Egli Vincent   Text & Photos courtesy of Denny Delzer

This article is dedicated to my great friend Dick Busby.

Dick has been a heavyweight in the Vincent arena for many a decade. He has befriended anyone who has had the pleasure of asking for advice. They don't come any finer! Thanks, on behalf of the countless Vincenteers you have touched!

Dick Busby snagged the 1000cc Rapide engine from Mike Parti. The engine at one time had been in a Norvin (Vinny engine in a Norton featherbed frame). It was built strong with 10:5/1's, lightened valve train, two front series D flowed dual plugged heads, nasty cams, Amal Mk 2 carbs, Lucas-Rita electronic ignition.

Dick proceeded to create his famous Vincent hot rod special, featured in Zachary Miller's Illustrated Vincent Motorcycle Buyers Guide. Many a L.A. population are now deaf from Dick "getting it on" when he passed! Enter a lead for a Egli frame! Dick snagged another great find. A Fritz Egli (Switzerland) designed frame built by one of Fritz's former employees, Terry Prince of Australia. She was an updated "Monoshock" (Spax 12 way adjustable) version mfg. around 1980. Super light (28#), nickel -plated then glass beaded. He dropped the compression to 8:0/1's to tame her a touch for "Gore" gas we now have to live with. Changed to 34mm Mikuni flat slides. Laced up a pair of Sun rimless alloys so he could push her from one corner of the shop to the other for the next 4 years.

I worked on him for a year before he got tired of me bugging him and finally, a new owner to finish her out. Much was done, much had to be done. Machined a rear axle for the Ducati cush rear hub, spaced the custom rear sprocket, modified a sporty chain guard, chopped a Triumph front fender for the rear fender, stashed all electronics, coils, regulator in the hump of the Bates seat, engineered the backset controls, came up with a sidestand mount (used Triumph stand), used two Honda K-1 kickstart levers with one weld (thanks Dick for the worlds only Vincent broach for the spline), she already had a new Ducati clutch installed, came up with a fuel tank mount, had a Vincent Black lightning Tach and Speedo made up from KTT Australia, Stainless Steel mount, modified a Harley front speedo drive, Brembo Clip ons, Yamaha 1100 5/8" master cyl., and those wonderful bottom "Egli Racing" forks & yoke , truly a work of art, 50% magnesium, glass beaded and sealed with clear. The 38mm Cerriani front forks with spring so stout Jesse Ventura couldn't compress them sized and replaced with progressive springs, made mounts for the dual GriMeCa calipers, ran stainless lines, SHE STOPS! The front fender is carbon fiber.

A specially fabricated stainless box for a small sealed battery & oil puke box are located under the battery tray. Battery charging current is supplied by a Jim McDougal "McDougalater" alternator, adapted from a Kubota Tractor. The headlamp is NOS Norton. The ignition was changed to a Boyer-Brandson unit. I could not get the Mikuni's dialed in and went back to Amal Mk2's. had air cone roll out custom short megaphones, THIS IS THE LOUDEST MEANEST SOUNDING BIKE ON THE PLANET!

So, what's it like to wrap you legs around a light,(370#), loud, fast, Vincent Egli thoroughbred? As close to Heaven as one can get! Cheers, Denny Delzer oldspeed@btigate.com

Like to see more? Check out Egli Vincent page 2, thumbnails to large detail images.

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