Hesketh Motorcycles

Hesketh Motorcycles is a British motorcycle marque established in 1980 by Alexander Fermor-Hesketh, 3rd Baron Hesketh, against the backdrop of a declining British motorcycle industry. Lord Hesketh had experience in Formula One motor racing and sought to apply the engineering, fabrication and promotional capabilities associated with that activity to a high-quality British road motorcycle. The project was developed at the Hesketh estate at Easton Neston in Northamptonshire, where a prototype was running by the spring of 1980. The resulting Hesketh V1000 was conceived as a prestigious long-distance or gentleman’s touring motorcycle. Its 992 cc V-twin engine used four valves per cylinder and twin overhead camshafts, features that were advanced for a British motorcycle of the period even though they were already common on some Japanese machines. The design combined a nickel-plated Reynolds 531 frame with a large, visually distinctive engine and styling influenced by contemporary European motorcycles. After attempts to find outside manufacturing partners failed, Lord Hesketh established Hesketh Motorcycles plc and built a purpose-designed factory at Daventry in 1982. The production venture encountered serious technical and commercial obstacles. The V1000 was heavy, tall and affected by reliability and manufacturing problems. In particular, inadequate airflow around the rear cylinder contributed to overheating. The motorcycle entered a weak and contracting market, while limited working capital and a lack of mature production systems made it difficult to correct defects or achieve economical volume manufacturing. Only 139 motorcycles were produced before the company entered receivership. Several potential rescuers examined the marque. Cagiva inspected the Daventry operation but withdrew its interest. The Triumph co-operative also considered acquiring the rights, but it lacked the funds needed to develop the model. Lord Hesketh subsequently recovered the principal rights from the liquidation and created Hesleydon Ltd in 1983. That company developed the fully faired Vampire, intended to provide a more touring-oriented version of the V1000 and to support export sales. The Vampire retained too many of the original model’s weaknesses, however, and approximately 40 were built before Hesleydon ceased trading in 1984. Mick Broom, who had worked as a development engineer and test rider on the original project, continued supporting existing owners. Broom’s operation gradually became responsible for maintaining, modifying and developing the remaining motorcycles. From the same broader Northamptonshire base, Broom Engineering produced small numbers of improved machines and explored derivatives including the Vortan and Vulcan. Engineering work addressed the V1000’s cooling problems, including changes intended to increase oil flow to the rear cylinder. Production remained extremely limited, reportedly reaching no more than about a dozen motorcycles annually in some periods. Broom Engineering relocated to Turweston Aerodrome near Silverstone in 2006 after the Easton Neston premises changed ownership and use. A burglary during the relocation disrupted the operation and resulted in the loss of tools, records and motorcycles. In 2010 Mick Broom sold the marque. A new ownership and management team subsequently announced plans to revive Hesketh as a small British motorcycle company rather than as a mass-market manufacturer. The most visible product of the revival was the Hesketh 24, announced in 2014 as the marque’s first entirely new model in roughly three decades. Named after the number used on James Hunt’s Hesketh Formula One car in 1975, the motorcycle was planned as a 24-unit international limited edition. It used a 1,917 cc air-cooled S&S X-Wedge V-twin, selected for its torque and established powertrain, with engine tuning options to be provided by Harris Performance Engines. Its bodywork and graphics referenced Hesketh’s Formula One heritage, and each proposed motorcycle was to carry a numbered 18-carat-gold plaque. Hesketh’s identity therefore rests on British engineering provenance, Formula One associations, hand-built exclusivity and enthusiast-oriented development rather than scale production. Publicly available reference material does not establish the marque’s current production or operating status.

The Hesketh motorcycle project began in 1980 when Alexander Fermor-Hesketh, 3rd Baron Hesketh, sought to use experience and resources from his Formula One activities to support a new British motorcycle manufacturer. Development took place at Easton Neston in Northamptonshire. The prototype used a Weslake-based engine and evolved into the V1000, a large V-twin motorcycle intended to combine British construction with modern technical specification and premium touring appeal. Lord Hesketh initially attempted to attract manufacturing partners. When none committed to the project, he established Hesketh Motorcycles plc and constructed a factory at Daventry in 1982. The V1000 incorporated four-valve cylinder heads, twin overhead camshafts and a nickel-plated Reynolds 531 frame. Its ambitious specification did not translate into dependable commercial production. The motorcycle was heavy and tall, manufacturing quality was inconsistent, and the rear cylinder suffered from overheating caused by insufficient airflow. Press criticism, a lack of development capital and a deteriorating motorcycle market contributed to the company’s collapse after 139 machines. Cagiva inspected the Daventry facility, while the Triumph co-operative also considered the rights. Neither transaction proceeded. Lord Hesketh recovered the principal rights from the liquidation and created Hesleydon Ltd in 1983. The new company developed the Vampire, a fully faired touring derivative with export ambitions. It retained fundamental V1000 weaknesses and approximately 40 examples were produced before Hesleydon closed in 1984. Mick Broom, an original development engineer and test rider, became central to the marque’s survival. A team associated with Broom continued to service existing motorcycles and develop improvements. Broom Engineering worked on reliability, including changes to oil circulation intended to control rear-cylinder temperatures, and produced small numbers of further machines. The Vortan was explored as a bored-out sports derivative, while the Vulcan was developed as a single 1,200 cc prototype. These efforts preserved the engineering knowledge and identity of the marque but did not create volume production. In 2006 Broom Engineering moved to Turweston Aerodrome near Silverstone after the Easton Neston site was sold and its future use changed. A burglary around the time of the move caused substantial disruption and removed tools, records and motorcycles. Broom sold the marque in 2010. The subsequent owners and managers announced a revival based on new, highly exclusive models. The revival’s principal announced project was the Hesketh 24, unveiled in 2014. The model was named for the number carried by James Hunt’s Hesketh Formula One car during the 1975 season. It was planned as a 24-unit limited edition with a 1,917 cc S&S X-Wedge air-cooled V-twin, optional engine tuning by Harris Performance Engines and styling derived from Hesketh’s racing colors and graphics. The proposed use of individually numbered gold plaques reinforced the marque’s collector-oriented positioning. Available reference material does not confirm the final production volume or the present operational status of the company.

• 2014

  Hesketh 24 is announced

  [1]Hesketh Motorcyclesen.wikipedia.org

  The revived company announces a planned 24-unit, Formula One-inspired motorcycle.

• 2010

  Marque is sold

  [1]Hesketh Motorcyclesen.wikipedia.org

  Mick Broom sells the Hesketh marque to new owners and managers.

• 2006

  Broom Engineering moves to Turweston

  [1]Hesketh Motorcyclesen.wikipedia.org

  The support and development operation relocates to Turweston Aerodrome near Silverstone.

• 1990

  Vulcan prototype is built

  [1]Hesketh Motorcyclesen.wikipedia.org

  Broom-associated development produces a single prototype with a bored-out 1,200 cc engine.

• 1984

  Vampire production ends

  [1]Hesketh Motorcyclesen.wikipedia.org

  Hesleydon ceases trading after producing approximately 40 Vampires.

• 1983

  Hesleydon Ltd is formed

  [1]Hesketh Motorcyclesen.wikipedia.org

  Lord Hesketh establishes a successor company and develops the faired Vampire touring derivative.

• 1982

  Daventry factory opens

  [1]Hesketh Motorcyclesen.wikipedia.org

  Hesketh Motorcycles plc establishes a purpose-built production facility and begins building the V1000.

• 1982

  Original company enters receivership

  [1]Hesketh Motorcyclesen.wikipedia.org

  Production ends after 139 V1000 motorcycles as technical, financial and market problems overwhelm the company.

• 1980

  Hesketh motorcycle project begins

  [1]Hesketh Motorcyclesen.wikipedia.org

  Lord Hesketh begins developing a new British motorcycle at Easton Neston, with a prototype running during the year.

An ultra-low-volume British motorcycle marque positioned around engineering character, Formula One heritage, hand-built exclusivity and high-capacity V-twin touring or performance motorcycles.

• V-twin touring motorcycle · 1982

  Hesketh V1000

  The V1000 was Hesketh’s first production motorcycle and the foundation of the marque. It used a large V-twin engine, four valves per cylinder, twin overhead camshafts and a nickel-plated Reynolds 531 frame. Conceived as a premium British gentleman’s tourer, it was technically ambitious but heavy and affected by manufacturing, reliability and rear-cylinder cooling problems. Production ended after 139 motorcycles when the original company entered receivership.

• Fully faired touring motorcycle · 1983

  Hesketh Vampire

  The Vampire was developed by Hesleydon as a more touring-focused and export-oriented successor to the V1000. Its full fairing and optional panniers were intended to broaden the motorcycle’s use for long-distance riding. The model retained many of the V1000’s technical weaknesses, and approximately 40 examples were produced before Hesleydon ceased trading.

• Sports motorcycle concept

  Hesketh Vortan

  The Vortan was a development concept based on the Hesketh platform. It used a bored-out 1,100 cc engine and a substantially modified chassis to pursue a sportier character than the V1000 touring model. It remained a low-volume or developmental machine rather than becoming a mainstream production product.

• Prototype motorcycle · 1990

  Hesketh Vulcan

  The Vulcan was a single prototype developed around a bored-out 1,200 cc engine and other modifications. It reflected Broom Engineering’s continuing effort to improve and extend the Hesketh design after the collapse of the original manufacturing companies.

• Limited-edition performance motorcycle · 2014

  Hesketh 24

  The Hesketh 24 was announced as the marque’s first all-new model in approximately 30 years. Named after James Hunt’s 1975 Hesketh Formula One car, it was planned as a 24-unit international limited edition. The motorcycle used a 1,917 cc air-cooled S&S X-Wedge V-twin, with tuning options associated with Harris Performance Engines. Its bodywork referenced Hesketh racing colors and each planned example was to receive a uniquely numbered 18-carat-gold plaque.

• 1980

  Investor losses and asset-stripping allegations

  The original project attracted investment from motorcycle enthusiasts. After the company failed, small investors lost much of their money, while Lord Hesketh reacquired important manufacturing rights from the liquidation at low cost. This produced resentment and allegations of asset-stripping, although the available reference describes suspicion rather than an established legal finding.

  Source

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• 2014

  Announce the Hesketh 24 limited editionProduct launch

  Background

  The revived marque sought to re-enter the market without attempting mass production.

  Action taken

  Hesketh announced a 24-unit motorcycle using a 1,917 cc S&S X-Wedge engine and styling inspired by James Hunt’s Hesketh Formula One car.

  Aftermath

  The model reinforced Hesketh’s low-volume collector and enthusiast positioning, but the available reference does not confirm final production or delivery numbers.

  Source

• 1983

  Develop the Vampire as a touring successorGeneration change

  Background

  The V1000’s design and market limitations created demand for a more touring-oriented derivative with export potential.

  Action taken

  Hesleydon introduced the fully faired Vampire, based on the V1000 platform.

  Aftermath

  The Vampire retained too many of the original motorcycle’s faults and production ended after approximately 40 units.

  Source

• 1982

  Build an in-house production operationStrategy

  Background

  No outside manufacturing partner committed to the motorcycle project after its initial development phase.

  Action taken

  Lord Hesketh formed Hesketh Motorcycles plc and established a purpose-built factory at Daventry.

  Aftermath

  The operation struggled with production quality, reliability, funding and market conditions, and entered receivership after 139 V1000 motorcycles.

  Source

1. 1Hesketh Motorcyclesen.wikipedia.org