Big Sid’s Vincati: the story of a father, a son, and the motorcycle of a lifetime by Matthew Biberman, first published in 2009.
As the title suggests, this book is about more than just a motorcycle. It is a story about a relationship between the father and son as they work together to build a motorcycle. Although written for gearhead types, the non-technical person can also enjoy the story behind the family dynamics and the motorcycle build.
Big Sid is not only big in stature but big in the world of motorcycles, especially high performance motorcycles like the legendary, iconic Vincent. He has a solid reputation among the elite collectors, riders, and racers of motorcycles as a tuner and a craftsman whose expert ears can hear when a rear cam had slipped.
Matthew, the son, grew up in the shadow of Big Sid. Wanting to escape the label of ‘Big Sid’s Kid’, Matthew pursued a career as an academic. Highly educated, he became a university English professor. He still enjoyed riding motorcycles but had distanced himself from is famous father.
When a near fatal heart attack leaves Big Sid without a desire to live, Matthew must find something to spark life back into a man waiting to die.
From the Prologue:
Looking through pictures of motorcycles together, Matthew pulls out one and asks, “What’s that?”
Big Sid answers, “It’s a Vincati.”
Matthew: “Did you ever build one?”
Sid: “No.”
Matthew: “Ever know anyone who did?”
Sid: “Why? You? You want to build one?”
Matthew: “No, not me. Us.”
And so begins the building of the Vincati – a Vincent / Ducati hybrid. This story is not only about the building of a motorcycle; it is also the rebuilding of a father-son relationship that had become estranged.
In the end, the Vincati is built but also the father-son relation is repaired as witnessed when Matthew finds himself in a situation at a biker hang-out. Someone sees him on a Vincent and looking to pick a fight asks if he is a rich boy. Matthew answered with much pride, “No, not rich. I am Big Sid’s kid.”
This book is highly recommended for anyone who loves stories about motorcycles and is an easy read in spite of some of the technical language. It is available from Amazon in hardcover, paperback, and in Kindle format or at www.bigsid.com.
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