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Proven centuries of Anglo-French "friendship" - the theme of the mass of jokes. The British speak with sophisticated irony about the peculiarities of the French mentality, the French pay with the same coin. Do not flow between these great European powers of the English Channel (I, of course, had in mind the English Channel - excuse me if I offended anyone) - by golly, they would have hammered each other with cola from rural fences. In short, those others are good geese … The end of introductory political information (until the notes of protest showered).
“But there are cases,” you say, “of touching friendships between dogs and cats, parrots and guinea pigs, penguins and policemen …” And I have to agree: yes, it does. Just from these exceptions, the story of Patrick Godet - the very Frenchman who builds some of the most "British" in the spirit of motorcycles in the world.
Patrick considered (and rightly so) a Vincent with a liter V-twin "the most charismatic British classic motorcycle." We will not dwell on this outstanding device in detail - articles have been written about it, books have been written and a ballet has been staged in London (this is me, for a word of mouth). But do not take it away - this is a motorcycle with an excellent engine, a bold frame design that is several decades ahead of its time (the motor is part of the power structure, and the rear “triangle” is a pendulum that “works” on shock absorbers located under the saddle), complicated (perhaps unjustifiably) with the front fork of its own Girdraulic system (a combination of the usual “parallelogram” and long and thin hydraulic shock absorbers). And at an exorbitant price - in post-war England for such money you could buy a house! When in the mid-50s, people finally decided that their own house has a number of undoubted advantages over a motorcycle, even if it’s the “most of the most”, production froze.
But enthusiasts did not let the brand die. Vincent fans are a very special type of people. Unlike most fans of classic brands, they believe that the standard is good, but a successful modification is better. That is why all kinds of “rush” are only welcome at club events.
And such a “variation” as Egli-Vincent is perhaps no less charismatic than Vincent itself. In 1967, the Swiss Fritz Aigley radically saved a motorcycle from its main ailments (Moto, No. 5-2002). He exchanged a revolutionary, but flimsy frame for a simple and lightweight design with a powerful spinal oil tank and a familiar rear pendulum. The eerie Girdraulic gave way to the "telescope" by Enrico Ceriani. So the real Vincent of the 60s was born - one of the most successful cafe racers of its time. Alas, after a few years, Vincent’s engine stocks ran out, and Aigley switched to other brands (although he remained an ardent fan of Vincent).