Happy times with anAMeteor

With reference to the Series A Meteor in the June 2020 issue.

For me, part of the pleasure in owning and ridingmy Series AMeteor is seeing the way they were thinking in the day. For example, the Vincent headlamp has flat frosted glass, as in the 1930s they did not know about focusing of glass. Then when war had begun, I would be surprised if a blackout mask was needed with the six volt bulb.

Hairpin valve springs cooled in the passing air because although they had tried spiral springs around the valve stems the heat was leading to spring failure; knowledge of metallurgy was and will always be in development. Cantilever front brake allowed for two drum brakes on front wheel (very cool!) as well as an upswept carburettor (very sexy) and the swinging arm (very Vincent!) with the adjustable friction pads through the outer sleeve. Yes, it does feature recirculating oil instead of just pumping it onto the side of the piston and letting it drip off onto the road, though there is still an issue with oil loss on the Series A today! My apologies...

Talk of bikes dropping on corners... I always thought this occurred as I went over the edge of the square tyres! Also, I would add that the bike likes power on the corners, similar to the Laverda Jota; the front wheel becomes heavy and shakes its head like a bull, power lifts the front and you glide.

My midlife crisis (mymind slowing down!) ledme to buy the Ducati I now own and ride; the reason I am telling you this is because I believe the firing of the cylinders is the same as the Vincent twin.

Thanks to you and your team