1930/40s Ariel single wanted

[Roger Gwynn]

There wasn't a VA in 1931, only the VB and it had a Sturmey gearbox, so it looks correct and is much like the later VA3 but that used a Burman T gearbox. In fact the 1931 VB is the only 2 letter model to use a Sturmey gearbox, not many people know that .... or care! There are only 3 others with Sturmey gearboxes, so not that amazing.
Yes, strange to put the pedal on that side, perhaps a hang over from the left foot clutch and right brake, last seen in 1925, but why change? There was a MKII SQ4 built in 1956 with a right brake pedal, drawing available.

[klaus gerhard]

All right VB31 not VA31. To my knowledge all 1931 Ariel bikes had the footbrake pedal on the right.

[Paul Slootheer]

Klaus it seems you are right… But apparently Ariel changend that position later on again to the left?!?

[Roger Gwynn]

Yes in 1932 it went back to the left. The Slopers/4F used a shaft through the frame for both years, essentially a dummy one in 1932.

[markus.nikot]

Thanks for that, but Tom is looking for a foot gearchanged bike.

[markus.nikot]

As there haven’t been any suitable offers for the Ariel we’re looking for so far, and Tom is really keen to ride an Ariel again, we’re broadening our search.

A road-ready single-cylinder, 500cc OHV or 600cc SV, with foot-operated gearshift

We should be able to find something – shouldn’t we?