“Sold new in Belgium, legendary history, engine recently overhauled.”
HRD motorbikes were the brainchild of Howard Raymond Davies, who had been building high-performance racing machines since 1924. In 1928, Philip Vincent bought the company, and it was renamed Vincent HRD. From 1931 onwards, a new 998 cm³ twin-cylinder engine, coupled with a 4-speed foot-operated gearbox, was introduced. Fitted to a new chassis featuring cantilever rear suspension, it gave rise to the legendary Rapide (Series A).
The outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 brought production of all Series A models to a halt. When production resumed at the end of the war, Vincent launched the all-new Series B, which cemented the brand’s reputation for boldness and its pursuit of technical excellence, notably with its subframe that doubled as an oil sump and incorporated the steering column and the rear spring mounting points. The gearbox was integral to the engine, and the swingarm pivoted directly within the engine/gearbox casing – features that are commonplace today but were unusual 70 years ago.
Launched in 1946, the Vincent-HRD Rapide Series B was immediately the fastest production motorbike on the market, with a top speed of 177 km/h. However, its basic design held even greater potential, which would later be realised with the Black Shadow and Black Lightning models. In 1948, the Vincent range began to be updated to ‘Series C’ specifications, but it was not until 1950 that all Vincents left the factory in this configuration.
The motorbike featured on these pages has a unique – Belgian – history. It is in fact one of a batch of two motorbikes dispatched on the same day from the factory, disassembled in crates, bound for the Belgian dealer. They were reassembled with the front and rear frames reversed (front frame #R2458…). #R2462 – engine #463 – was not registered until September 1949, presumably in the name of Alexey Pavlov, the Soviet ambassador posted to Belgium, whose mission was apparently cut short for political reasons… It is said to have been purchased at auction around 1952, at a public sale in Brussels following the liquidation of the ambassador’s estate, by Freddy Marécaux, the great-uncle of a well-known Belgian enthusiast, motocross rider and pioneer of the collection, Jean-Claude Busine. It remained in the family until 2021, when another eminent Belgian collector acquired it.
Since its arrival in Belgium, this motorbike has featured elements that could have led it to be mistaken for a legendary Black Shadow, including a unique Smiths speedometer calibrated up to 250 km/h. It is likely that it was given this makeover by the Belgian importer prior to its sale, to be used for press test rides and promotional photos of the Black Shadow… Between 2022 and 2023, the motorbike was restored, and the engine was completely rebuilt at the renowned Godet Motorcycles workshop in France. It was at this point that, for ease of use and without any substantial modifications, the motorbike was fitted with an electric starter. To date, this historic motorbike has covered over 1,000 km, offering its rider an incredible riding experience. It’s up to you to take the reins and write the next chapter in its story…