Motorcycle specifications Hesketh Sonnet 2200 2017 An exception?

The period is ripe for high-ranking machines, dreaming of nobility and enticing aesthetes. England, once a land of multiple manufacturers, is gradually emerging from its lethargy. After the Japanese storm of the second half of the twentieth century, Triumph was the only company to come back from the slaughter, and English motorcycling was no longer synonymous with anything other than the Triumph name. Today, some names are emerging from oblivion: Norton, Brough Superior, Ariel, Matchless...
Now it's Hesketh's turn to get a new lease on life. Its history is more recent than that of the aforementioned protagonists, more chaotic, stricken by doldrums. Then the Model 24 came along, bringing it back to the attention of enthusiasts. Today, it's the Sonnet that takes up the mantle of honor, prestige and character.

The bike is English, and it shows from frame to frame. Metal, style and a big heart for this café-racer. While the machine doesn't match the slenderness of a 961 Commando, the silhouette doesn't displease.
Before we focus on the beautiful parts and the "so British" spirit, let's linger on the choice morsel that is the engine. It's neither English nor European. Hesketh has chosen the services of engine builder S&S, a great specialist in big, fat twins, and the choice of most when it comes to equipping machines oscillating between custom and creation. And it's heavy stuff! An impressive 2163 cm3 block. Sleek, muscular and sure of its strength, this American twin-cylinder has plenty of heart-pounding power in its connecting rods. It spits out no less than 145 hp at 6,000 rpm. And the torque is frightening: 21.4 mkg, reached at just 3,000 rpm. Figures that remind us of Triumph's 2300 Rocket III.

The frame is much more classic. A double tubular steel cradle, simple, clean and unobtrusive, with only a reverential "Made in England" on the front tubes. For suspension, Hesketh chose the English company K-Tech, which provides a large inverted fork and a pair of rear shock absorbers. Brembo brakes are de rigueur, with 4-piston radial calipers on 320 mm tracks.
The wheels don't seem to want to stand out. And yet, they're made of carbon. It's part of a whole series of features that give the Sonnet a high-end feel. Leave the engine and bike aside, and enjoy the superb adjustable footpegs, or the embossed leather saddle with integrated backrest, and block in front of the tank. A piece worthy of an old airplane, with two Monza-style plugs and crossed by a set of metal and leather straps. Carry on! The exhausts are proud of their welds. Domino controls surround a minimalist speedometer. But what a pity the swingarm is so plain.

Hesketh has scheduled 100 examples of this Sonnet for 2017. Typically a café-racer, the Sonnet will not be a priority machine for the arsouille. Its 235 kilos dry weight make it no lightweight in the category. But that's not the most important thing. Shaped by passion, aimed at a highly targeted and valued clientele, the Sonnet has chosen its time well to put the spotlight back on a brand with an unusual past. More than just performance, today's top-of-the-range brand enjoys blending history and beauty.