Hesketh
Owners Club
Sat Jun 10 2006
clare.lund
ntlworld.com
Hesketh motorcycles
Hi I am interested in finding as much information about hesketh motorcycles
as I can my granddad worked at the oldham factory from when it opened and
was on the tv when look north west did an artical about my granddad past
away some years ago before I was born so I never saw him his name was dave
lund I would be most greatful if you could help me in this quest
many thanks
james lund
oldham
Sat Nov 26 2005
until_now_5hotmail.com
Hesketh Vampire
Hi I'm looking for a picture of the Hesketh vampire that was on display
at the NEC in Birmingham between 1980-1986.
It was deep red and was an easy rider type machine with Vampire written
on the petrol tank.
I have been looking for the picture of this beautiful machine to show
my children but can't seem to fine one anywhere could you please help me.
Thanks
Thu May 12 2005
micheal.atkinsonbtopenworld.com
hesketh 1000 motor cycle
do tou know any one who would like to own one we have one for sale
hardly used and in perfect condition
Hesketh Book on Ebay
Vendor's Description:
Hesketh Motorcycle Book V1000 Vampire V2 Vortan FXRT
Hesketh Limited Edition Extra
The Hesketh V1000 was unveiled in April 1980. The press criticzsed its
noisy engine, bad gearboxes and slow performance. Production was halted
to rectify the problems and it was not until February 1982 that the first
bike was delivered. There were still problems with production being hampered
by warranty work and so in June 1982 the company collapsed, having made
little more than 100 machines. In December 1982 Lord Hesketh resumed production
privately with the Vampire which resolved earlier problems, but it came
too late and the company was dissolved with only 37 bikes built.
This is a book of contemporary road and comparison tests, specification
and technical data, new model introductions, travel, long-term reports,
buying second hand and history. Models covered include V1000, V2 Vortan
and Vampire.
Softbound, 8 1/4 x 10 5/8 inches, 136 pages. Profusely illustrated
with black & white photographs .
July 28, 2001
I have a copy of a 'Motorcycle Sport Annual' which I believe was published
by "Cycle" mag. every yr. I think mine is from 1972 & it had a blurb
on the Van Veen OCR in the 'road bike buyers' guide' section. I recall
being interested in the bike because of its unusual drivetrain. Never did
see one in the flesh tho I have seen the Hercules, Suzuki, & Norton
rotaries at various times.
An acquaintance of mine, a criminal attorney from Miami, acquired a
Hesketh Venom Vampire ( the full-boat faired model) from one of his clients
in lieu of $$ payment for services rendered. I think he sold it to a Daytona-area
motorcycle museum after it was a no-sale at the Daytona bike auction a
few Bike Weeks ago.
I just liked the looks of it (1000cc DOHC air-cooled v-twin) with beautiful
castings covered up by some v. extensive bodywork in an unusual copper
color. -- NBachers at aol
January 16, 2001
Hi,
My name is David Fail ( david.fail at virgin.net ) and
I have owned a Hesketh from new since 1983. In the first 3 years I did
over 24,000 trouble free miles, most of it long distance traveling and
never a sore seat! In 1992 I had it converted to a Vampire model
( full fairing ) and I have since done many more miles quickly, comfortably
and with many admiring glances.
Truly a magnificent machine to ride, with most of the alleged faults
being myths.
I am now the Spares and Technical Secretary for the Hesketh Owners Club
and will willingly answer any questions.
Most of the original problems reported by the press have been fully
corrected by a series of modifications commonly called the EN10 Mods. All
bikes produced by Hesleydon have these as standard. Further development
has continued and a series of further refinements are available, such as
a computer mapped ignition system and refined oil cooling for the rear
cylinder.
More information is available at Mick Broom's website, he was one of
the original development engineers and continues to develop and build Heskeths.
His address is http://www.btinternet.com/~broom.engineering/brochure.htm
[404]
Best Regards
Dave Fail -- david.fail at virgin.net
November 11, 2000
We did talk over one year ago about Hesketh motorcycles.
I was in Albania then, I've been in Macedonia for over one year and have
had a lot of extra work done on the bike since we last conversed.
Here is a photograph of my daughter on the latest incarnation.
[Image misplaced - Ed] This is an older Hesketh (1982) with newer forks
and wheels. I haven't had a lot of time to play with it, it feels a lot
better since there is a lot of difference between 18 year old Marzocchi
forks and Koyaba. also the spoked wheels let me use radials which have
to be an improvement over the old tubed crossplys. It has 6-pot billet
brakes at the front and 4-pot billets at the rear. Not because I go fast,
or need extra stopping, but because Ken Harrison is a mate of mine.
The address for the owners web site is now http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/9921
[404] I know one of the pages has corrupted but I can't do anything
about it from here since all the info is in UK.
I have always used the bike whenever able, long periods
away from the UK have stopped me from using it as much as I would like,
but the modifications I have made have improved it no end.
It now has an oil-cooled rear cylinder, computerized ignition,
all bearing carriers were machined out, sleeved and re-machine for exact
fitting, revised oilways, etc. it has no piston slap, doesn't rattle and
you can hold a conversation whilst stood next to it without shouting. A
lot different from the original engine.
It appears that the prototype Heskeths were shaft driven,
this was dropped after BMW sued Yamaha for infringement of patent over
the XS750/XS110. When Hesketh first thought of making a motorcycle they
obtained the best-selling large tourers of the day and copied what they
considered to be the best characteristics including the shaft drive. The
primary sprocket is tiny, about 15 tooth but cannot be made larger due
to the shape of the engine. All the evidence points to it being a shaft
and the sprocket was simply stuck onto the final drive of a gearbox designed
for a shaft. Probably this is why the sprocket is in line with the swinging
arm pivot, it would have to be if it was a shaft.
A lot has been said about that gearbox, but mine has never
been that bad. It did have a lot of snatch though, a modification to the
back wheel by Mick Broom inserted a dowel through the sprocket into the
rear hub since the sprockets could and did shear off the bolts. It happened
to me in Cardiff.
There was also a modification to the rear wheel cush to
absorb some of the shock, and it did.
Un-modified Heskeths have five gears. With an original
rear sprocket that gave 70mph at 3,500 in fifth, but any attempt to change
into fifth at less than 55mph was met with engine snatch. Further, it could
not drop below about 2,750 revs without snatching so there was always a
lot of gear changing.
The modified engine revs much lower and can get into higher
gears at lower speeds, mine gets into 5th at about 35-40mph. It also uses
unleaded and is doing more miles to the gallon.
I shouldn't think I'll be using it again this year, my
next leave isn't until late December and I probably won't have time.
I'm back again in March 2001 though and usually take in
the Chocolate Starfish rally in Bournemouth, I'll give her a little run
out and see the difference between old forks/wheels and the new.
Finally I agree with Birger, the seat looks a lot better
than it feels.
Robin Morgan -- MorganR at cas2.areur.army.mil
March 3, 2000
I stumbled over your site on the web and some mails about Hesketh.
Well...here is my story:
In the early 80s I had a small bike shop with a friend. We imported
Morinis to Sweden and made a living servicing the normal Japanese armada
of bikes. Just out of interest and love of strange bikes we contacted Hesketh
and got the chance to sell Hesketh in Sweden. In 1983 we sold four bikes,
actually 10% of that years production! That year I was in England
learning some of the do's and don'ts of the bike. I actually made the delivery
check on the bike I own now ( I managed to buy it back some years ago).
There are many people out there who claim they know everything, well
almost, about Heskeths and how they really are. Very few have actually
ridden one. The first generation (actually prototypes) weren't too oil-tight
with head lubrication through tunnels in the cam chain block and had all
sorts of minor troubles. The later ones (produced by Hesleydon) were actually
rather good from a 70s and 80s standard. The guru Mick Brooms had made
wonders and is still in business.
So what is it like to ride? It feels very much like a Ducati 860
GTS or an early Ducati Dharma, heavy and stable. Choose a line and it will
stay there. Engine is very smooth and it revs to the red line (7K) without
any holes in the power band. Gearbox is strange compared to a good Japanese
box, but anyone familiar with older Guzzis and BMWs will feel at home.
In short, I love my Hesketh. It has it's faults but one has to remember
that they actually never stopped being prototypes. I ride it a lot, went
to Isle of Man last year, and my biggest problem is the pain making seat!
Mick Brooms is at: http://www.btinternet.com/~broom.engineering/index.htm
Greetings
Birger Borsiin -- birger.borsiin at klippan.se
owner of weird bikes :-))
From Sheldon:
Great information Birger! Thanks for sharing it, and don't be afraid to
send anything else that you think might help owners, or potential owners.
Pictured: A V1000 from the Broom Engineering
site
October 14, 1999
Yes Hesketh's are still made to order in very small numbers by one
of the old companys development engineers. The best history on the whole
story can be found in a book called British motorcycles 3 by Steve Wilson.
Other interesting later articles are Classic Bike Guide (CBG) issues 26
June 93 and issue 80 Dec 97. You can also visit the Hesketh owners club
site, I think www.geocities.com/MotorCity/downs/9921 (404) or the
builders, Broom Development Engineering. I can't remember his site # but
you can link to it through the club site. Just plug in Hesketh and the
owners site is there. If you want more info, let me know.
If you are into your interesting twins, a locally made bike here in
Christchurch, New Zealand is worth a look at. You may allready know all
about them but if not, look at www.britten.co.nz
Order the video for sale. It's really good. Another site is www.probritten.nl
[404] A bike sold to Holland . Several reside in the States as well.
-- Regards, Craig Roberts. -- Casbolts Honda casbolts
at xtra.co.nz
October 13, 1999
I read your request for further info on Hesketh m/c's. You may have
allready have had many enquirys with info. If not, advise me and I can
elaborate a lot further as I am an owner and have had quite a bit of involvement
in the past few years. They are a very misunderstood marque and produce
these days a solid durable reliable hand crafted touring bike. --
regards, Craig Roberts. -- Casbolts Honda casbolts at xtra.co.nz
The Hesketh motorcycles company existed in the early 1980s, created
by a rich englishman, Lord Hesketh. Weslake (the speedway people) designed
the engine, a 90 degree v-twin with two overhead cams/4 valves per cylinder.
The bike had a frame made of nickel plated tubing, a mini-fairing, Marzocchi
brakes and suspension, and "the gearbox from hell." These things leaked
oil, jumped out of gear, and made every clank and whine there was. They
also had a 33 inch seat height which no one liked.
By 1982 Hesketh motorcycles (symbol: a rooster, on the fuel tank badge)
was out of business. They were really powerful, nice bikes and they had
detachable hard bags, but the gearbox could not be corrected before they
went out of business. Then Lord Hesketh restarted the company briefly and
tried selling them by disguising them with full fairings and windscreens
as tourers. The company went out again.
Ultimately, about 250 Heskeths were ever made. Consider them the Edsel
of motorcyles. -- Matawhero at aol
December 11, 1998
I found a web page once about this motorcycle and can not find it again.
Please send me info about the Hesketh company or their web address.
Thanks
BBurnsTkg at aol
If you have a query about Hesketh motorcycles, or wish to share your
knowledge of these classic machines, please contact
us!
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