Ariel Owners Motorcycle Club

Indian tank...

Presume you have bought it. The headlamp is bigger than the original. The switches vary. Some have "test" on them. The original tail lights are common to a lot of War bikes built in England, and they used "common" seats, as repair items. I have no knowledge of the "field" stand varying. I can give you a length and John Budgeon has the spring clips for the rear frame tube. Date the bike by the frame # then we can work out what is correct for it, if that is the Way YOU want to go. I have had one running for about 15 years and actively used. They are a pleasant bike and easy to look after with the dull Khaki finish (Olive Drab). Mines only done in acrylic enamel which is extremely easy to repair and I only clean it with a warm soapy water or petrol soaked rag, depending on whether it's mud or oil I want to remove. The engine is remarkably oil tight. The original gear ratios are "TRIALS" ratios with a big jump to top gear and no provision for a speedo drive. The gear lever is longer than other Ariels. The later foot pegs have no rubbers and are a similar style to the pillion footrests which fold .The cast alloy primary drives are not polished and the rocker boxes, gearbox aren't either. The magneto chain cover has nothing written on it and is alloy or( later) steel The primary drive case is steel also on later models. John Nash has a later one with under seat switch. "British Forces Motorcycles" is a good reference and you should derive a painted number for the tank without much trouble. The oil tank has a screwed on cap with no writing on it. Congratulations on your purchase. If you have as much pleasure as I do from mine you will be happy. I'm sure you will get plenty of assistance from others on this forum. Nev

Engine close up Not quite sealed the deal yet, but should be done today.

Use a Garmin Edge 200, it works via GPS, no wires needed.

I've made a new blog post with all the pictures I have of this fine machine, which has some hidden mystery that I am just starting to understand. More on that later!

http://ariel-square-four.blogspot.co.uk ... table.html

Meanwhile, it's in a van on its way to the UK.

rein.heerkens wrote:Use a Garmin Edge 200, it works via GPS, no wires needed.

Thank you! I have found a second hand one on eBay, used once, £30.

Happy to say it will be delivered tomorrow!

You have great attention to detail, Simon. No doubt you'll get through that list. Congratulations on the new arrival!

Thanks Wade.

It will be an interesting one; it appears that it may have been 'civilianised', possibly by Benelli, possibly others, after the war which may account for the patinated appearance of most of the paintwork - use by one of the Italian police forces is also another possibility.

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azienda_R ... _Residuati

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benelli_(motorcycles)

I am hoping to hear more from our friends in the Italian section. If it proves to be the case, I feel a magazine article coming on...

Here it is, arriving from Kent this morning on Chas Mortimer's van: Now which one did I take off the van? the British thoroughbred or the Italian Stallion?