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The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Vinny Long Legs High Mileage Vincent at Bonhams

By Paul Crowe

Vinny Long Legs, the Vincent Black Prince in 1955
Vinny Long Legs, the Vincent Black Prince in 1955

One owner, never raced, very well maintained Vincent Black Prince for sale. Ah, … there is, however, the matter of the mileage, 721,703 to be exact, but, Stuart Jenkinson, who bought the bike in 1955 for £385, says it was a reliable daily ride for decades. Then, after the British chemistry professor retired, he rode the Vincent guiding other riders for Bike and Sun Tours, exploring the roads throughout Europe.

With multiple visits to over 20 countries and at least 40 trips to Greece, it’s easy to see how the miles could build up. It only failed him a few times with exhaust valve and ignition problems and otherwise reliably racked up the miles, returning over 60 miles per gallon at normal cruising speeds.

I’ve long been a fan of the “buy a good one and maintain it” philosophy and Stuart is an example of how long things can really last when cared for.

Vinny Long Legs will be auctioned by Bonhams on April 24th at the International Classic Motorcycle Show. They estimate £35,000 – £40,000, but it’s hard to predict. Stuart hopes the new owner will take it over the million mile mark and there’s no reason to believe it isn’t up to the task. Very cool.

Thanks for the tip, Pete!

Link: Bonhams

Vinny Long Legs, the Vincent Black Prince with over 721,000 miles and 66 years on the road
Vinny Long Legs, the Vincent Black Prince with over 721,000 miles and 66 years on the road

Posted on April 1, 2011 Filed Under: Vintage Motorcycles

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Comments

  1. Phoebe says

    April 1, 2011 at 10:30 am

    I was just reading about this bike going up for auction. What an amazing piece to own.

  2. B50 Jim says

    April 1, 2011 at 10:44 am

    I heard the English manufacturers kept the best ones for the home market. I should say so!

    I wonder how many rebuilds it’s had? An amazing bike. I like all the modifications such as fairing & windscreen, twin headlights, disc brakes, luggage carriers, crash bars, etc. I’m sure it has electronic ignition — the single best modification one can do to an English bike. This bike was meant to ride, and ride often. No agonizing over messing with a vintage classic. Just set it up for serious road work, get your kit on and go! Well done, Professor!

  3. Scotduke says

    April 1, 2011 at 11:23 am

    This bike was in an article in Classic Bike recently. I think it’s had an engine rebuild two or three times. The fairing is made from the cut down front wings of an old Austin Mini (the original, not the BMW copy) and retains the headlights – not the prettiest or lightest of fairings but effective. It’s had various other midifications over the years too.

  4. Hawk says

    April 1, 2011 at 4:42 pm

    A few years back, the Vincent Owner’s Club, http://www.voc.uk.com/ based in the UK, had a convention in Harrison Hot Springs, BC. I never realised that so many had survived. There was everything from daily transporters to rat bikes to multi million dollar museum pieces. The club has a subsidiary company called the VOC Spares Co which aquired the old tools & dies from Vincent. They can still supply spare parts to keep the bikes running.

    The club has a convention every 4 years somewhere in the world. They rent shipping containers to take their bikes and then fly in for the gatherings. If you ever have the opportunity to attend, don’t miss it.

  5. James McBride says

    April 1, 2011 at 9:05 pm

    It seems almost a shame to sell it before he hit the million mile mark

  6. Jim says

    April 2, 2011 at 8:04 am

    It would be a shame for the bike to end up in a collections someplace where “it’s still ridden,” means a few times a year it is trailered to events where a few miles are put on it.

  7. Boog says

    April 2, 2011 at 10:12 am

    Well I hope the Professor makes a killing on this piece. I’m sure that after years of a low paying job like teaching he needs the money. At the very least he deserves the Iron Butt award for racking up this kind of mileage.

  8. OMMAG says

    April 2, 2011 at 4:14 pm

    True testament to the perserverance and dedication of some bike lovers….

  9. Jack Swartz says

    April 3, 2011 at 8:04 am

    Yes it’s amazing, but I’d rather put 1,000 miles each on 721 bikes…

  10. Sportster Mike says

    April 4, 2011 at 5:39 am

    I think I saw this bike on a boat coming back from France (before the wonderful Eurotunnel) a few years ago
    It was a bit rough and ready then I thought but deserves to be RIDDEN by the new owner but if someone going to pay £30,000 it probably won’t be..

    BTW anyone know what happened to ‘Florence of Arabia’? the high mileage Brough Superior – haven’t seen that around for a few years

  11. Nicolas says

    April 12, 2011 at 1:52 pm

    This bike has had an exceptional life … now would the buyer be kind enough to give it back it’s original appearance ? I know the function primed for that sort of use, but now that the function is secondary, it would deserve to lose this hideous fairing and stuff … 😉

  12. 3dp says

    April 14, 2011 at 2:49 am

    Just browsing over here in abu dhabi and bless me the the vinnie that lives half a mile up the road from my home in UK
    owner and wife ride or rode that bike all year round pretty much and i’ve had that house neighbour also owns a morgan v8 – the wooden chassis open top sportscar

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