Ariel Motorcycles
Encyclopedia
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
.
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". 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
.
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 the First World War. In 1918, Sangster's son Jack
took over and developed a motorcycle with a 4 hp White and Poppe
engine that proved successful. Jack increased the range of motorcycles to include 586 cc and 992 cc 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 the Second World War, the Ariel factory was turned over to military production, including the Ariel W/NG 350
army motorcycle based on the Red Hunter with higher ground clearance. In 1944, the company was sold to BSA
and the 500 cc KH model was produced, together with the more powerful Huntmaster, which had a modified BSA A10 650 cc engine. Reliable and capable of 100 miles per hour (44.7 m/s), the Huntmaster proved popular with sidecar enthusiasts.
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 250 cc 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 49 cc trike.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
manufacturer based in Bournbrook
Bournbrook
Bournbrook is a residential suburban district in south-west Birmingham, England. The suburb of Bournbrook is bordered by Selly Oak to the west and south, Selly Park to the east, and Edgbaston to the north. The Worcester and Birmingham Canal and the Birmingham Cross-City Railway Line run along the...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. It was one of the leading innovators in British motorcycling, and was part of the Ariel
Ariel (vehicle)
Ariel was a bicycle, motorcycle and automobile marque manufacturer based in Bournbrook, Birmingham, England. Car production moved to Coventry in 1911. The company name was reused in 1999 for the formation of Ariel Ltd, a sports car producer.-History:...
marque. The company was sold to BSA
Birmingham Small Arms Company
This article is not about Gamo subsidiary BSA Guns Limited of Armoury Road, Small Heath, Birmingham B11 2PP or BSA Company or its successors....
in 1944 and the name was discontinued in 1970. Influential Ariel designers included Edward Turner
Edward Turner
Edward Turner was a British motorcycle designer. He was born in Camberwell in the London Borough of Southwark, on the day King Edward VII was proclaimed King....
and Val Page
Val Page
Valentine Page was a British motorcycle designer born in 1892. Described as Britain's greatest motorcycle designer, he worked for most of the leading marques, including Ariel, Triumph, and BSA. He died in 1978.-J.A Prestwich:...
.
History
James Starley
James Starley was an English inventor and father of the bicycle industry. He was one of the most innovative and successful builders of bicycles and tricycles. His inventions include the differential gear and the perfection of chain-driven bicycles.-Early life:Starley was born in 1831 at Albourne,...
and William Hillman
William Hillman
William Hillman was a British bicycle and automobile manufacturer. In partnership with Louis Coatalen he founded the Hillman-Coatalen Company in 1907, later the Hillman Motor Company after Coatalen's defection to Sunbeam in 1909.-Early life:Hillman was born on 13 November 1848 in Stratford, Essex,...
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". It merged with Westwood Manufacturing in 1896 and made a powered tricycle in 1898 with a de Dion
De Dion
De Dion may refer to:* Jules-Albert de Dion , automobile pioneer* de Dion-Bouton, automobile manufacturer* de Dion tube, automobile suspension...
engine. Hillman left soon afterwards to found Premier Motorcycles
Premier Motorcycles
Premier Motorcycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer. Originally founded as a bicycle manufacturer by W. H. Herbert and William Hillman in 1876, the "Hillman and Herbert Cycle Company" was renamed the "Premier Cycle Co." in 1891 and their first motorcycle was produced in 1908, with a White &...
.
In 1902, Ariel produced their first motorcycle, which had a Kerry
Kerry
County Kerry is a county in the southwest of Ireland.Kerry or Kerri may also refer to:-American politics:* John Kerry, a United States Senator from Massachusetts and the 2004 Democratic Presidential nominee, plus other members of his family:...
engine with an innovative magneto ignition
Magneto (electrical)
A magneto is an electrical generator that uses permanent magnets to produce alternating current.Magnetos adapted to produce pulses of high voltage are used in the ignition systems of some gasoline-powered internal combustion engines to provide power to the spark plugs...
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 the First World War. In 1918, Sangster's son Jack
Jack Sangster
John Young Sangster was an industrialist who became an important figure in the history of the British motorcycle industry. He is more commonly known as Jack Sangster.-Early life:...
took over and developed a motorcycle with a 4 hp White and Poppe
White and Poppe
White and Poppe was a Coventry based proprietary engine and gearbox manufacturer established in 1899 by Alfred James White and Peter August Poppe. White was a watchmaker and Poppe an engineer and together they produced precision parts for the automotive industry...
engine that proved successful. Jack increased the range of motorcycles to include 586 cc and 992 cc machines and persuaded the designer Val Page
Val Page
Valentine Page was a British motorcycle designer born in 1892. Described as Britain's greatest motorcycle designer, he worked for most of the leading marques, including Ariel, Triumph, and BSA. He died in 1978.-J.A Prestwich:...
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
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. One of their first bikes was the Ariel Square Four
Ariel Square Four
The Square Four was an Ariel motorcycle designed by Edward Turner, who devised the Square Four engine in 1928. At this time he was looking for work, showing drawings of his engine design to motorcycle manufacturers. The engine was essentially a pair of 'across frame' OHC parallel twins joined by...
, designed by Edward Turner
Edward Turner
Edward Turner was a British motorcycle designer. He was born in Camberwell in the London Borough of Southwark, on the day King Edward VII was proclaimed King....
followed by the Ariel Red Hunter
Ariel Red Hunter
The Ariel Red Hunter was the name used for a range of Ariel single-cylinder motorcycles. They were designed by the firm's chief designer Val Page in 1932 around an overhead-valve single-cylinder engine he developed six years earlier...
.
Ariel W/NG 350
The Ariel W/NG 350 was a British military motorcycle based on the well proven Ariel Red Hunter singles built by Ariel Motorcycles, and designed by the firm's chief designer Val Page in 1932 around an engine he developed six years earlier...
army motorcycle based on the Red Hunter with higher ground clearance. In 1944, the company was sold to BSA
Birmingham Small Arms Company
This article is not about Gamo subsidiary BSA Guns Limited of Armoury Road, Small Heath, Birmingham B11 2PP or BSA Company or its successors....
and the 500 cc KH model was produced, together with the more powerful Huntmaster, which had a modified BSA A10 650 cc engine. Reliable and capable of 100 miles per hour (44.7 m/s), the Huntmaster proved popular with sidecar enthusiasts.
The Red Hunter formed the basis for Sammy Miller's
Sammy Miller
Samuel Hamilton "Sammy" Miller, MBE is a championship winning motorcycle racer, in both road racing and trials. He was awarded an MBE in the 2009 New Year Honours.-Career:...
1955 trials motorcycle which proved very successful in competition. BSA decided to close the factory in 1963 to move production to Small Heath
Small Heath, Birmingham
Small Heath is an inner-city area within the city of Birmingham, West Midlands, England. It is situated on and around the A45 ....
. In 1959, Ariel broke with tradition and produced the Ariel Leader
Ariel Leader
The Leader was an Ariel motorcycle made from 1958 and 1965. A radical design, the Leader was fully enclosed with an integral windscreen and was the first British motorcycle to have flashing indicators...
, a fully enclosed 250 cc 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 49 cc trike.