Vincent Black Shadow New Zealand. Journalist Hunter S. Thompson wrote "If you rode the Black Shadow at top speed for any length of time, you would almost certainly die. That is why there are not many life members of the Vincent Black Shadow Society." The bike is mentioned several times in Thompson's 1971 novel, "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas". Black Shadow serial number F10AB/1B/900 was a specially prepared model sold to American John Edgar for the purpose of challenging the American land speed record for motorcycles. The goal was to take the AMA National Class A flying-mile record then held by Joe
Vincent Black Shadow bolted to a slightly modified version of the Series C malleable iron steering head casting. This revised UFM no longer carries oil and so a separate oil tank is fitted. Due to extensive use of aluminium alloy, weight for the complete bike is kept to a relatively light . The standard handlebar on all models of HRDs and Vincents is the black enamelled `HRD straights'. Series B and C bars are 7/8 inches in diameter and 25 inches long with the ends bent back at 20°. Series D bars are 1½ inches longer. The Black Shadow could be had in