Erik my handsome, are you seriously contemplating one ? They are a supper bike and don't leak oil and mine was the most oil tight one of the three originals in Tasmania British Classic Tour in March this year, 100 participants 23 Vincents 5 "A" twins, the replicas are a sight to behold. I rode Rodney Brown's for several miles and it felt like a new bike, brakes good, possibly not as good as yours on the Comet but then 10 minutes would see a wheel complete & adjusted!
The challenge with these twins is to make them oil tight, mine was when it left Conway Motors in1999 just in time for the international and brother Harvey used it for the parade lap, I on my "B" with open pipes, Johannes Haferkorn on daughter Camita's red Rap with John Von Tunzelman on my son Robert's "D" Rap, one must have a full set of Rapide's for the family, biggest regret was Christine not completing her bike licence as the "A"s are so low with docile tendencies she would have loved it.
This is a nice story that happed at the 99 international, I rode up and Harvey took the other three Raps up in a trailer, Robert flew over and did the sticker collection for the participants check list then had to return for work, in the evening I gave the keys to the red Rap to Marty Dickerson (USA), on the following evening as we were congregating for our safety instructions Marty handed the keys back to me saying that the previous evenings wine got the better of him and didn't think he ought to ride. ! After the meeting people were leaving as Johannes was just arriving as he had broken down and went home returning on a BMW so handed him the keys with the check off card, next day is parade day all starting at Quarter Bridge carpark and we all had a memorable ride round the TT cause. Later talking with Marty who had positioned himself along the TT cause seeing some racers go by on their practice laps, a little silence then heard 230 + thundering Vincents start up and take off. BUT never saw one ! He had positions himself between Bray Hill & Quarter Bridge, TT start / finish to Quarter Bridge we didn't ride.
After IOM we headed for Scotland and the "A" Annie Jenner rode with husband Collin on his "A" who did the restoration on Old Harry. Harvey took the "C" & "D" Raps home as no other riders available. Old Harry went to France in 2000 it was Camita's turn and had it for two years touring France when she had time off and it went round the Le Vigeant (50 km south of Poitiers) race circuit a few times with various pilots and all very complementary she told me, You can imagine some of the biking fraternity rocking up at her restaurant a few km from the circuit for an evening meal and she joins in conversation and tells them she has two Vincents in her garage ! Then takes them down to the circuit the next day.
bananaman