Belgian WNG?

[alexander.croes]

Hello Everyone!

My name is Alex and live in Antwerp. A few years ago my dad and I found an Ariel near the airfield of Grimbergen, tucked away in a barn. The previous owner told us he bought the motorcycle from an allied soldier at the end of WW2 and it was used to accompany fuel transports to the airfield. He repainted the bike and drove it occasionally for a couple of years before putting it away in that same barn we found it in.

I attached some pictures of it's current state. I could find the number on the frame XG15031 and on the gearbox XICPBL62662, but not on the engine. Also a marking on the front mudguard is visible, D???45.

Is it possible to confirm the story? What year was this bike made? Is it a W/NG?

Alexander.

[Paul Slootheer]

The frame number looks like a late 1940 or 1941 W/NG...
Is there a field stand, or a lug for a field stand on the other side?

Regards, Paul

[simon.holyfield]

Gearbox with no speedo drive, speedo drive hole in the brakeplate. Looks like a W/NG to me.

Pic from the other side?

[alexander.croes]

This is the other side:

[simon.holyfield]

Lovely! W/NG for sure, probably with a replacement tank. Nice to see the handlebar levers complete.

[Vincent.vanGinneke]

Hello Alexander, what a find! really very nice.
Yes this is a W/NG that the engine has no number is perhaps because it is/was a replacement engine.
Take a look at this website, they also love to see bikes in this condition.
I would try to keep it looking as much as this if possible, just a good clean and get it technically o.k.

See http://www.bevemo.nl/OMGalder/index.php/motorclub

[alexander.croes]

Thanks guys!

I am planning to start with a full technical restoration and see where that brings me. I cleaned some parts and it looks way better without 50 years of dirt So I might keep the looks Vincent!

If I cannot find an engine number, is it therefore impossible to retrieve whether it was an army, navy or RAF motorcycle?

@Simon: How can I check if the fuel tank is a replacment or original Ariel?

[simon.holyfield]

It's very likely to be an Ariel tank, but later W/NGs don't usually have tank badges or knee rubbers, so I wonder if it might be a post-war civilian tank. Have a look in the fuel filler hole - W/NGs have a chain attaching the cap to the tank, looped through a small hole in the tank.

[Vincent.vanGinneke]

See this link, on the second page you can see where your framenumber would have been.
Thanks to Draganfly who puts this all on the net !

https://www.draganfly.co.uk/data/pdf/WN ... etails.pdf

[Vincent.vanGinneke]

Only 3 things missing; the horn (Yes, I know..) and the two toolboxes.
Like on this picture.