Vincent Black Knight

The Black Knight was a British motorcycle made by Vincent Motorcycles in 1954 and 1955, a fully enclosed version of the Rapide in the Series D range. Its glass fibre panels, which included leg shields and a handlebar fairing, were meant to let a rider travel to work in a suit rather than full motorcycle kit, and the enclosure also directed more air to the rear cylinder. The rear enclosure was hinged for access to the wheel and chain, and a large lever let the rider put the machine on its stand from the saddle. Phil Vincent called it a two-wheeled Bentley. It was launched at the 1954 Earls Court show with the Black Prince, drew critical interest, and went into production in spring 1955. About 200 enclosed models were built, and the factory closed on 16 December 1955 after Vincent found it lost money on each one.