Ariel Owners Motorcycle Club

Guys,

It's been suggested to me that some W/NGs were supplied to the military with civilian gear clusters. I can't see any evidence for the this in the despatch records in Orchard & Madden.

Anyone know if this is true?

They are a hang-over from the ISDT heritage. I haven't heard of one with civilian ratios but I eventually changed mine over because most people got on it and changed gears abominably. There's a large gap between 3rd and top typical of trials bikes. The CP was offered as an option on the earlier VCH's as far as I know with civilian ratios.. Nev

I have never heard of any being supplied with civvy ratios, that's not to say that they didn't. Almost certainly some of the early machines, especially the commandeered ones, would have civvy ratios but these cannot really be classed as W/NG. None of the parts books that I have list any changes to the gears.

Thanks Roger. It's for a short article in 'The Classic Motorcycle' - I've made sure the club gets a mention.

Hi, sorry for the bad copy, I could not find my original photo.

4th mainshaft gear WNG/VCH = 32 T . Civilian = 30T
4th gear layshaft WNG/VCH = 18T. Civilian = 20T

That's very useful Vincent, thanks!

Note matching gears teeth all add up to 50. There's the answer to the VCH too where the CP box is a listed option. MATCHLESS/AJS tended to use the smaller box with their 500 cc bikes even the 18 CS. I reckon that Trials ratio box is a pain to ride having done about 15000 miles on my W/NG before I converted it.. One thing is the speedo is driven from the front wheel but look after the greasing and adjusting of that as the Gears will suffer if you don't. I found out the hard way and they are "EXPENSIVE" IF you can even get them. The Perils of doing REAL miles on some of this stuff. Nev