[DavidGraves]

Yet another unlikely Brtibike for sale in the northwestern US:


https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3040246342760515

Anyone know much about Ariels ?

DG

[heloego]

Nope.
But it IS a smart looking ride! 

[Adrian II]

These folks should.

http://www.arielnorthamerica.org/mot_hist3.htm

My neighbo(u)r here in the UK has a military-spec 350 from WWII which I hear him ride occasionally, it sounds just perfect. Apart from the RAF blue paint job and the girder forks, it looks a lot like that one.

A.

[cyrusb]

They were high quality. The Square Four was interesting.

[Stanley]

My brother had a Hunter almost identical to that one. A friend let me ride his Squariel Mk I and the lack of brakes was frightening but the power was glorious. Back in the sixties these bikes were sold for $200 - $300.

[Bilgemaster]

Ariel's heyday was a bit before my time. I really only knew of them by their lingering reputation that had persisted in the UK even well into the latter '70s as being the solid and reliable gentleman's mount to have if you ever wanted clean fingernails now and then.

I haven't seen an Ariel single or twin in decades in the wild, but a truly scrumptious Square Four shows up pretty regularly at those 'Bikes and Breakfast' get-togethers held each 2nd Sunday of the month in Clifton, Virginia. Speaking of which, the next one's this coming Sunday. Details and photos of past gatherings can be seen at http://www.bikesandbreakfast.com/va-photos.html. Here's a shot of that Square Four from last month's shindig...



Hope to see some of you Capitol Area folks there!

[Paul W]

They were high quality. The Square Four was interesting.

They were commonly known as “Squariels”. Very smooth engine but the rear cylinders were expected to be cooled by hot air from the front pair, which apparently didn’t work too well.

[Adrian II]

Getting back to the singles, I think I'd find or make garage room for one of the HS500s

https://www.shannons.com.au/library/images/auctions/O8Y3Q5N1U8A6Y2L9/1600x1066/c1956-ariel-hs-500cc-motorcycle.jpg.

A.

[cyrusb]

They were commonly known as “Squariels”. Very smooth engine but the rear cylinders were expected to be cooled by hot air from the front pair, which apparently didn’t work too well.

Yup, The inline fours, Henderson Ace,Indian etc had that problem in spades.

[DavidGraves]

When I first saw a Square four it made my brain hurt.....How them do that ? are there two crankshafts ?  WTF ?

I think I learned that they are actually a V4.

What a casting challenge for the folks who first developed it !

A kid in my neighborhood really did have the leftovers of one of these...chopped it all to shit of course....it never ran.

DG

[Boxerman]

I think I learned that they are actually a V4.
DG

You learned wrong 
Two crankshafts geared together.

Frank

[DavidGraves]

Oh my GOd...!

Ow! now my brain hurts again !

Are they counter rotating ? If not how to they combine them....a counter gear ?

Ow, ooh ow,

Brain freeze.

GD

[ddavidv]

[AzCal Retred]

After seeing this, I'm kinda happier wrenching my Bullet!

[DavidGraves]

QUIZ Time ladies and gents.

What OTHER famous British motorbike had two cranks and four cylinders and was pretty famous, an example of this is part of the National Motorcycle Museum collection near Birmingham, UK ?