Another Ariel
Aug. 28th, 2018 07:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
elizillaOver the weekend Steve got a call from a local woman who said someone she found had suggested him as an Ariel expert who could help her figure out what to do with her late husband's bikes. He had dementia and then he died, leaving her with his bikes. :-( One is a BSA and not too difficult to find info on, but the other is an Ariel and she was struggling. She seems to have been a good steward of these motorcycles, but it's not her thing; she never learned to ride them. She liked being a passenger on her husband's Kawi Concours (already sold) but the Ariel was his favorite and she wants a good home for it. She doesn't know how long he had it or when/where he got it, though.
The Ariel is a 650 twin and titled as a 1958, though Steve determined it is actually a 1957. (He has all the reference books to identify Ariels.) There was an Ariel Cyclone made during this period that is very desirable. Someone she had talked to had thought it might be a Cyclone, but it is not; it is a lesser model, not very valuable at all, but Steve loves Ariels so he bought it. He trucked it home last night. The kickstart turned it over but it didn't start. Last plated in 2008. Seems fairly clean and not terribly corroded; it was clearly stored indoors. The front wheel is not original and the rear fender has been chopped. Steve also suspects the motor is not original. Well loved but a bit of a frankenbike.
It had been parked with the petcock open and the gas tank was completely empty; all the gas leaked out long ago. He put some gas in but it still didn't start, which was unsurprising. He figured he'd have to clean the carbs and who knows what else; not unusual.
But today he tried again and it started! Holy cow! Lots of mouse nests and black grunge came out of the exhaust, and made a mess, since, not expecting it to start he had not been careful which way he pointed it. But still, to start before any serious work? Awesome!
He's been cleaning seeds and acorns out of various cavities in it, and planning what next. Stay tuned.
The Ariel is a 650 twin and titled as a 1958, though Steve determined it is actually a 1957. (He has all the reference books to identify Ariels.) There was an Ariel Cyclone made during this period that is very desirable. Someone she had talked to had thought it might be a Cyclone, but it is not; it is a lesser model, not very valuable at all, but Steve loves Ariels so he bought it. He trucked it home last night. The kickstart turned it over but it didn't start. Last plated in 2008. Seems fairly clean and not terribly corroded; it was clearly stored indoors. The front wheel is not original and the rear fender has been chopped. Steve also suspects the motor is not original. Well loved but a bit of a frankenbike.
It had been parked with the petcock open and the gas tank was completely empty; all the gas leaked out long ago. He put some gas in but it still didn't start, which was unsurprising. He figured he'd have to clean the carbs and who knows what else; not unusual.
But today he tried again and it started! Holy cow! Lots of mouse nests and black grunge came out of the exhaust, and made a mess, since, not expecting it to start he had not been careful which way he pointed it. But still, to start before any serious work? Awesome!
He's been cleaning seeds and acorns out of various cavities in it, and planning what next. Stay tuned.
