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Difference between revisions of "Ariel"
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'''Ariel'' began in 1847 in Bournbrook, England as a manufacturer of pneumatic-tired wheels for horse drawn carriages. In 1885 Ariel moved into bicycle production under the leadership of James Starley ("Father of the Bicycle Industry") and William Hillman. | |||
==Intro== | ==Intro== | ||
[[Image:1949-Ariel-NH-Hunter.jpg|right|thumb|260px|1949 Ariel NH Hunter]] | [[Image:1949-Ariel-NH-Hunter.jpg|right|thumb|260px|1949 Ariel NH Hunter]] | ||
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==Huntmaster== | ==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. | 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. | ||
[[Image:1958-Ariel-FH650-Huntmaster.jpg|left|thumb|250px|1958 Ariel FH650 Huntmaster]] | [[Image:1958-Ariel-FH650-Huntmaster.jpg|left|thumb|250px|1958 Ariel FH650 Huntmaster]] | ||
<br style="clear: left"/> | <br style="clear: left"/> | ||
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[[Image:1963-Ariel-Arrow-Super-Sports.jpg|left|thumb|250px|1963 Ariel Arrow Super Sports]] | [[Image:1963-Ariel-Arrow-Super-Sports.jpg|left|thumb|250px|1963 Ariel Arrow Super Sports]] | ||
The '''Leader''' was probably Ariel's bravest foray into motorcycle manufacturing. It was an innovate, fully enclosed 250cc two-stroke released in 1959. Producing peak output of 18bhp, with the twin-cylinder engine based on that of the German [[Adler]]. The leader was intended to be a proper motorcycle with the convenience of a [[scooter]]. The Leader actually worked rather well, with a top speed of about 70mph (112kph) and excellent handling. But the public didn't take well to it. Ariel later striped the bodywork to produce the '''Arrow''', with a tuned 20bhp engine in the '''Super Sports''' and '''Golden Arrow''' variants. Although the Arrow sold well it wasn't enough to stop Ariel from going under in 1967. | The '''Leader''' was probably Ariel's bravest foray into motorcycle manufacturing. It was an innovate, fully enclosed 250cc two-stroke released in 1959. Producing peak output of 18bhp, with the twin-cylinder engine based on that of the German [[Adler]]. The leader was intended to be a proper motorcycle with the convenience of a [[scooter]]. The Leader actually worked rather well, with a top speed of about 70mph (112kph) and excellent handling. But the public didn't take well to it. Ariel later striped the bodywork to produce the '''Arrow''', with a tuned 20bhp engine in the '''Super Sports''' and '''Golden Arrow''' variants. Although the Arrow sold well it wasn't enough to stop Ariel from going under in 1967. | ||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||