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Difference between revisions of "Ariel"
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==Intro== | ==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. | 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== | ==Red Hunter== | ||
[[Image:1949-Ariel-NH-Hunter.jpg|right|thumb|1949 Ariel NH 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. | 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== | ==Huntmaster== | ||
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[[Image:1955-Ariel-Square-Four.jpg|right|thumb|1955 Ariel 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:1958-Ariel-Square-Four.jpg|right|thumb|1958 Ariel Square Four]] | ||
Undoubtedly, the most famous bike produced under the Ariel Marquee was the '''Square Four'''. | |||
==Leader== | |||
[[Image: | [[Image:1964-Ariel-Leader.jpg|right|thumb|1964 Ariel Leader]] | ||
[[Image:1963-Ariel-Arrow-Super-Sports.jpg|right|thumb|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. | |||
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[[Category:Motorcycle manufacturers]] | [[Category:Motorcycle manufacturers]] | ||