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British car manufacturer Ariel is looking to resurrect its motorcycle division, once a leader in the industry, with two exclusive new models.
Although no Ariel motorcycle has been manufactured for some fourty years, the brand has remained alive mainly through the high performance Ariel Atom – which famously tops the Top Gear PowerLap Leaderboard.
Jeremy Clarkson memorably shouted over the roar of the Atom’s engine when he tested Ariel’s lightweight car during a Top Gear episode,"I have never ever driven anything that accelerates so fast."
Now Ariel has announced plans to develop two motorcycles which will also be relying on a Honda-sourced engine like the Atom. Instead of the blistering 2.0-litre i-VTEC mill from Honda’s fiery Civic Type R, however, Ariel will be opting for one of the Japanese manufacturer’s motorcycle engines.
LIMITED EDITION ARIEL FIREBLADES?
Ariel is only planning a very small production run of 200 units per years, with each bike costing around R220 000. Company owner Simon Saunders promises the new models will be "high-performance, fun to ride and bespoke."
The first Ariel motorcycle was manufactured in 1902 and in the seven decades that followed the company established themselves as a leader in the British motorcycling industry, largely due to their dedication to innovation.
After the Second World War Ariel was sold to the Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) and continued until the 1970 when, no longer able to compete with Japanese manufacturers, the brand was discontinued.
Since the company was founded in 1991, Ariel’s become world famous within the automotive community for its strict insistence on lightweight construction and minimalist design ethos – traits both perfectly suited to the world of motorcycles. Simon Saunders, Ariel’s owner, founder and lifelong motorcycle enthusiast, has decided that 2011 would be a good time to put all the company’s expertise to use in designing an all-new bespoke motorcycle.
From the sketches it appears that the Ariel motorcycles will be built around a standard frame and engine combination which will be more or less the same on all the bikes. However the bodywork, fittings, exhaust position, instrument cluster and other styling details will be custom tailored to suit riders’ tastes.
Ariel’s hoping to produce up to 200 bikes a year.
Although no Ariel motorcycle has been manufactured for some fourty years, the brand has remained alive mainly through the high performance Ariel Atom – which famously tops the Top Gear PowerLap Leaderboard.
Jeremy Clarkson memorably shouted over the roar of the Atom’s engine when he tested Ariel’s lightweight car during a Top Gear episode,"I have never ever driven anything that accelerates so fast."
Now Ariel has announced plans to develop two motorcycles which will also be relying on a Honda-sourced engine like the Atom. Instead of the blistering 2.0-litre i-VTEC mill from Honda’s fiery Civic Type R, however, Ariel will be opting for one of the Japanese manufacturer’s motorcycle engines.
LIMITED EDITION ARIEL FIREBLADES?
Ariel is only planning a very small production run of 200 units per years, with each bike costing around R220 000. Company owner Simon Saunders promises the new models will be "high-performance, fun to ride and bespoke."
The first Ariel motorcycle was manufactured in 1902 and in the seven decades that followed the company established themselves as a leader in the British motorcycling industry, largely due to their dedication to innovation.
After the Second World War Ariel was sold to the Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) and continued until the 1970 when, no longer able to compete with Japanese manufacturers, the brand was discontinued.
Since the company was founded in 1991, Ariel’s become world famous within the automotive community for its strict insistence on lightweight construction and minimalist design ethos – traits both perfectly suited to the world of motorcycles. Simon Saunders, Ariel’s owner, founder and lifelong motorcycle enthusiast, has decided that 2011 would be a good time to put all the company’s expertise to use in designing an all-new bespoke motorcycle.
From the sketches it appears that the Ariel motorcycles will be built around a standard frame and engine combination which will be more or less the same on all the bikes. However the bodywork, fittings, exhaust position, instrument cluster and other styling details will be custom tailored to suit riders’ tastes.
Ariel’s hoping to produce up to 200 bikes a year.
