1983 Hesketh..never heard of them!

Mitch1100 · Post by **Mitch1100** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 10:53 pm

A rare bike is visiting Tasmania at the moment. A 1983 Hesketh, one of three known to be in Australia. In immaculate condition it will be touring the state for the next week along with a Triumph T150 Trident in immaculate condition
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SP250 · Post by **SP250** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 11:09 pm

Mitch that's a T150 Trident in the background not a T120 Bonneville.

f90x · Post by **f90x** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 11:47 pm

At the time I really liked the Hesketh and thought it looked great. Ultimately I believe they were overpriced, overweight and underpowered as well as being unreliable. As it happens a friend of mine at the time was working at British Aluminium who developed the wheels. I hope they have a backup van with plenty of spares. I'll take the Trumpet.

dave the german · Post by **dave the german** » Sat Feb 28, 2015 5:44 am

I remember seeing the Hesketh at the first (I think) birmingham bike show - it was called the Big Brum. Wanted it to succeed as it was British but as above, overweight overpriced etc

Grip Fast · Post by **Grip Fast** » Sat Feb 28, 2015 9:37 am

The marque is back with the special edition 24. Saw one at the Classic Bike show in the NEC before Christmas.

http://www.heskethmotorcycles.co.uk

P.S. Called the 24 after James Hunt's racing number.

The Teutonic Tangerine · Tue Mar 03, 2015 11:30 am

Not wishing to be a Pedant but it's a T160 Trident. the T150 had different tank and the Engine Barrels were bolt upright. A friend is in the midst of rebuilding his T150 Which he's had since the early 1980's

Corvus · Post by **Corvus** » Tue Mar 03, 2015 4:11 pm

Im with sp250.

That's a t150 Shirley?

Blackal · Post by **Blackal** » Tue Mar 03, 2015 4:23 pm

The T160 was a beautiful creation......

Same as Norton - there is something aesthetically-pleasing about having the engine tilted forward, with the pipes swept up at a complementing angle.

The sculpted tank - was also...... just right.

Al

Corvus · Post by **Corvus** » Tue Mar 03, 2015 4:39 pm

Blackal wrote:The T160 was a beautiful creation......

Same as Norton - there is something aesthetically-pleasing about having the engine tilted forward, with the pipes swept up at a complementing angle.

The sculpted tank - was also...... just right.

Al

I agree, it was/is lovely. Not the bike in the op tho.

Interesting how they made the crankshafts.

slparry · Post by **slparry** » Tue Mar 03, 2015 8:07 pm

Jeepers look how small that front disk is

1200boxer · Post by **1200boxer** » Tue Mar 03, 2015 11:04 pm

slparry wrote:Jeepers look how small that front disk is

The front wheel is 19" which makes it look small.It's not a very large disk though.

SP250 · Post by **SP250** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 7:54 am

The OP Trident is a T150 with upright cylinders but US spec with wide bars Bonnie shape tank and later sidepanels.
T160 and the Craig Vetter designed Triumph X75 Hurricane used the BSA Rocket 3 engine with canted forward cylinders as per Al's pic.

Rode them all, owned a couple, raced a production R3 in the 70's.

Corvus · Post by **Corvus** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 11:03 am

SP250 wrote:The OP Trident is a T150 with upright cylinders but US spec with wide bars Bonnie shape tank and later sidepanels.
T160 and the Craig Vetter designed Triumph X75 Hurricane used the BSA Rocket 3 engine with canted forward cylinders as per Al's pic.

Rode them all, owned a couple, raced a production R3 in the 70's.

Game, set and match.

Chaps?

The Teutonic Tangerine · Wed Mar 04, 2015 4:00 pm

I stand corrected. My Mates Tank is more Slab sided (IE English / european spec