Ariel Arrow Super Sport 250

Ariel Arrow
Manufacturer	Ariel
Also called	Arrow Super Sport 250, Arrow 200
Production	1961 - 62
Engine	Two stroke, parallel twin
Compression ratio	10:1
Top Speed	126 km/h / 78 mph
Ignition	Coil
Battery	6V
Transmission	4-Speed
Suspension	Front: Trailing link fork Rear: Swing arm, twin shock absorbers/dampers
Brakes	Front: Drum, 6 in, leading shoe Rear: Drum, 6 in, leading shoe
Front Tire	White wall
Rear Tire	White wall
Wheelbase	1300 mm / 51 in
Seat Height	760 mm / 30 in
Weight	132 kg / 290 lbs (dry),
Fuel Capacity	13.6 L / 3.6 US gal
Manuals	Service Manual

It could reach a top speed of 126 km/h / 78 mph.

Engine

The engine was a Air cooled cooled Two stroke, parallel twin. The engine featured a 10:1 compression ratio.

Drive

Power was moderated via the Multi plate.

Chassis

It came with a White wall front tire and a White wall rear tire. Stopping was achieved via Drum, 6 in, leading shoe in the front and a Drum, 6 in, leading shoe in the rear. The front suspension was a Trailing link fork while the rear was equipped with a Swing arm, twin shock absorbers/dampers. The Arrow Super Sport 250 was fitted with a 13.6 L / 3.6 US gal fuel tank. The bike weighed just 132 kg / 290 lbs. The wheelbase was 1300 mm / 51 in long.

Photos

Overview

Ariel Arrow Super Sport 250

When introduced, the Ariel 2-strokes were, by the standards of the time, quite a modern and different concept—and in many ways still are. The Ariel Leader was the first to appear, introduced at the 1958 Motor Cycle Show and was a sensation. The stripped down version, the ‘Arrow’, arrived late '59, and the Super Sports Arrow appeared a year later at the beginning of January '61. All were 247cc twin cylinder 2-strokes, the Leader and Arrow being fitted with a 7/8” Amal 375 Monobloc carb, whilst the Super Sports had the larger 1-1/16” Amal 376 which gave it the edge in performance and with its very glamorous teenage grabbing finish. It was an immediate hit and sold well. For the time, performance of the Super Sports Arrow was excellent with rapid acceleration and an indicated top speed of 80mph flat on the tank (rider prone) but it took about a mile to get the right numbers on the clock. However, slightly downhill and with a following wind it would often see an indicated 84mph. The standard Arrow was a few mph slower. Fuel consumption seemed to vary little from 70mpg irrespective of how it was ridden. This was in contrast to the Japanese 250cc 2-stroke twins that were arriving. Their consumption was much greater, but so was their performance.

The Leader and Arrow were all based around the same rigid box section frame and the clever trailing link front suspension, the design of which gave an almost constant wheelbase whatever the suspension movement. With the fuel tank enclosed within the frame (early examples 2.3 gals, later 3 gals) and the engine suspended on lugs beneath, a very low centre of gravity was achieved, the combination of which resulted in excellent handling. Because of this, Arrow riders loved the twisty bits, and often surprised riders of much larger motorcycles. These big bike boys would more often than not take the Mickey out of any 2-stroke rider—and especially the Arrows—because they were so different and "a bit scooter-like". Probably the worst feature of the design was the poor front brake, and for anything like decent retardation both brakes had to be used hard and in unison. The rear was OK, if not brilliant, but as both are exactly the same 6” units, it must largely be down to a lack of leverage to the front.

Make Model	Ariel Arrow Super Sport 250
Year	1961 - 62
Engine Type	Two stroke, parallel twin
Displacement	247 cc / 15.1 cu in
Bore X Stroke	54 x 54 mm
Cooling System	Air cooled
Compression	10:1
Fuel/oil Mix	50:1
Exhaust	2-into-2
Induction	1-1/16 in Amal 376 carburetor
Ignition	Coil
Alternator / Generator	Lucas
Battery	6V
Starting	Kick
Max Power	14.9 kW / 20 hp 2 6500 rpm
Clutch	Multi plate
Transmission	4-Speed
Final Drive	Chain
Front Suspension	Trailing link fork
Rear Suspension	Swing arm, twin shock absorbers/dampers
Front Brakes	Drum, 6 in, leading shoe
Rear Brakes	Drum, 6 in, leading shoe
Wheels	Steel, laced wire spokes
Front Rim	3.25 x 16
Rear Rim	3.25 x 16
Front Tire	White wall
Rear Tire	White wall
Wheelbase	1300 mm / 51 in
Seat Height	760 mm / 30 in
Turning Radius	2.4 m / 8 ft
Dry Weight	132 kg / 290 lbs
Fuel Capacity	13.6 L / 3.6 US gal
Average Consumption	3.5 L/100 km / 28.6 km/l / 67 US mpg
Top Speed	126 km/h / 78 mph
Review	Extracts from Terry Stokes, Sump Magazine

External Links

• http://www.sump-publishing.co.uk/