Hesketh V1000
Encyclopedia
The Hesketh V1000 is a British motorcycle
originally designed and built by Hesketh Motorcycles
in Daventry
, Northamptonshire
. Lord Alexander Hesketh had been planning the production of a new British motorcycle since 1974 and began talks with engine specialists Westlake in 1977 about the development of a big V-twin
. Hesketh Motorcycles PLC was formed in 1981, a purpose built factory was set up to manufacture the V1000 in Daventry
, and production began in 1981. The V1000 was expensive and rather noisy, and given its 992 cc capacity and dry weight of 244 kg (537.9 lb) was rather underpowered. Only 149 V1000 motorcycles were sold before the company was wound up in August 1982. Broom Development Engineering continued development and produce twelve V1000s each year. An MCN review of the Hesketh declared: " People see the Hesketh V1000 as an 80s version of the Vincent twin; and the engine has a classic simplicity about it, featuring a modest 86 bhp delivered at just 6500 rpm. So long as you understand that you're buying a handbuilt, relatively sedate, classic British motorcycle, you're not likely to be disappointed with the performance of the Hesketh V1000. ".
Styled by John Mockett (who later went on to design the Triumph Rocket III
) the Hesketh V1000 was conceived as a luxury sports machine that could save the British motorcycle industry. The engine was specially developed by Weslake
as an air-cooled 90-degree V-twin with 95 mm (3.7 in) bore and 70 mm (2.8 in) stroke, giving a displacement of 992 cc. With a one piece cast crank and aluminium jackets on iron cylinder barrels and alloy cylinder heads, the V1000 was the first British motorcycle with four valves per cylinder and an overhead camshaft. With electronic ignition, Lucas alternator and starter motor, lubrication is semi wet sump and the gearbox is a five-speed constant mesh to a sealed roller chain final drive. Front suspension includes custom yokes machined from solid aircraft specification billets, and conventional rear suspension is provided by twin Marzocchi shocks. Unusually, the chain drive sprocket was concentric with the swinging arm pivot, an arrrangement which kept chain tension constant.
In 1983 Lord Hesketh formed a new company Hesleydon Ltd to manufacture a revamped V1000 with a full fairing, called the Hesketh Vampire. Described by reviewers as heavy and tall, it went into production while still needing development. As well as gearbox problems such as false neutrals, the new fairing restricted turning and the Vampire did not sell well.
have continued to improve the V1000 engine and frame performance as well as updating earlier motorcycles to the latest specification have each year produce about a dozen new V1000 EN10 motorcycles which are the V1000 with oil cooling improvements including an oil radiator to cool the rear cylinder. They have also produced fifty Hesketh Vampire tourers to customer specifications which can include specially made panniers. The latest model improvements included in the Vulcan include changes to the running gear to bring it up to date with radial tyres and modern suspension, brakes together with a bigger engine and computer control. In a bid to attract much needed investment in the marque, Mick Broom put the Hesketh business on the market in September 2008. Broom, who has now built over 300 Hesketh models, was badly burned in a petrol fire in a workshop in August 2011.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
originally designed and built by Hesketh Motorcycles
Hesketh Motorcycles
Hesketh Motorcycles is a British motorcycle manufacturer, based in Daventry and Easton Neston.The company was formed by Alexander, 3rd Lord Hesketh, in 1980, then after his two ventures went bust from 1984 onwards, the marque has been maintained and improved by Broom Engineering, now based at...
in Daventry
Daventry
Daventry is a market town in Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 22,367 .-Geography:The town is also the administrative centre of the larger Daventry district, which has a population of 71,838. The town is 77 miles north-northwest of London, 13.9 miles west of Northampton and 10.2...
, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
. Lord Alexander Hesketh had been planning the production of a new British motorcycle since 1974 and began talks with engine specialists Westlake in 1977 about the development of a big V-twin
V-twin
A V-twin engine is a two-cylinder internal combustion engine where the cylinders are arranged in a V configuration.- Crankshaft configuration :Most V-twin engines have a single crankpin, which is shared by both connecting rods...
. Hesketh Motorcycles PLC was formed in 1981, a purpose built factory was set up to manufacture the V1000 in Daventry
Daventry
Daventry is a market town in Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 22,367 .-Geography:The town is also the administrative centre of the larger Daventry district, which has a population of 71,838. The town is 77 miles north-northwest of London, 13.9 miles west of Northampton and 10.2...
, and production began in 1981. The V1000 was expensive and rather noisy, and given its 992 cc capacity and dry weight of 244 kg (537.9 lb) was rather underpowered. Only 149 V1000 motorcycles were sold before the company was wound up in August 1982. Broom Development Engineering continued development and produce twelve V1000s each year. An MCN review of the Hesketh declared: " People see the Hesketh V1000 as an 80s version of the Vincent twin; and the engine has a classic simplicity about it, featuring a modest 86 bhp delivered at just 6500 rpm. So long as you understand that you're buying a handbuilt, relatively sedate, classic British motorcycle, you're not likely to be disappointed with the performance of the Hesketh V1000. ".
Development
Triumph Rocket III
The Triumph Rocket III is a British three cylinder motorcycle made by the Hinckley Triumph factory and has the largest displacement engine of any mass production motorcycle , at ....
) the Hesketh V1000 was conceived as a luxury sports machine that could save the British motorcycle industry. The engine was specially developed by Weslake
Weslake
Weslake Research and Development was founded by Harry Weslake, with premises in Rye, East Sussex, England. Weslake was a cylinder head specialist who had been instrumental in modifying the side valve standard engine used in the first SS sports car. He also worked on the larger SS engine: "The...
as an air-cooled 90-degree V-twin with 95 mm (3.7 in) bore and 70 mm (2.8 in) stroke, giving a displacement of 992 cc. With a one piece cast crank and aluminium jackets on iron cylinder barrels and alloy cylinder heads, the V1000 was the first British motorcycle with four valves per cylinder and an overhead camshaft. With electronic ignition, Lucas alternator and starter motor, lubrication is semi wet sump and the gearbox is a five-speed constant mesh to a sealed roller chain final drive. Front suspension includes custom yokes machined from solid aircraft specification billets, and conventional rear suspension is provided by twin Marzocchi shocks. Unusually, the chain drive sprocket was concentric with the swinging arm pivot, an arrrangement which kept chain tension constant.
Hesketh Vampire Tourer
Broom Development Engineering
Established in 1982 by engineer, Hesketh test rider and motorcycle racer Mick Broom, Broom Development EngineeringBroom Development Engineering
Broom Development Engineering is a British motorcycle manufacturer, and provides research and development services to the automotive and aerospace industries...
have continued to improve the V1000 engine and frame performance as well as updating earlier motorcycles to the latest specification have each year produce about a dozen new V1000 EN10 motorcycles which are the V1000 with oil cooling improvements including an oil radiator to cool the rear cylinder. They have also produced fifty Hesketh Vampire tourers to customer specifications which can include specially made panniers. The latest model improvements included in the Vulcan include changes to the running gear to bring it up to date with radial tyres and modern suspension, brakes together with a bigger engine and computer control. In a bid to attract much needed investment in the marque, Mick Broom put the Hesketh business on the market in September 2008. Broom, who has now built over 300 Hesketh models, was badly burned in a petrol fire in a workshop in August 2011.