Simon Saunders: “we’re Just About To Launch An All-new Ariel Motorcycle!”

[DaveM]

Now this is something I will be waiting to see

Simon Saunders: “We’re just about to launch an all-new Ariel motorcycle!”


Yes, Ariel will soon start making motorcycles again and, no, the new bike probably won't look anything like this Ariel Golden Arrow of the early-1960s!


The UK-based Ariel, which used to manufacture motorcycles up until the late-1960s, will soon make a comeback and will start producing motorcycles again. Ariel currently produces the Atom, one of the wildest, hardest-accelerating and fastest cars in the world. While technically a ‘car,’ the Ariel Atom is almost a sportsbike on four wheels. The Atom 3.5R, powered by a supercharged 2.0-litre Honda i-VTEC engine, packs a 350 horsepower punch and can accelerate from zero to 160km/h in a mere 6 seconds. And if that’s not nearly sufficient, the company is also planning to build the Atom 500 V8, which will have 500 horsepower from its 3.0-litre normally-aspirated V8 and which will probably be as quick and fast as any litre-class superbike in production today.

However, the interesting bit of news here is that Ariel will also soon start producing motorcycles again, and if the Atom is anything to go by, the new Ariel motorcycle should be quite a bomb in terms of outright performance. “We’re just about to launch an all-new Ariel motorcycle,” said Ariel boss Simon Saunders, while talking about the Atom PL, which the company has recently provided to the UK police.

“Our business is about going fast, very fast, but there is a time and a place. The Atom is designed to be driven to a race track, where you can drive to your limits in safety and in a professional environment designed for the purpose. The road really isn’t the place to explore your or your vehicle’s limits,” said Saunders, who fully supports motorcycle rider safety initiatives in the UK. “There’s always one certain loser in a motorcycle collision, and that’s the motorcyclist,” he says.

If the new Ariel motorcycle is in keeping with the spirit of the Atom, and given Ariel’s existing ties with Honda, we hope the new Ariel motorcycle is powered by a supercharged version of the Honda Fireblade engine, trellis-type frame and top-spec braking and suspension components. Should give the S1000R, Tuono V4R and 1290 Super Duke R something to think about!

 

[Rocky]

I wish them luck and I hope they succeed - and make a bike that the average person can afford.
The new Norton is very, very expensive over here.
They were only approved for import into Canada a few months ago so I have no idea how well they're doing.

 

[hemibee]

Only time will tell if they can get something to market that will sell. They could have such a small segment of the market that they have trouble staying in business.

 

[keystiger]

Pics????? (I hope the pic above isn't it!!!!) I too wish them luck and hope its awesome.......but it ain't a Triumph lol

 

[DaveM]

Looks like it will look something like this

 

[shanered6]

It will probably be like the norton lovely bike but vastly over priced and out of reach of any one who isn't a millionaire .
I can't under stand norton and some of the old revival makes , making bikes that they might sell 3 a year and then go bust ! Haven't they learnt anything from triumph ?
Even the sh#t quality of Chinese bikes they sell millions a year why ? Because people can afford them and everybody nows there rubbish but it will probably be the only new bike people will ever own .

 

[DaveM]

I think a lot of these guys are trying to do what Triumph did but I don't think they have the financial backing that Triumph has to get them to that point of making great bikes at a competitive price. As you say the Norton is nice but out of reach for most of us. I also suspect this will be the same here

 

[shanered6]

We'll I would think a company that makes a car that costs 30000 or so and has its own race series could afford to design a competitively priced bike that would attract some investment .

 

[CarlS]

I hope they are successful; but I am afraid that the bikes will be too expensive like the Norton.

 

[keystiger]

These folks claim somewhere around 20,000.00 pounds.......wow....yes way out of reach of most folks
Ariel to revive motorcycle business with debut at Goodwood - Autoblog

 

[shanered6]

I rest my case !

 

[Mad On Triumphs]

I'd love to see as many British marques on the road again as possible, but lets face it, as has been said who can afford the prices that they'll want to charge. The Norton race bike at this years TT had a Aprilia engine powering it. Call me cynical but somehow to me that's not really a Norton. Maybe these firms are just trying to cash in on the famous names of the past, make a few bob then the inevitable will unfortunately happen. I hope I'm wrong mind

 

[shanered6]

The problem is that most of the old Brit bikes are now just a name literally ! .......there is no remnance of the production or manufacturing left so there is nothing to build on .
At least triumph kept going to the 80's and even though the new bikes we're completely diferant there was a manufacturing base to start something from .

 

[CarlS]

20,000 pounds may as well be 20,000 tons as far as I'm concerned!

 

[Rocky]

me too!!!!!

 

[DaveM]

I found this so it does look a bit different than what was expected.

Honda powers new Ariel Ace motorcycle
0

• by Mark Hinchliffe
• in Motorbike news
• — 26 Jun, 2014

Honda’s VFR1200 engine will power the Ariel Ace, signifying the return of the British motorcycle brand to manufacture.

Ariel announced their return to motorcycles three weeks ago. Now the sportscar company has released photos of two versions of the Ariel Ace. One is a naked bike with Ohlins front forks while the other is a power cruiser with girder forks and an Ohlins shock.

READ MY STORY HERE

Now it has released these images as examples of several configurations of their new model. However, as a bespoke manufacturer, customers all be able to make as many changes as they want, so these are only indicative of what’s possible.

For example, it has a choice of seat height from 745mm to 825mm, a choice of steering head angles, three fuel tanks from 14.1 to 21.3 litres, and wheelbase can range from 1541 to 1563mm. Fairings and screens will also be available.

Use of the Honda engine is to be expected since they use the 350 horsepower supercharged 2-litre Honda i-VTEC in their Ariel Atom 3.5R. The car launches to 160km/h in six seconds and has been a dominant feature at, or near, the top of the lap times on the popular BBC car program, Top Gear.

SEE ALL THE PHOTOS

The Ariel Ace also uses the VFR’s single-sided shaft-drive and swing-arm and Dual Clutch Transmission system with automatic and semi-automatic modes. You can also choose a conventional six-speed manual gearbox.

The front brakes are Nissin 320mm dual floating hydraulic discs with six-piston callipers while the rear has a Nissin 276mm disc with a two-piston calliper. The wheels are five and seven-spoke alloy but full-carbon ones are also available.

The company has a lot of pride at stake as the maker of one of the world’s fastest cars, so it is no surprise that the Ariel Ace will be powered by the 1237cc V-four which has 129kW of power and 130Nm of torque in a lightweight billet aluminium frame. They claim the Ariel Ace will hit 100km/h in 3.4 seconds with a top speed of 266km/h.

The Ariel Ace will go into bespoke production next year, building only about 150 a year with prices starting from $36,000.

Ariel follows old motorcycle manufactures such as Bultaco, Brough, Matchless and Hesketh who have recently announced a return to manufacturer.

Ariel Motorcycles started in Birmingham in 1870, was sold in 1944 to BSA but the Aerial name survived until 1970. The most famous of the Ariel models was the Square Four which began production as a 500cc in the 1930s. The Ariel name was resurrected in 1999 to form a sports car company that makes track-day weapons.

 

[DaveM]

Ariel Ace – A Very Expensive Honda from England
06/25/2014 @ 10:46 am, by Jensen Beeler12 COMMENTS


The wait is over to see the return to two-wheels by British marque Ariel, as the firm has debuted its very exclusive Ariel Ace motorcycle. Built around a clever modular design, something we have talked about at length here, the Ace is really more than just one motorcycle, and Ariel plans on making each bike bespoke to its customer’s wishes.

At the center of every machine is the 1,237cc V4 engine from the Honda VFR1200F, which is good for 170hp, with 95 lbs•ft of peak torque. Because the VFR’s engine is being utilized by Ariel, the British brand offers a dual-clutch transmission as one of the Ace’s many available options.

Would-be owners will have to decide a number of other options as well, most importantly what kind front-end suspension they wish to run. Ariel offers a traditional upside down Öhlins fork setup, but to be truly unique on the road, the Ariel Ace has an available custom girder suspension setup with an Öhlins TTX at its core. Rear suspension is supplied by Öhlins as well.

Holding everything together is a beautiful aluminum trellis frame, comprised of six sections that are machined to life from billet. Anodized to fit a customer’s tastes, the modular chassis design also has mounting points for a variety of options and accessories, such as different bodywork, fenders, fuel tanks, handlebars, rearsets, seats, and wheels.

Other trimmings include Nissin six-piston calipers, though Brembo brakes can be added at a customer’s request, with ABS as standard (as is traction control). Those looking for a data-logger can have one installed as well — because you know…track days.

Like its four-wheeled counterpart, this Ariel motorcycle might be the most expensive Honda you will ever come across — it certainly is more than the sum of its parts though. With the Japanese OEM’s dead-reliable engine technology, coupled to Ariel’s refined British tastes, the Ace is very attractive motorcycle to behold.

No word on pricing or availability as of yet, though we imagine Ariel will ship the Ace wherever fine motorcycle connoisseurs reside. With all the options at hand, pegging a cost to the pocketbook isn’t a straight forward affair to begin with on the Ariel Ace. If you have to ask, you probably can’t afford it…and other clichés apply.

 

[shanered6]

Oh good god ? That's what £20000 buys no thanks , the red one is quite nice but I don't see £20000 in there and the cruiser is terrible ........no doubt they will sell though rich mans toys .

 

[Mad On Triumphs]

Only £20000, phew I thought they were going to be expensive. The cruiser is not up to much. As Shane said " Rich mans toy ". Still not a British bike when it's got a Jap engine.

 

[shanered6]

Only £20000, phew I thought they were going to be expensive. The cruiser is not up to much. As Shane said " Rich mans toy ". Still not a British bike when it's got a Jap engine.

You would of thought they'd av tried to get a triumph engine in there it is British after all , or built there own take on the square four or somthing like that !