Ariel Motorcycles

Infobox Defunct Company
company_name = Ariel Motorcycles
company_
fate = Sold to BSA
successor = BSA
foundation = 1902
defunct = 1970
location = Bournbrook, Birmingham
industry = manufacturing and engineering
key_people = Jack Sangster and Val Page
products = motorcycles
num_employees =
parent =
subsid =

Ariel Motorcycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer based in Bournbrook, Birmingham. It was one of the leading innovators in British motorcycling, and was part of the Ariel marque. The company was sold to BSA in 1944 and the name was discontinued in 1970. Influential Ariel designers included Edward Turner and Val Page.

History

The original company was established in 1870 by James Starley and William Hillman to make bicycles. The name came from the first penny farthing bicycle which was so light they called it the Ariel "spirit of the air".cite book|last=De Cet|first=Mirco|title=The Complete Encyclopedia of Classic Motorcycles|editor=Quentin Daniel|publisher=Rebo International|date=2005|isbn=13: 978-90-366-1497-9|language=English] It merged with Westwood Manufacturing in 1896 and made a powered tricycle in 1898 with a de Dion engine. Hillman left soon afterwards to found Premier Motorcycles. [cite web|url=http://www.khulsey.com/motorcycles/vintage_motorcycle_premier-cycle.html|title=Premier|accessdate=2008-08-25]

In 1902, Ariel produced their first motorcycle, which had a Kerry engine with an innovative magneto ignition and a float carburettor. In 1905, Ariel was taken over by Charles Sangster, who built a three-speed, two-stroke he marketed as the 'Arielette' but his small factory closed on the outbreak of World War I. In 1918, Sangster's son Jack took over and developed a motorcycle with a 4hp White and Poppe engine that proved successful. Jack increased the range of motorcycles to include 586cc and 992cc machines and persuaded the designer Val Page to join the company. Ariel was merged with a company called 'Components Ltd.' but this venture failed and in 1930, Jack was able to regain control and set up a new factory in Birmingham. One of their first bikes was the Ariel Square Four, designed by Edward Turner followed by the Ariel Red Hunter. During World War II, the Ariel factory was turned over to military production, including the W/NG army motorcycle based on the Red Hunter with higher ground clearance. In 1944, the company was sold to BSA and the 500cc KH model was produced, together with the more powerful Huntmaster, which had a modified BSA A10 650cc engine. Reliable and capable of 100mph, the Huntmaster proved popular with sidecar enthusiasts.cite book | last = Brown | first = Roland | title = Classic Motorcycles | publisher = Anness Publishing | date = 2002 | pages = pp. ?-? | isbn = 1-84038-433-6 ]

The Red Hunter formed the basis for Sammy Miller's 1955 trials motorcycle which proved very successful in competition. BSA decided to close the factory in 1963 to move production to Small Heath. In 1959, Ariel broke with tradition and produced the Ariel Leader, a fully enclosed 250cc two stroke that aimed to combine the benefits of the motorcycle with the advantages of a scooter. In 1967, Ariel produced their last motorcycle, a reduced capacity Ariel Arrow. In 1970 BSA produced the Ariel 3, a 49cc trike. [cite web|url=http://www.ianchadwick.com/motorcycles/britbikes/index.html|title=Ariel|accessdate=2008-08-15]

Models

References

External links

* [http://www.arielownersmcc.co.uk/index.html Ariel Motorcycles Owners Club]
* [http://www.ariel.org.au/page.php?page=models Full list of Ariel models]
* [http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/Bike%20Directories/Ariel%20Bikes/Ariel%20index.htm Ariel Gallery]