Healey 1000/4
| Manufacturer | Healey Motorcycles, Redditch, Worcestershire |
|---|---|
| Production | 1971-77 |
| Engine | 997 cc OHV square four |
| Top speed | 120 mph (190 km/h) |
| Power | 52bhp @ 6,000rpm |
| Transmission | Four-speed gearbox to chain final drive |
| Brakes | 230 mm disc front drum rear |
| Weight |
355 pounds (161 kg) (dry) |
The Healey 1000/4 is a British motorcycle made by the Healey brothers between 1971 and 1977.[1] Fitted with an improved Ariel Square Four 1000 cc engine the Healey was cheaper than a Honda Gold Wing, but only 28 Healey motorcycles were ever built.[2]
Development
Brothers George and Tim Healey were Ariel Square Four enthusiasts who upgraded the big 1000 cc engines for racing throughout the 1960s, tuning the performance and building a supercharged sprint motorcycle which doubled the power output.[2] Originally designed by Edward Turner in 1928, the Ariel Square Four was the only motorcycle engine with four cylinders arranged to form a square. The front two cylinders powered one crankshaft while the rear two drove a second. A helical flywheel gear between them meshed so that the crankpins of one shaft were at top and bottom dead centres, with the crankpins of the other were at half stroke, resulting in a very efficient engine with little vibration.[3]
When Ariel ended production of the Square Four the Healey brothers were able to gather together a huge collection of spare parts and in 1971 planned production of the Healey 1000/4 at a small workshop in Bartlett Road, Redditch, close to the old Royal Enfield factory. The entire staff consisted of the two brothers, mechanic Paul Mayhew, and a full-time secretary to answer the phone. Their aim was to use the antiquated but powerful square four 1000 cc engine in a modern racing frame. The prototype used a, Frame which had a strong steel spine that contained the oil tank. They also made improvements to the lubrication of the old engine, with an oil cooler, upgraded oil pump and a big capacity oil filter. Power was upgraded from 45 to 52 bhp with a special camshaft and a 7.5:1 compression ratio.[2]
Launched at the 1971 Earls Court Motorcycle Show the Healey 1000/4 got a lot of interest so a supply of special frames went into production on site at Bartleet Road. Soon after production started Tim Healey was knocked off a test bike in an accident with a car and broke his ankle, but he continued at the workshop from a wheelchair.[2]
They were fitted with Metal Profile Forks. The Healey 1000/4 was a good handling machine that brought together a well proven engine with updated technology and achieved a best speed of 126 in road tests. At 355 lbs the Healey weighed less than the Honda 250 of the same year. Even established manufacturers such as BSA were struggling for survival in the early 1970s however, and the Healey 1000/4 could not compete with new Japanese superbikes which were cheaper and faster. Tim Healey moved on to specialist tuning work with Laverda and his brother George did his best but the workshop closed in 1977 with just 28 finished bikes and conversion kits produced, although today the rare surviving Healeys are highly sought after by enthusiasts.[2]