Description
27th Oct, 2024 10:00
The October 2024 Auction
1961 Ariel Arrow
UK bike - completed restoration
Estimate
£2, 000 - £3, 000
Buyer's premium: 15. 00%
Registration: 572 WHK
Frame: T175523
Odometer: 4, 269 (since rebuild)
MOT: Exempt
Dating certificate
Owner’s manuals created
UK bike
Touch up paint
Rebuild receipts from specialist
The Ariel Leader was a British motorcycle produced by Ariel Motorcycles between 1958 and 1965. A radical design, the Leader was fully enclosed with an integral windscreen and was the first British motorcycle to have optional flashing indicators. After a few years of success, Ariel could no longer compete against Japanese imports. The last Ariel Leader was made when the factory closed in 1965. Launched in mid-1958, the Leader claimed to offer the comfort of a scooter with the performance of a motorcycle. It sold well, and it won the Motor Cycle News Motorcycle of the Year award in 1959. Ariel supported the launch with a range of options, which was unusual at the time. Hence few of the 22, 000 Ariel Leaders produced were the same. Colour schemes, many of them two-tone, were also a break with tradition. They included Oriental Blue or Cherry Red with Admiral Gray accents.
The Arrow was a cheaper, stripped Leader produced from 1959 and was developed into the Golden Arrow sport version in 1961. A sister-machine designated Ariel Arrow 200 - with a smaller capacity of 200cc, achieved by reducing the bore to 48. 5 mm from 54 mm whilst retaining the same stroke - was available from 1964 to bring it into a lower tax band and benefit from lower UK rider insurance premiums.
Brought to us by the owner and ready to ride, we have seen this bike running. The bike has undergone a significant restoration which is documented with receipts.
