Ariel Motor Company are back making bikes.

[Gix11]

After 50 years they have put their name to the first of their new bikes; The Ace:

http://1-ps.googleusercontent.com/x/www.motoroids.com/motoroids.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Ariel-Ace-Motorcycle-Revealed-Profile-600x337.jpg.pagespeed.ce.1-LD25NkrN.jpg

Available in two versions...

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[hyofighter]

at least there using a quality power plant , not sure on the looks but im sure i could get use to it , black frame would better

[latheboy]

I like that... bobber seat is shit though

[xa-mont]

i like it.

Black frame would go a long way to make it look less bulky i reckon. Ripper choice of engine too.

[Gix11]

Forgot to post the details!

Copied from the Ariel Motor Company website

http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/full_screen_v2.html

The Ace builds on the long standing relationship between Ariel and Honda, that began with the Ariel Atom. The new motorcycle features a Honda 1237cc V4 engine and drive system combining the best high and low volume engineering, materials and production values together with a bespoke build system that has never been seen before on a production motorcycle.

The unique way that Ariel builds vehicles allows each motorcycle to be tailored and fitted to individual customer choice to give them exactly the bike they want and to personalise it to their own use and taste. From low riding cruiser, through street and naked machines, to super sport bikes the Ace will be built to owners’ specific requirements and desires. Adjustable footrests, brake and gear lever plus different seat heights and handlebar configurations allow the Ace to be personally fitted for each rider, whatever their size, to give the perfect riding position. Having been referred to as the ‘Savile Row of the Automotive World’ Ariel have a tailor made approach to building vehicles that isn’t possible at high volume and reflects the qualities achievable only in low volume production.
This unique approach builds on motorcyclists’ great interest in individualising their machines and making them unique. With the Ace a great number of options will be available on ordering the bike to allow each one to be built giving a unique, but carefully designed and coherent outcome. Variants of front and rear suspension, low and high seats with pillion options, different sizes of tank, handlebars, wheels, exhausts, bodywork and more, as well as colours, finishes and materials, will form an extensive option list to ensure that each Ace motorcycle is completely unique to its owner.

Said Simon Saunders, Director of Ariel, “Motorcyclists have a real passion for their machines. They like them to be individual and they want them to be their bike, not just another bike identical to hundreds or thousands of others. The usual route is to buy a standard bike and then add various aftermarket components to change the bike into what they want. However with the Ace the uniqueness is built in as the bike is produced and each one will be as individual as its owner.”

“The first photos show just two different possibilities of specification for the bike, but the combinations are nearly endless and we plan to continue to add further options in the future. Once we understand what a customer wants, whatever it is, we can build the bike they need.”
Designed by the in house Ariel team the Ace respects Ariel’s past while looking forward with innovative ideas and design. The unique exterior perimeter space frame is identifiably Ariel and reflects the visible chassis of the Atom but is particular to the Ace both in material and design philosophy. Styling of the bike picks up on both traditional values and future trends in world superbike design. Using CAD and traditional clay modelling techniques the Ace was designed virtually and also in full size in Ariel’s own studio facility. Said Simon Saunders, “The many combinations of components made the design phase particularly difficult as we had to ensure that any Ace works as a coherent whole. Motorcyclists have a deep understanding of their machines and will appreciate the design, engineering and particular manufacturing techniques that have gone into the Ace. To us a machined from billet component is a beautiful thing and I know that bikers feel the same way.”

Performance from the Ace has been aimed at the average rider being able to extract comfortable and consistently attainable performance from the bike, with a top speed of 165mph and 0-60mph figure of 3.4 seconds. Mapping and fuelling is carried out to Ariel specification although overall power output remains similar to the Honda VFR at just over 170bhp. Said Simon Saunders, “We looked at an out and out, super lightweight race bike but they are already out there and are so far beyond the abilities of most riders that we took the decision to produce a really fast bike that was easy to ride and within the capabilities of most riders. Our motto is Serious Fun and those two words encapsulate what the Ace is all about.”

The Ace features a machined aluminium frame, options of suspension and different fork designs including Ariel’s own girder front end, Honda VFR1200 V4 engine in manual or DCT form, shaft drive, three different seats with pillion options, three different fuel tank capacities, bodywork options, handlebar and clip on variants, different footrest and control positions, wheels, tyres plus different finishes, materials and colours.



http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/mobile_2/Ace_images/Ariel_Ace_Frame.jpg (http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/mobile_2/Ace_images/Ariel_Ace_Frame.jpg) http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/mobile_2/Ace_images/Ariel_Ace_frame+seat.jpg (http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/mobile_2/Ace_images/Ariel_Ace_frame+seat.jpg)


Frame
Heart of the Ace is an aluminium frame, machined from solid billet, with welded construction which is common to all variants of the Ace providing mounting points for various subframe, fuel tank, body and suspension options. Never before seen on a production motorbike the detailed engineering and beauty of functional form apparent in the frame follows a tradition established by Ariel with the Atom.

The load bearing frame, which exceeds industry rigidity standards, carries the engine, various seat packages, front and rear suspension as well as providing a safety cell for the fuel tank. Made from 6 individual billet aluminium sections each frame takes over 70 hours to machine before being welded together. Every frame is then anodised for protection and different colour finishes are available to increase customer choice and individualise the frame to each bike. With the common frame upgrades and changes can be made to the Ace throughout its life.

Different head angles, via interchangeable eccentric bearing holders, are achievable to tune the rake angle for different uses from 21.8 degrees to 28.4 degrees, with a standard mid-point of 25.1 degrees for neutral handling. Head angle is set by Ariel during build or can be altered when the bike is serviced.

http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/mobile_2/Ace_images/Ariel_Ace_Bobber.jpg (http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/mobile_2/Ace_images/Ariel_Ace_Bobber.jpg) http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/mobile_2/Ace_images/Ariel_Ace_Race.jpg (http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/mobile_2/Ace_images/Ariel_Ace_Race.jpg)

Engine and transmission
The Ace uses the Honda V4 VFR1200 Unicam engine building on the relationship first seen in the Ariel Atom which uses a Honda Type R engine. The best known Ariel motorcycle was the 4 cylinder Square 4 introduced as a 500cc in 1930 developing into a 997cc machine that finished production in 1959. The use of the transverse, water cooled Honda 76 degree V4 builds on this tradition and was chosen for its power, flexibility, compact size and advanced technology. At 1237cc and with 173bhp and 129Nm of torque the V4 gives enormous performance but remains within the ability of the average rider. Throttle by wire technology has been combined with Ariel’s fuel mapping to give progressive and responsive power delivery throughout the rev range. An important addition is the singular V4 exhaust note released by Ariel’s various exhaust systems making the Ace an aural as well as visible delight.

The Honda VFR engine also gives Ariel the ability to offer the Ace in manual and Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) form adding yet further to customer choice. The 6 speed sequential manual offers standard motorcycle transmission whilst the DCT version can be used in fully ‘Auto’, ‘Sport’ or push button ‘Manual’ mode. This combined with the Honda shaft drive system mean absolute choice plus total peace of mind for Ace riders and the total reliability that Ariel customers have come to expect. From a 6 speed sports bike to a fully automatic long distance cruiser the Ace can deliver.


http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/mobile_2/Ace_images/Ariel_Ace_Rear_Ohlins.jpg (http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/mobile_2/Ace_images/Ariel_Ace_Rear_Ohlins.jpg) http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/mobile_2/Ace_images/Ariel_Ace_Bobber_Suspension2.jpg (http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/mobile_2/Ace_images/Ariel_Ace_Bobber_Suspension2.jpg)

[Gix11]

Suspension
The Ace features front suspension options of telescopic forks and the unique Ariel girder front end. Made from machined aluminium the Ariel girder forks give an option to standard telescopic forks which result in better handling, feel and sensitivity but at the same time feel familiar to any motorcycle rider. Due to the multi bearing top and bottom suspension arms, compliance is improved and stiction reduced over conventional telescopic forks providing better response over different road surfaces and undulations as well as under braking to corners.

As an all new suspension system the challenge for Ariel was designing the girder fork suspension system to feel familiar to motorcycle riders. To achieve this kinematics (movement of the wheel through its suspension travel) and wheel rate (spring rate measured at wheel contact patch) had to closely match that of a telescopic fork suspension system. Although it is an entirely new and unconventional system it therefore feels reassuringly familiar to a rider used to telescopic forks. Featuring the latest Ohlins TTX dampers and springs which offer separate rebound and compression damping, together with spring preload, the Ariel girder system can be set up by owners to provide the exact level of response for their own particular needs and riding style.
To provide choice to Ariel customers the option of Ohlins Road & Track telescopic forks are available, tailored specifically for the Ace. Offering optimised weight and ultimate telescopic fork performance the Ohlins units come with rebound, compression and spring adjustment tuneable for the use of the bike. As with the girder forks the head angle is adjustable in build or at service to provide different levels of steering response according to use and customer wishes. Rear suspension is by Pro Link single sided cast aluminium swing arm, containing the shaft drive, with options of different gas damper. Again an Ohlins option with compression, rebound and spring adjustment is available tuned specifically to the Ace. Both front and rear suspension are further tuneable by Ariel to provide different heights, spring rates and special use requests.

http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/mobile_2/Ace_images/Ariel_Ace_nissin_brakes.jpg (http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/mobile_2/Ace_images/Ariel_Ace_nissin_brakes.jpg) http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/mobile_2/Ace_images/Ariel_Ace_rear_wheel_exhaust.jpg (http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/mobile_2/Ace_images/Ariel_Ace_rear_wheel_exhaust.jpg)

Wheels, brakes and tyres
Front brakes are Nissin 320mm dual floating hydraulic discs with 6 piston callipers while the rear are Nissin 276mm disc with 2 piston calliper (plus park brake with DCT transmission). All versions of the Ace have electronic ABS brakes together with switchable traction control Options of Brembo brakes will be available when the Ace goes into production and once final testing has been signed off. Goodridge hose and fittings are used throughout the Ace for all brake and clutch lines with an option of Goodridge Kevlar hose and lightweight fittings.
Wheels are five and seven spoke alloy with the option of BST full carbon fibre and aluminium lightweight wheels made specifically for the Ace. The carbon wheels show a 50% weight saving over the alloy wheels and centralise weight due to the lighter rim, resulting in improved performance and handling.

All Aces will come with a choice of Dunlop tyres. With an association stretching back to 1895 when Dunlop and Ariel effectively shared Trademarks and made bicycles it is particularly fitting that the relationship should be rekindled with the Ace. Whilst Dunlop went on to concentrate on the production of tyres Ariel concentrated on cycles before moving on to powered vehicles a couple of years later, then cars and motorbikes. Dependant on use Ariel can choose from a wide range of Dunlop tyres to suit the use and purpose of each bike. The bikes pictured are fitted with Qualifier ll and GP Racer GPD211 tyres, used to enormous success in this year’s TT Races.


http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/mobile_2/Ace_images/Ariel_Ace_race_seat.jpg (http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/mobile_2/Ace_images/Ariel_Ace_race_seat.jpg) http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/mobile_2/Ace_images/Ariel_Ace_bobber_suspension.jpg (http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/mobile_2/Ace_images/Ariel_Ace_bobber_suspension.jpg)

Bodywork, seats and controls
Bodywork
At the centre of the Ace modularity is the interchangeable bodywork and seating.
Various bodywork is available with different mudguards, huggers, radiator covers, belly pans, screens and tanks. All are available in standard composite or carbon fibre. A selection of standard Ariel colours will be available plus the option of paint to any colour required or special paintwork and colour schemes. The fuel tanks are available in three different capacities from 14.1 to 21.3 Litres. Further fairings, screens, tanks seats will become available as Ace production progresses. Three versions of seats are available - low single seat, with additional and removable pillion passenger seat, a dual seat and a solo sports seat. The low seat features a seat height of 745mm allowing all riders to have both feet firmly on the ground and has the option of a quickly added or removed matching pillion seat. The seat shown demonstrates just one of the possibilities for individual material and trim choice. Created by a Master Saddler, who holds a Royal Warrant, the seat uses three different kind of leather and contrasting stitching. The nearly unlimited possibilities of colour, material and trim plus the use of master craftsmen to tailor each bike to exacting standards demonstrates the care and attention to detail possible with Ariel’s unique production ability.
A slightly higher dual seat is a second option, again with trim, material and stitch options and features stowable/foldable pillion foot pegs. This feature also comes on the low pillion seat and allows the rider to simply fold up the footrests when not in use, creating a clean line but making pillion footrests available when required. The footrests lock in position when up or down released by a pull knob on the back of the footrest support.

The higher solo seat allows for a more sports riding position and again is available with a variety of trim options and different seat padding as well as a full carbon fibre option.


Controls
Three levels of footrests will be available - low, mid and high - to complement the various seats and achieve the desired seating position. All controls and footpegs are made from machined aluminium, again available in different anodised finishes, and are adjustable to different reach positions. To accommodate the various position possibilities different foot levers are available and adjustable for reach and height.

Handlebars are available in different heights, as well as finishes, in addition to clip ons for telescopic forks. Hand controls have standard motorcycle controls including hazard and headlamp flashers and the DCT option features mode selection, push button gearchange control as well as a parking brake.
Instrumentation is via a Race Technologies LCD dash, also found on the Atom The instruments feature multi screen information that can be set up and scrolled through by the rider plus programmable gearshift lights. Readouts for RPM, speed, oil pressure, water temperature, voltage, ambient temperature and fuel with additional warning lights for fuel, ABS, traction, indicator, main beam and neutral give the rider information covering all aspects of the bike. A further option is the addition of a data logger that can show real time performance as well as log to an in built SD card.


Ariel’s objective has been to bring the very highest standards of design and engineering with the craftsmanship and particular skills that are available in low volume production, to produce one of the best and most interesting motorcycles in the world. The Ace is the result of this and puts the Ariel name back on two wheels as well as four.

[Tony Nitrous]

Not into the girder front end / silly seat model.

Other one is OK but it's hard to get excited about the
Honda Engine. I thought the latest VFR was a bit bland
and over complicated. Rather have an IL4 personally.

Interesting bike.
Bit like the Norton, trying to find its own market and not
take on the Japs.

[nick76]

Im sure the engine will feel alittle more livelier in a bike which looks a fair bit lighter than the VFR the engine comes from.
They've tried to make the frame look similar to the Arial Atom......and i like the look of it...not so much of the bobber version tho...

[Watto]

the black one looks like the confederate hellcat - don't mind the red one with a bit of tweeking on the exhaust

[Gix11]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqgQj8HWMyc

[Hagarr]

Love the headlight!

[Jockney Rebel]

i like it

[Tony Nitrous]

I wonder what the frame would have looked like if the designer hadn't be told
that he had to make it look like the Ariel Atom car ?

[Tony Nitrous]

New Norton,
New Ariel,
Confederate Hellcat,
The Vyrus,
The Icon Sheene
Ecosystem Titanium,
MTT turbine,
Boss Hoss,

Plenty of over priced noveltys for the cashed up poser to chose from.

[Gix11]

Apparently, they are all coming back for a peice of the action.

http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-news-new-bikes/new-matchless-months-away/24984.html

http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/classic-british-motorcyles/hesketh-24-comeback-zmmz14mazbea.aspx#axzz36M6NkuXW

The Hipster's interest in Cafe racers has opened the door wide open.

[Tony Nitrous]

http://i57.tinypic.com/11wg96o.jpg