1953 1,000cc Ariel Square Four or "Squariel" Gets a "Revival Special" // Revival Daily 80

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Alan pays Alec a visit for an update on the 1953 Ariel Square Four 1,000cc masterpiece of a machine. This one came for a Revival and some basic maintenance. We get an informal history lesson from Alan about the Ariel and a tip from Alec about why Macgyver is wrong when it comes to wiring motorcycles!

[@kennethbowry1521]

I had one when I was a kid, half a century ago and I am still here.

[@jamespink4202]

I liked the format of this video.

[@babycriminalchan5803]

Man that is a freaking art 👀 classic elegant beauty 🤗❤️

[@Saphira_Pro4x]

You guys are killing it. Production value is on point, keep it up! Awesome bike, thanks for introducing me to this Odd Beast.

[@tonykeast9966]

Nice. Good description of the noise, I never imagined it would sound like that.

[@kenbradley5035]

Edward Turner designed the Triumph Speed twin ( 500cc ) around 1937 which was a wonderful smooth machine before he used the same technology to create this work of art.

[@jlacc1]

The Square Four uses a special Solex Carb designed only for this bike..

[@thra5herxb12s]

The general opinion of people that have never owned a Square Four, is that the rear cylinders overheat. And why be surprised that a 1000cc bike will do over 100. The 500 single does 90

[@RevivalCycles]

I can't say that anyone at the shop has owned one but we've spent a lot of time wrenching on half a dozen of them. I'm no Ariel expert myself and I expect that you're going to set me straight if I'm wrong, but my understanding has always been that overheating could be an issue with the earliest generations due to shared exhaust pipe design. The rear cylinder exhaust would heat soak the heads before merging with the front cylinder exhaust. In the later Gens this was solved by redesigning the manifold to route the rear exhaust out through it's own pipe. Maybe that's just legend that's developed over the years but it's hard to imagine why you'd revise the design to something more complicated/expensive if the original was a non issue.

[@ad-si4bq]

The 68 royal enfield interceptor 750cc was the fastest motorcycle at the time with a tested top speed of 120mph ,I own one and let me tell you at 60 mph you still have plenty throttle so I do believe what they said about it ,I would not dare to go faster than that specially with the drum brakes it will be suicide.I wouldn't doubt that the sq4 will reach 100mph .Like you said I don't understand why people is so surprised of such speeds on those bikes they were ahead of their time and really well made

[@charleswindsor1184]

what year of Ariel Square Four would be your recommendation?

[@andyusher9607]

My dad had 1 of these before I was born he was telling me about it years ago he got trapped between 2 buses and they were going opposite directions and he got flipped of it and broke both ankles.

[@DB-CustomRide]

When will be a first "AaaaannDiiiii" video about shaping metal? I miss the technical stuff

[@darrinslack1269]

I can send you the address where you can find the original american motorcycle magazine write up on the square four in pdf

[@RevivalCycles]

I'd love to see that!

[@martinda7446]

Shame about the tank (I think..) Love the original Ariel tanks, and seats too. Someone will say it's an Ariel tank that belongs to it. Or will they?

[@gregorysnyder6423]

Wrong tank and carb and tank badge.

[@gregorysnyder6423]

It does look good.

[@ultimobile]

It's an Ariel tank but I would think from 1948 or earlier - I had a 1950 Ariel which had that shape tank with a single fuel cap on top - the 3 circle panel on top was more likely 1948 or earlier - but I dunno if they sold that shape to suit the US market

[@martinda7446]

@@ultimobile Thanks Ultimobile. Cool info.

[@joeramos7088]

Who’d a thunk....speaker wire is made for speakers! Drop the knowledge!

[@MrKdr500]

"thunk" who'd would have thought that was a word?

[@georgeparazoo4395]

I road one in 1960what a thrill was about 15

[@geoffreycarson2311]

THE REAR CYLINDERS ALWAYS Overheated ITS A Desighn FLAW g