Ariel

Ariel motorcycles were produced between 1898 and 1965, and again in 1970.

The company was a major manufacturer based in Selly Oak, Birmingham. As early as 1847 the name was used for a bicycle wheel design, and again in 1871 for a penny-farthing. In 1897 the firm was bought by Cycle Components.

• 1898 The first powered tricycle was built using a 1.75hp De Dion engine, made under licence, but mounted ahead of the rear axle - this location improved both weight distribution and stability.

• 1900 Ariel now offered a quadricycle with a larger, 2.75hp engine and a water-cooled cylinder head.

• 1901 The firm first demonstrated a motorcycle, using a 1.5hp Minerva engine, hung from the frame downtube, and a car.

• 1903 The first Ariel engine was built.

• 1904 The firm adopted the centre-engine position. They also offered the Liberty cycle attachment as a form of transport. This involved attaching a bicycle to the side of a motorcycle to form a quadricycle and avoid side-slip.

• 1905-1909 Other models were added, included the tricar. Larger, 6hp V-twin JAP engines were used.

• 1910 One basic model replaced all the others. This used a 3.5hp White and Poppe engine with valves spaced apart on one side of the cylinder and the Bosch magneto in front of the crankcase. Later that year the new and advanced 'Arielette' was announced.

• 1911 By now, Ariel had purchased the rights to White and Poppe and had begun to make engines themselves, with a much higher capacity. They soon produced models, from tourer to TT racer, with a variety of belt-drive transmissions.

• 1914 An Abingdon engine was used and it, and some singles, adopted a three-speed gearbox and a chain-cum-belt drive.

• 1916 Throughout the rest of the Great War, the company supplied the War Office with 3.5hp singles and a few V-twins.

• 1925 The company recruited Val Page to design new machines and improve the archaic engine.

• 1927 and 1928 The firm won the prestigious Maudes Trophy. This highlighted the tough, new design and promoted the Ariel marque.

• 1931 Inclined engines became the fashion of the day. The Turner design was introduced and this made a great impact with its four cylinders arranged in a square, the crankshafts geared together, an ohc and 498cc capacity. It was listed as the 'Square Four' but soon came to be known as the 'Squariel'. The company won the Maudes Trophy once again but, despite this, the firm was in financial trouble. They pared down and Val Page left to join the Triumph team.

• World War II The company built a military version of the 346cc ohv single and in 1944 Ariel was bought by BSA.

• 1950s Many revisions were made, but Ariel failed to make much of an impression on the motorcycle industry.

• 1958 In complete contrast to anything they had ever produced before, Ariel introduced the 'Leader' - with a 247cc twin-cylinder two-stroke engine and a four-speed gearbox. It also had the panel-enclosed engine unit hung from the main frame beam in pressed steel with trailing-link forks. This modern design could be mass-produced and offered scooter protection with motorcycle handling.

Sources of Information

The British Motorcycle Directory - Over 1,100 Marques from 1888 - by Roy Bacon and Ken Hallworth. Pub: The Crowood Press