Long live long legs: Bonhams to sell a million kilometre Vincent motorcycle

Motorcycle collectors and investors will be interested to hear about a very special sale that taking place in the near future.  Bonhams will be auctioning a unique 998cc 1955 Vincent Black Prince at the International Motorcycle Show in Staffordshire on April 24 - and it's a lot that enthusiasts will not want to miss.

The bike is nicknamed 'Vinnylonglegs', and rightly so.  It has notched up a mammoth 721,703 - over a million kilometres - of use in its time, making it one of the most travelled motorcycles in the world.  It has regularly roamed around Europe, carrying its single owner - Northumbrian Stuart Jenkinson.

Mr Jenkinson, a Vincent enthusiast, purchased the Black Prince in 1955 from St Andrew's Motors in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.  Since then he has had sole use of the magnificent machine.  He spent 25 years using the bike for commuting and long distance touring holidays, but in 1980 it assumed a new role.

'Vinnylonglegs' - the 1955 Vincent Black Prince has clocked up a mighty mileage

Mr Jenkinson started a new business - motorcycle tours across Europe, taking in countries including Germany, Austria, Serbia, France, Italy, Spain and Sweden.  The bike has led tour parties around Greece an incredible 40 times, each tour clocking up over 3,000 miles each. 

The Black Prince has been rebuilt three times in the last 56 years, yet can still cruise at 100mph all day.  Modifications include a re-designed front-fairing, a four gallon Series C fuel tank, improved electrical equipment, disc brakes and dampers, and extra storage in the form of two five gallon boxes mounted on pannier frames.

The pedigree of the motorcycle is reflected in its fantastic pre-sale estimate of £35,000-40,000 ($64,500).  The proud owner admitted that it would be a "serious wrench" to release his beloved bike.  Ben Walker, Head of Motorcycles at Bonhams, described the long-serving 'Vinnylonglegs' as a "remarkable example".