[elbucko]

I am very familiar with the Vincent. There was a BSA dealer in San Pedro, CA, that serviced them. I had the occasion to ride a few. They are excellent for the years they were built, but by the time the Sportster came along, the "Vinnie" was out of production. It is a comparison that cannot be fairly made and do equal justice to both examples.

[archy]

I am very familiar with the Vincent. There was a BSA dealer in San Pedro, CA, that serviced them. I had the occasion to ride a few. They are excellent for the years they were built, but by the time the Sportster came along, the "Vinnie" was out of production. It is a comparison that cannot be fairly made and do equal justice to both examples.

Only in the sense that Indian was tinkering with a 100cc OHV *sport version* circa 1950, with H-D's flathead 750cc K Sportster not to come along until 1952, with the 883cc/55-inch OHV XL Sportster engine eventually introduced in 1957. It wasn't until 1972 that the 1000cc Ironhead Sportster engine was offered by the factory, Indian having only been ahead of the Milwaukee engineering team by 20 years.

As with the rear suspension on the big Indians that appeared in '46, not to show up on FLH Harletys until 1958, Indian was ahead on engineering points as usual. Pricey, but if they'd only been offered and available, Harley might have made some of their changes sooner, too