This Gorgeous 450cc Retro-style Bike Is Made By An Ex-Formula 1 Team

Former underdog F1 team Hesketh, which won several podiums and races with legendary racer James Hunt, has a motorcycle division. The company which was revived in 2014 teased its all-new 450cc motorcycle, christened the Heresy 450, a couple of months ago in August. While the bike has been revealed through discreet images via social media, the full reveal will take place tomorrow, at EICMA.

The company claims it's the most technically advanced Hesketh ever produced. At the heart lies a 450cc mill sourced from Honda, originally belonging to a Honda XR400. And if we take the XR400’s motor specs as a reference, the mill should produce similar power figures if not more, which are around 34PS and 33Nm. 

But the motor is built as per Hesketh’s specifications in Taiwan featuring twin ports, twin injectors, and a Euro-5 certification. So we could expect better power figures. The Heresy 450 also features a K-Tech suspension, a hand-built tubular steel frame and radially mounted brake calipers with twin disc brakes up front – not something you’d see on 450cc bikes these days. 

Oddly enough, the bike runs a twin gas-charged shock absorber set up at the back presumably with pre-load and rebound adjustment. Up front, you have adjustable upside forks and an LED headlight. The twin under-seat exhaust is yet another design element that enthusiasts would appreciate. Also, carbon fibre components such as the fenders, flyscreen, and bodywork suggest that Hesketh has tried to keep the bike’s weight in check. 

Design-wise, Hesketh has kept things simple. The smaller roadster sticks to the company’s neo-retro design language with minimal bodywork. The chiselled tank flows into a quilted seat with a seat cowl. The taillight is expected to be an all-LED unit as well. 

Expect the  Heresy 450 to retail at around £14,000 - £15,000 (Rs 13 lakh - Rs 14 lakh)  – a steep investment, we’d say despite the kit on offer. But it’s mostly targeted towards a niche segment of buyers with deep pockets who love the brand. More details will follow soon this week at EICMA, so stay tuned to ZigWheels.

Source: RideApart, VisorDown