV motor and one of the company's rolling chassis, patterned on a single-shock Egli-replica frame. Noted automotive artist Hector Cademartori was commissioned to work up some design sketches. Li then took the illustrations and RTV components to Southern California fabrication ace Denny Berg, best known for his custom cruisers but with a strong background in café racers. Working with Li through several incarnations, Berg produced this sporty, show-stopping Vincent. "I built wire wheels with Performance Machine hubs and brakes," he remembers. "I used the modern inverted forks and single-shock rear suspension already in place on the Aussie chassis. I carved foam for the gas tank and sidecovers, then had them made in fiberglass. I did a lot of 'tucking in' and moving parts around on the chassis to fit everything under the sidecovers and tank. I originally fitted a classic Vincent 'hourglass' dual seat, but we went with a solo cafe-style seat for the final iteration." The end result, with modern running gear but classic good looks, appeared imminently road ready, got lots of ink and was applauded by almost everyone, but Li knew the Phase I prototype would never make mass production. "The engine was just too old a design to give the level of performance today's rider expects," he later told Cycle World magazine. "It's like a '57 Chevrolet Bel Air. The Bel Air looks cool, but when you go to drive one..." There was also the issue of certification. Even with its updates, getting the old-style engine past the EPA's sniffers would have been all but impossible. Achieving the kind of every-day reliability expected of a new motorcycle was also a question mark. It didn't help that RTV had gone into receivership, either. The Phase I bike was interesting and enticing -- and is still the bike many Vincent aficionados wish had been built -- but ultimately was more of a research tool to gauge market reaction. Important nonetheless, because it did something else: Announce to the world that Li was serious about resurrecting Vincent. Offered on a Bill of Sale.