Old bike identification help please

[SteelerSE]

A friend is looking for help with identifying the below bike. Any of you classic guys got any ideas? srob?

[Gertrude]

Looks like an Ariel Square Four, possibly the 4G model?

Edited by Gertrude on Sunday 30th December 16:23

[gareth_r]

Pre-war OHV Square Four was my first thought as well,




but some details look more like the earlier OHC version

Edited by gareth_r on Sunday 30th December 17:30

[crofty1984]

Square four was my guess as well. The barrels look a bit too long (as in following from the front to the back wheel) to be one cylinder's worth.

[SteelerSE]

Perfect! Thanks all.

[neutral 3]

Superb photo ! Any more info on it ?

[SteelerSE]

It's just an old picture of his dad - that's all I know.

[SteelerSE]

Someone has suggested this:


What do you think?

[HD Adam]

I don't think it's any of those.

The engine cases are nothing alike.

[Ubendum]

Its a bit difficult to see from the photo, but I think its a Matchless, probably a 500cc Silver Arrow.

[SteelerSE]

Ubendum said:

Its a bit difficult to see from the photo, but I think its a Matchless, probably a 500cc Silver Arrow.

You have a good point - there's a weird double layer to the engine cases isn't there?

[gareth_r]

Ubendum said:

Its a bit difficult to see from the photo, but I think its a Matchless, probably a 500cc Silver Arrow.

That's it! I knew I'd seen that timing cover shape somewhere.

I considered the Matchless Silver Hawk, but that looks like a V-twin from the side. I forgot about the Arrow.

[Krikkit]

I reckon that's a winner...

[Ubendum]

gareth_r said:

That's it! I knew I'd seen that timing cover shape somewhere.

I considered the Matchless Silver Hawk, but that looks like a V-twin from the side. I forgot about the Arrow.

The Arrow was a narrow angle vee twin, so you were correct. The Hawk was a vee four. Hard to believe nowadays, but back in the mid 1960's, Motorcycle Mechanic magazine gave away a Hawk they had found....I wonder what happened to it?

[crofty1984]

Krikkit said:

I reckon that's a winner...

I think so!

[SteelerSE]

Excellent! I'll pass it on.