RE: Ariel Ace motorbike revealed
Discussion
I like the girder fork. That and the butt-hanging-over-the-wheel saddle do lend it a Confederate look (glad to hear folks on a British forum even know what a Confederate is!) Compared to a Confederate, it is a bargain. But for a 20 grand starting price, I'd hope for a bespoke engine. Yes, Honda has great history with its bikes, is the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer, and is a safe bet for an engine partner, but, as loopy as this sounds, I would've hoped for a modern interpretation of a square four (an engine configuration sadly lost to history). I know it was flawed in its day, but with all the modern advances of the 21st century, you'd think they could find a way. After all, these are the nutters who had to build a vacuum chamber to weld a titanium chassis version of an already extreme car, just because they could! If Mazda could take an unorthodox engine configuration and, after years of development, become the only Japanese manufacturer to win Le Mans, a square four could be made viable?
The other thing is I suspect Ariel will charge a substantial amount for the "bespoke customisation" options, possibly even pushing it into Confederate territory. In that sort of price range, the Confederate has no equals. The Wraith looks like something from Transformers and is pure industrial-design porn.
As some have said the Diavel is a similarly-styled bike for much, much less money, however I do agree that there is a market for bespoke bikes and people considering this wouldn't consider the Duck (or would already have one). The new Brough Superior, "new" Manx Nortons, and Confederate prove this fact, not to mention the many other options out there. Has anything (physical and rideable) come out of Caterham's recent foray into bike building?
The other thing is I suspect Ariel will charge a substantial amount for the "bespoke customisation" options, possibly even pushing it into Confederate territory. In that sort of price range, the Confederate has no equals. The Wraith looks like something from Transformers and is pure industrial-design porn.
As some have said the Diavel is a similarly-styled bike for much, much less money, however I do agree that there is a market for bespoke bikes and people considering this wouldn't consider the Duck (or would already have one). The new Brough Superior, "new" Manx Nortons, and Confederate prove this fact, not to mention the many other options out there. Has anything (physical and rideable) come out of Caterham's recent foray into bike building?
Max_Torque said:
Is there actually any room for fuel in the "fuel" tank? Looks awful small to me!
The Ariel website suggests 3 different tanks between 14.1 and 21.3 litres.I'm a bit out of touch with bikes, but I was initially surprised at the choice of a shaft drive. Perhaps it's the most appropriate engine/drivetrain from Honda for their intended purpose. What else could they borrow? 'Blade engine? CB1000R? CB1100?
Hooli said:
I'd never thought the Ariel making the Atom had anything to do with the bikes? Do they or is it another company who've just purchased their history?
You are correct not to associated the "Ariel" that make the Atom with the same company that made the bikes years back.It was a Bought name...nothing more.
I Don't like them sorry Not meaning to be negative, perhaps the pictures don't do them justice.
They both look like an art student with A.D.D. designed them, nothing flows.
Bearing in mind I hated the S1000R in print yet opinion has changed so much since seeing it properly it is on my radar as a serious potential purchase
They both look like an art student with A.D.D. designed them, nothing flows.
Bearing in mind I hated the S1000R in print yet opinion has changed so much since seeing it properly it is on my radar as a serious potential purchase
bobberz said:
I like the girder fork. That and the butt-hanging-over-the-wheel saddle do lend it a Confederate look (glad to hear folks on a British forum even know what a Confederate is!) Compared to a Confederate, it is a bargain. But for a 20 grand starting price, I'd hope for a bespoke engine. Yes, Honda has great history with its bikes, is the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer, and is a safe bet for an engine partner, but, as loopy as this sounds, I would've hoped for a modern interpretation of a square four (an engine configuration sadly lost to history). I know it was flawed in its day, but with all the modern advances of the 21st century, you'd think they could find a way. After all, these are the nutters who had to build a vacuum chamber to weld a titanium chassis version of an already extreme car, just because they could! If Mazda could take an unorthodox engine configuration and, after years of development, become the only Japanese manufacturer to win Le Mans, a square four could be made viable?
The other thing is I suspect Ariel will charge a substantial amount for the "bespoke customisation" options, possibly even pushing it into Confederate territory. In that sort of price range, the Confederate has no equals. The Wraith looks like something from Transformers and is pure industrial-design porn.
As some have said the Diavel is a similarly-styled bike for much, much less money, however I do agree that there is a market for bespoke bikes and people considering this wouldn't consider the Duck (or would already have one). The new Brough Superior, "new" Manx Nortons, and Confederate prove this fact, not to mention the many other options out there. Has anything (physical and rideable) come out of Caterham's recent foray into bike building?
Building your own engine in these quantities is a mug's game now I'm afraid, especially a new Square Four! The other thing is I suspect Ariel will charge a substantial amount for the "bespoke customisation" options, possibly even pushing it into Confederate territory. In that sort of price range, the Confederate has no equals. The Wraith looks like something from Transformers and is pure industrial-design porn.
As some have said the Diavel is a similarly-styled bike for much, much less money, however I do agree that there is a market for bespoke bikes and people considering this wouldn't consider the Duck (or would already have one). The new Brough Superior, "new" Manx Nortons, and Confederate prove this fact, not to mention the many other options out there. Has anything (physical and rideable) come out of Caterham's recent foray into bike building?
Whether they could have played a little more on the 'heritage' (bought or not) and released a bike with a bought in parallel twin, big single or something - even a v-twin like the really early Ariels is maybe more relevant.
I do think there's a market for bespoke bikes though, but away from the mainstream buyers who consider £20k a lot of money! If you've got the £1m cars lined up you'd want something to fill the gaps in the garage and there's really very few options in the bike world...
lusopiston said:
kikiturbo said:
the atom steel "spaceframe" is pure esthetics and quite a poor design actually..
The Atom looks to be really well engineered, can you elaborate on this? Why is it a poor design? Rigidity? safety?
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
RumpleFugly said:
lusopiston said:
kikiturbo said:
the atom steel "spaceframe" is pure esthetics and quite a poor design actually..
The Atom looks to be really well engineered, can you elaborate on this? Why is it a poor design? Rigidity? safety?http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
That makes 2 motorcycles currently on the market with the name Ace, the Skyteam Ace is a tenth of the price too, bargain.
Looking at the inside faces of the frame helps explain the 70 hours:
dc2rr07 said:
grahamr88 said:
I do wish that people wouldn't consider machined aluminium and good engineering to be one and the same!
+1 also 'Ariel claims 70 hours of machining is required for the six main pieces of billet section aluminium' OK that means place billet in vice/jig close door and press start, really impressive I would be wanting to look at the program and see why has it took 70 hours.Edited by donteatpeople on Thursday 26th June 18:30
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