Half a century later....
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2021 9:45 pm
New Years Eve 1971 is a day I remember well because it was the day I got my first Ariel going having fitted a new big end. But I broke the scraper ring fitting the cylinder so decided to assemble the bike anyway and see how it went. The bike was a 1957 NH 350. Having ridden it up and down the lane a time or two a friend arrived on his bike, saw I had the Ariel going and suggested going out for a ride. We only went about 7 or 8 miles, had a drink (of tonic water) from a village shop and returned as night fell. Following the acute unreliability of my Triumph Tiger Cub I was amazed that the Ariel managed a total of 15 or so miles with a piston ring missing but without breaking down and even the lights worked all the way home! The chances of achieving that on the Cub were very close to nil. So I have stuck with Ariels ever since and this afternoon took the RH500 out 50 years later, to the nearest hour or so. Naturally, it performed to perfection.
The thought then occurred as to what has changed in motorcycling over those 50 years. The biggest change is the huge improvement in motorcycling gear which is now routinely armoured and can be heated - even on an Ariel. As to my bike, I have gone up 150cc and back 20 years so instead of riding a 14 year old bike I am now riding an 84 year old one. And, although the brakes sometimes leave a little to be desired, the 84 year old bike is still a perfectly useable means of transport.
The thought then occurred as to what has changed in motorcycling over those 50 years. The biggest change is the huge improvement in motorcycling gear which is now routinely armoured and can be heated - even on an Ariel. As to my bike, I have gone up 150cc and back 20 years so instead of riding a 14 year old bike I am now riding an 84 year old one. And, although the brakes sometimes leave a little to be desired, the 84 year old bike is still a perfectly useable means of transport.