Exotic twins are they really that bad?

[timwilky]

So the thread title got you interested eh.


Wrong type of twins.

So the other day I had my bike in the workshop for its annual MOT. whilst there I had a mooch around and gathering dust is a Hesketh.

I was warned by the owner to stop dreaming, it had been sat there for over a year as he had been struggling to source bits.

This rang alarm bells, I have always wanted something interesting. But are you better off getting something that was once plentiful and still a huge supply of bits and never has the true wow factor. Or do you get the oddballs like this Hesketh and hope that you can put it back on the road sometime before you die.

[Lozzo]

Heskeths were always difficult to find parts for because the factory was in trouble right from the moment the bike was released, and subsequently went out of business. All the parts left at the factory were sold at auction by the administrators and there weren't enough there to satisfy demand as the bikes weren't exactly reliable.

Alot of the chassis parts were bought in from big name manufacturers, like the Spondon made frame, Astralite wheels, Italian suspension (they used Marzocchi and Paoli), Brembo brakes and the clock set was made by Nissin and directly lifted from the Honda CB900F but had Hesketh where the Honda logo sat. Getting spares for those wouldn't be too difficult, but the engine/gearbox parts were all Hesketh specific.

They did remake the bike with a full fairing and called it the Vampire, but they suffered with reliability problems too. All depends on what spares are required, but the only place you'll find engine parts is through the owners club.

[timwilky]

This one apparently had the rear cylinder cooling problem despite having an oil cooler fitted. I would guess getting it bored is not going to be a problem. But a replacement piston/rings etc would be.

[yorkie_chris]

So you'd have to go all Burt Munroe and cast your own in the shed?

[Bibio]

well according to this place you can still buy a new one. starting from a cool £20k.

http://www.broom.engineering.btinternet.co.uk/heskethframes.htm

[Lozzo]

well according to this place you can still buy a new one. starting from a cool £20k.

http://www.broom.engineering.btinternet.co.uk/heskethframes.htm


I just came back to this thread to edit my post with this same link, I had no idea they were still making them.

When I was a lad I lusted after a Hesketh, much to the disgust of my mates at the time (they were all into the latest boring Japanese UJMs that had been around for years). At the '82 bike show I managed to filch one of their promotional packs and still have the gold and enamel lapel badge that was inside

[yorkie_chris]

Looking on website I do not see the point of those at all, they look like worst looking h*ndas. Who would pay however many 1000 for a CX500 replica :smt082

[Lozzo]

Looking on website I do not see the point of those at all, they look like worst looking h*ndas. Who would pay however many 1000 for a CX500 replica :smt082

CX had a engine turned through 90 deg and shaft drive (only Honda could build something with camchains and pushrods). If anything it's more Ducati Darmah styled.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/upload/218052/images/Ducati_darmah.jpg

[yorkie_chris]

CX had a engine turned through 90 deg and shaft drive (only Honda could build something with camchains and pushrods). If anything it's more Ducati Darmah styled.

The fairing shape reminded me of it. Which given all the iconic and lovely bike shapes to pick from that isn't one you want a bike to look like!

If I wanted something unreliable I would have a Laverda :)

[BigBaddad]

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_AFMdroM9tHU/SRBUSRpuchI/AAAAAAAAF_4/ZjZtp_xZVOI/s800/78280_Cheeky_Girls_1_122_19lo_-_tastyceleb.com_-_1.jpg

cheeky cheeky

[Quiff Wichard]

Hesketh.. never played well for England.. look at that sitter he missed on Saturday

[Jamesy D]

http://www.grimmemennesker.dk/data/media/3/smiling-twins.jpg

Yes. Yes they are.


On a serious note couldn't it be potentially even better to collect bits together and construct your own bike from scratch? Stick an SV1000 lump into a ZX-6R frame and add an old GSXR swingarm and hey presto, V-twin supersports. Well it's what I want to do some day...

[Lozzo]

http://www.grimmemennesker.dk/data/media/3/smiling-twins.jpg

Yes. Yes they are.



Note the lack of a wedding ring... I wonder why, sure she's got a great personality and all that.

[Bluefish]

Starting price of £20000, LOL.

[no_akira]

Burt Munro, what a superstar DJ...

His micrometer (a precision measuring instrument) was an old spoke [wikipedia]

If there isn't already a "church of Burt Munro" there should be...

Saint Burt Munro effigies should hang in every tinkers shed / garage across the land...

[BigBaddad]

http://www.grimmemennesker.dk/data/media/3/smiling-twins.jpg

Yes. Yes they are.


On a serious note couldn't it be potentially even better to collect bits together and construct your own bike from scratch? Stick an SV1000 lump into a ZX-6R frame and add an old GSXR swingarm and hey presto, V-twin supersports. Well it's what I want to do some day...


Ain't that DaveP and LeedsMatt at AR2008?

[xXBADGERXx]

I would rather have a working oddball bike than a "me too" . Look at the array of bikes at shows and rallies . I instantly "Brain Censor" anything that is Triumph shaped and I am always drawn to things that are an engineers nightmare . I am of the ilk and mindset that a Lathe and Milling machine can solve most problems and the only thing in your path is a bit of reverse engineering . And stop putting pictures of the Cheeky Girls up , it`s costing me valuable time with all these cold showers I have to keep having .