Say hello to the VALR Bobber. This bike started as a sketch on a scrap of paper, a mix of heritage and adventure, and now roaring to life thanks to the team Thornton Hundred motorcycles.
We built it as a tribute to the RAF’s legendary Squadron V, whose grit, precision, and sense of purpose have always inspired me. Every detail of this build connects back to that spirit of raw, functional, unapologetically bold. But it’s also designed to go the distance. Across countries, new terrain and embracing adventure.
Working with the team at Thornton Hundred, we pushed every detail to its limit. This isn’t just a show bike, It’s a ride-ready machine with the soul of a war-era workhorse and the styling of something you’ve never seen before.
From a custom twisted exhaust, hand-built for character and sound, made to echo through valleys and across coastlines; V4 carbon wide wheels that bring both performance and edge plus a hand-stitched seat, tank bag, and bespoke panniers built for endurance and style. Not to mention bespoke military-inspired paintwork, down to the finest detailing. And the finishing touches of the compass, reminding us of VALR’s moto and 1-of-1 engine plaque to remind us this is a one-off, never to be repeated.
This bike is personal. Not just for how it looks or rides, but for what it stands for. VALR is about pushing boundaries, mentally, physically, and creatively. This build is the first step in a journey that’ll take me across Europe and beyond.
Let’s see where the road leads.
– Harry
VALR is a word that actually comes from Old Norse. It means ‘the fallen’, which is a tribute to many friends and colleagues that I’ve lost over the years from my military life. But it’s also a tribute to those that have been affected by things like warfare and strife.
So, I started out adventure motorcycling in war torn parts of the world while in the military. Riding around on a motorbike in difficult places taught me a lot about riding in those sorts of challenging conditions. And when I came back to the UK, back to civilian life, I found that almost everywhere I went I found people who were fascinated or interested in the same pastime, but just didn’t know where to start. Or there were those that have been doing it for a while but didn’t know how to improve. The combination of my background, my experience and a lot of coaching and coercing from friends and family, I decided to do something about it. And VALR was formed.
VALR is essentially about trying to get a community of like-minded people to understand that getting into adventure motorcycling is actually quite easy, if you know what you’re doing. And if you don’t know what you’re doing, we’re here to help!
There’s something about being on two wheels in an environment that is different to being inside a car or a coach or a bus or whatever. You’re much more engaged with the environment. Plus, that sense of adventure and escaping your everyday life. I found that by being on my bike, being in adventurous places and being just a little bit out of my comfort zone, was enough to keep me really quite interested in what I was doing. And I found lots of people who want to do the same.
Yeah, probably. Don’t look too closely, but you’ll find plenty of scars around my face and head. I think as a child I used my head as my third hand to break most of my falls as I grew up, falling out of trees or falling down holes of one sort or another. So, yeah, I’ve always enjoyed being a little bit uncomfortable, a little bit outside, a little bit in an adventurous environment.
It’s probably all of those things, but I think at a very personal level, when you’re by yourself in a slightly difficult situation, and by the way, difficult is defined by different people in different ways. You could be riding to Brighton for the first time for a weekend camping. That could be difficult for you. You could be riding around Mongolia, living off the land. That’s difficult for you. It’s really about defining what difficult means for you. But whatever that is, what I really enjoy is that sense of overcoming it, getting comfortable with it, being in a place where you feel – yeah, I can cope with this and I’m going to enjoy it.
I want people who are interested in getting into adventure motorcycling, no matter your creed, gender, background, or even your income level, I want you to know how to get into it and enjoy it. There are a few things that it’d be worth knowing before you start with adventurous travel, and I’m there to try and help. VALR is really about doing that, first and foremost. Secondly, if you are into the sport already but want to extend your skills, understand a bit more about how to do these things carefully and comfortably, then again, we’re here to help.
We are an experienced and dedicated team here to help you plan your next adventure. From route planning, guidance on kit, personalised packing solutions and more.
Email us direct with any questions or support.
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