Difference between revisions of "Ariel"
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[[Image: | ==Intro== | ||
Ariel is one of the oldest motorcycle manufacturers. Before starting to build [[motorcycles]] around the turn of the century, they were well known for their bicycles. Based in Selly Oak in the Midlands, by the 1930s they had became one of Britain's most influential manufacturers. They employed [[Edward Turner]], [[Val Page]] and [[Bert Hopwood]] - who would later become known as three of the British bike industry's greatest designers. In the 1930s Ariel closed down due to financial problems, but was restarted when Jack Sangster son of Ariel's founder Charles, bought the firm and restarted production of bikes such as the VH500 Red Hunter. | |||
==Red Hunter== | |||
[[Image:1949-Ariel-NH-Hunter.jpg|right|thumb|1949 Ariel NH Hunter]] | |||
The red hunter was quite a good looking machine for it's time coming in both 350 and 500cc sizes, it was produced from 1932 until the late 1950s. [[Sammy Miller]]'s successful GOV132 trials bike was based on a 1955 Red Hunter 500. A late 1930s Red Hunter 500 was among the best bikes of its day, capable of well over 75 mph (120kph) and reliable at the same time. The Red Hunter handling was supplied by it's girder front forks and rigid rear end. Rear suspension was introduced in 1939. The hunter continued to be slowly updated during the 1930s. When production was recommenced after the Second World War, it received telescopic forks and an alloy cylinder head. In the 1950s it received an update frame. | |||
==Huntmaster== | |||
[[Image:1958-Ariel-FH650-Huntmaster.jpg|right|thumb|1958 Ariel FH650 Huntmaster]] | |||
In 1944 the firm was sold to [[BSA]]. After the sale, Ariel built two types of twins, the softly-tuned 500cc KH, which debuted in 1949 selling poorly, and the more powerful and successful Huntmaster which was powered by a modified version of the 650cc engine from [[BSA]'s A10. The Huntmaster however was it's own bike with a completely different frame from the A10. The Huntmaster was particularly popular with sidecar fanatics in the late 1950s. | |||
==Square Four== | |||
[[Image:1955-Ariel-Square-Four.jpg|right|thumb|1955 Ariel Square Four]] | |||
[[Image:1958-Ariel-Square-Four.jpg|right|thumb|1958 Ariel Square Four]] | |||
[[Image: | [[Image:1963-Ariel-Arrow-Super-Sports.jpg|left|thumb|1963 Ariel Arrow Super Sports]] | ||
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[[Image: | |||
[[Image:1964-Ariel-Leader.jpg|left|thumb|1964 Ariel Leader]] | |||
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[[Category:Motorcycle manufacturers]] | [[Category:Motorcycle manufacturers]] | ||
Revision as of 16:28, 21 December 2006
Intro
Ariel is one of the oldest motorcycle manufacturers. Before starting to build motorcycles around the turn of the century, they were well known for their bicycles. Based in Selly Oak in the Midlands, by the 1930s they had became one of Britain's most influential manufacturers. They employed Edward Turner, Val Page and Bert Hopwood - who would later become known as three of the British bike industry's greatest designers. In the 1930s Ariel closed down due to financial problems, but was restarted when Jack Sangster son of Ariel's founder Charles, bought the firm and restarted production of bikes such as the VH500 Red Hunter.
Red Hunter
The red hunter was quite a good looking machine for it's time coming in both 350 and 500cc sizes, it was produced from 1932 until the late 1950s. Sammy Miller's successful GOV132 trials bike was based on a 1955 Red Hunter 500. A late 1930s Red Hunter 500 was among the best bikes of its day, capable of well over 75 mph (120kph) and reliable at the same time. The Red Hunter handling was supplied by it's girder front forks and rigid rear end. Rear suspension was introduced in 1939. The hunter continued to be slowly updated during the 1930s. When production was recommenced after the Second World War, it received telescopic forks and an alloy cylinder head. In the 1950s it received an update frame.
Huntmaster
In 1944 the firm was sold to BSA. After the sale, Ariel built two types of twins, the softly-tuned 500cc KH, which debuted in 1949 selling poorly, and the more powerful and successful Huntmaster which was powered by a modified version of the 650cc engine from [[BSA]'s A10. The Huntmaster however was it's own bike with a completely different frame from the A10. The Huntmaster was particularly popular with sidecar fanatics in the late 1950s.
Square Four
