Ariel Owners Motorcycle Club

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to register my 1954 NH here in Germany, but for the TUeV (MOT) they need to know the maximum weight allowed. I’ve searched everywhere without success and have only found the empty curb weight to be 160kg.

So I’m hoping that somewhere or someone can help with some document that shows the max. weight. Does the club have anything? Perhaps there’s even someone here with a 350 NH registered in Germany who could send me a photograph of their Zulassungsschein.

Many thanks,
Gui

hi i think that maybe in the owner's manual, i know in the uk for a mot we don't put the maximum weight down, we only use the weight when we test the brakes the bike can carry different weights depending on what springs and tyres size it's got fitted

Weight fully equipped is 365 lbs according to the catalogue for 1954. Is that any help?

It is indeed Paul. Many thanks.
I might have a copy of the catalogue lying around, but if not, do you know if there is a copy available in the member’s section? I just have to show something that looks official so a copy or downloaded picture is acceptable.

Gui - that 365lbs figure is one of the 'standard dimensions', it'll be in the sales literature and the handbooks - plenty of copies in the Library area

HTH

SG

(Edit: if you want the 'fully equipped' tag along with it you might have to look a bit harder but it's there somewhere, I checked it an hour ago but I thought you were after the maximum permitted loaded weight, which doesn't seem to anything the UK ever bothered about for motorcycles.... )

It seems I was celebrating too soon. I thought the figure Paul mentioned above was something I had missed, but realize now it’s the empty weight which comes up in the owner’s manual.

Simon is correct - what I need is the maximum permitted loaded weight. The original registration papers from Portugal also have this blank, as at that time no one bothered with it for motorcycles.

My biggest hope is that a member here has one registered already in Germany and can give me the value. Or that in some dark corner of the archives something can be found.
Cheers
Gui

The bike was clearly designed for a rider and pillion passenger. If you don't find another NH registered in Germany, you can beg the TÜV on your knees to add the weight of two people in full gear, say 180kg (or whatever they agree to) to the weight of your NH with a full tank and use that as zulässiges Gesamtgewicht. It would mean that you are not allowed additional luggage when riding with a pillion passenger, which is usually the contentious point.

I certainly don't miss the TÜV here in England.

Gui - how about an email to Markus (Nikot) at the German Branch?

SG

will you have to weigh everyone that gets on it, so when you are at the pub and your mate needs a lift home you will need to know his or her weight first before you take them , if you are both over 36 stones you maybe over the weight limit

JohnnyBeckett wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 3:15 pm will you have to weigh everyone that gets on it, so when you are at the pub and your mate needs a lift home you will need to know his or her weight first before you take them , if you are both over 36 stones you maybe over the weight limit

I find that a perfectly sensible solution, but will the German inspector accept it?