Ariel Owners Motorcycle Club

I'm trying to find a high level exhaust pipe for my single port pre war Ariel single.

My 1938 VH1 has a stub outer diameter which varies from 1.875” to 1.9” as it’s seen some life.

I’ve had a look at the 1938 singles parts book and it lists a different pipe for the single port VH compared with the twin port VH (RH side, listed as OS for off side). In the illustration it shows what looks like a sleeve at the end of the pipe for the single port (illustration is attached).

The Drags pipes are 1-3/4" on the outside diameter for the finned clamp and measure around 1.65" on the inside, so are quite a bit smaller.

Does this sound right? has anyone come up against this before? (I'm currently exchanging emails with Drags)

Twin port 1 3/4" single port 2"

Yes Dave, that is correct. Ariel welded a larger diameter stub onto the pipe for the twin port head in order to cope with the larger diameter of the single port, shortening the twin port pipe accordingly. No doubt Armours would be happy to make one up for you. Single port heads were relatively uncommon for each of the Red Hunters pre war, but available to special order.

Single port upswept pipes were available for post war iron singles.they should fit prewar bikes

Thanks Dave and Paul for clearing that up.

Follow-Up...

Armours do supply a special pipe for the 1938 VH1 but it's not shown on their site. The Exhaust Pipe is 1 ¾” with cup to push over 1 7/8” cylinder head stub. The stock number is ARMBK16, Price £84.

I have one on order.

CAM got his high level exhaust fitted today, it's only taken me seven years to get around to it and the result is just as I had hoped.

I took it to a local engineering workshop to have it fitted and there wasn't too much tweaking for them. The pipe didn't need bending and the gap to the oil tank and the tool box are both workable.

Riding around with no pipe to the workshop made me realise just how much work these silencers do, it was ridiculously loud.

Also, I've had the carb back from 'Joe the Carb' as the old one was distorted and he has replaced the body and done a full rebuild on it. The tick-over is now like an athlete's resting pulse so very happy with that too.