A 1,000cc Vincent HRD Touring Rapide, recently purchased for £33,433.33, was stolen whilst at the Vincent Owners Club annual rally at Fordingbridge in Hampshire. The new owner, Harvey Bowden from Cornwall, had only owned it for 6 days and had ridden up from Cornwall that morning. I am absolutely mortified he said. There are not may Vincents left and to have one stolen and broken up for spares is like losing a child. They are irreplaceable.

For many years the bike had belonged to Stan Kirkham from Merseyside and was well known in the Club. Stan recently passed away and the bike passed on to Dave Kay from the Wirral who is the section organiser for the Vintage Motorcycle Club. Having owned it for five years he auctioned it on eBay just last month when Harvey was the winning bidder.

The bike, registration number PVX 299, engine number F10 AB/1/2293, frame number RC 4193, was first registered in 1950 although made in 1949. It is very original and the only mods are the fitting of Craven panniers, not shown in the photograph, and a Givi tinted windscreen.

Harvey had his first Vincent when a lad of 16 back in 1966. It was the top bike to have and although already 15 years old and out of production it was still the fastest bike on the road. Then, in 1972 Honda introduced the CB750 K2 and Harvey moved on to modern biking. His elder brother Marcus, who also had a Vincent HRD, has kept his and has done over 450,000 miles on it.

Harvey is now nearing retirement and wanting to relive his youth started looking around for a Vincent so he could rejoin the club and play with his brother again.

The two brothers had come up from Cornwall together to attend the Annual Rally, Marcus’ 45th rally and Harvey’s first for over 44 years.

Peter Appleton, the rally organiser was very upset. It is the first time ever in over 50 years of club events that a bike has been stolen he said. It put a damper on the occasion and some owners left earlier than normal on the Sunday.

The bike was stolen between 9.30 and 10.30 pm on the Saturday 6th August. Harvey had been working on the bike changing the front spark plug when he went down to the marquee for some supper and socialising with the other club members. Christine Bowden, his sister in-law, was asleep in the tent right next to the bike when it was stolen. She heard some voices and after getting dressed came outside and noticed the bike not there. Thinking Harvey might have moved it she came down to the marquee to find him, but by then it was too late.
Another Vincent owner was leaving the campsite at the time and followed a white van that, on exiting the gate, turned the wrong way down a one way street. It is now believed the Vincent was probably in that van.The bike is fully insured with Carole Nash insurance so Harvey is hopeful that a full payment will be forthcoming. He then intends to look around again to find another Vincent whilst there are still some left.
If you hear of anything suspicious ring Harvey on 07802 757576

bloody scum bags

last place in the world you would expect your bike to get nicked

I though we might have a better night then I found that! what the place coming to.

Davehutch wrote:bloody scum bags

just pond life aint they,


i know of a bloke who has now spread his bike around the country as he had had that many attempts to steal it, its a crying shame it really is. hope he gets it back.

Stue11 wrote:

Davehutch wrote:bloody scum bags

Stue11 wrote:

Davehutch wrote:bloody scum bags

hope its recovered :|