Hesketh Racing, a team in the true vein of
“gentlemen racers”, ran from 1972 to 1978, and gave James Hunt his start in
Formula 3. In 1978, when the team folded, Lord Hesketh decided that the market
needed was a true English motorcycle, in the vein of the Vincent Black Shadow.
With the issue of the limited edition Hesketh 24 –
named after James Hunt’s racing number, with only 24 examples made – Hesketh
has now come up with a concept machine dubbed the Valiant SC. Based on the
current model Hesketh Valiant, the SC adds a supercharger that bumps the power
figure up to 210 hp.
Power comes from an S&S “X-wedge” 2,100 cc
V-twin, coupled with S&S closed-loop engine management and a Rotrex
supercharger. Developed in conjunction with UK engine wizards TTS Performance,
power is claimed by Hesketh to be 210 hp at 5,500 rpm, with torque rated at 295
Nm at 3,000 rpm.
The S&S V-twin drives a Baker six-speed gearbox,
with a King Kong hydraulic clutch. and final drive is by chain. As can be
presumed with a hand-built motorcycle, billet machined components abound,
including the Hesketh three-piece Astralite-style 17-nch wheels.
Braking is with Pretech callipers, a twin six-piston
affair in front, and a four-pot unit grabs the rear brake. Suspension for the
Valiant SC is done by Ohlins and K-Tech in the front forks, with a K-Tech Razor
rear monoshock.
Wet weight for the Hesketh Valiant SC is claimed to
239 kg, due in part to the twin-cradle chrome-moly steel frame, while oil is
carried in the aluminium extruded box section swing arm with integral 4.5-litre
oil tank. Rizoma supplies some of the fit-out kit, along with various other
components by Magura, Smiths, Domino and Moto Gadget.
Delivery for the Valiant SC is expected to be in the
summer of 2018, and orders are being taken now. The Hesketh Valiant SC is
priced at around 50,000 pounds sterling, ex-works.
