Ariel Square Four Special

[@brockett]

Motorcycle history both seen and heard. Marvellous.

[@MS-zu8ds]

My late Father would have loved this; he said the Square Four with the Norton featherbed suspension would have been close to perfection. He also had Matchless & Vincent.

[@dog8nut]

I had both a 51 Mark 1 and a 55 Mark 2 at the same time ,early 80s. Here in Phoenix AZ. USA the Mark 1 ran so hot that when the temp. got over 90F it got parked! Now the Mark 2 I rode all summer in temps in the 110+ range with no issues. Both had the small oil tank. The slighlty larger fins on the Mark 2 helped but the 4 pipe bolt on manifold I think made all the difference . Loved the Mark 2 silkly smooth and loved to Rev,in fact all too easy to over Rev to the detriment of the bottom end! Fast corrnering with the Un-damped plunger rear on rough surfaces was ,shall we say , entertaining !!! Of all the British bikes I have owned my top 4 favorits in no particluar order were the Ariel 4- BSA DBD 500 Goldie- Vincent BS and Velocett Venom Clubman.

[@doglover31418]

How do Harley V-twins go in AZ? Do the rear cylinders get significantly hot? I'm not knocking US bikes, just curious. How about the vincent twin, did that overheat?

[@dog8nut]

Well considering Arizona is loaded with HDs they seem to have no issues. The Vincent took the 110F temps just fine. The Mk1 ariel's issue was the exhaust manifolds were cast in the head,retained the exaust heat in the head. Kinda like flathead Ford V-8s @@doglover31418

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

​@@doglover31418Yes HD's did , the Vincent had offset cylinders so the back cylindergot cool air. HD's riders would run a cooler plug in the back cylinder. Turners original engine was only 500 cc not a 1,000. Was overhead cam as well. Page redesigned the motor to the MK 1. The motor was put into the 250 frame which was too flimsy then placed into the 500 sloper frame that was stronger but heavier frame.

[@dereklmcguire]

I had 1955 4 piper , never overheated , even in traffic

[@neilmackinnon3371]

Wonderful and what a beautiful noise those engines makes, very smooth sounding.

[@robleary3353]

Some lovely bits of kit there!. Lovely sound and for old bikes started easily. Nice one!. Nuff said. 🙂

[@rover100bunson]

they sound lovely

[@martinnorth2680]

Excellent video

[@derf9465]

New Milton, my old home Town looks warmer than my current location. If you can go, GO! To the best motorcycle museum in the country. Check out triumphs 2 stroke...... 4 cylinder 50cc, radial redrup and many more.

[@retromechanicalengineer]

Lovely machines. It would be a coin toss between the MK1 and the Coronation Special for my favourite.

[@SlickCrusty]

excellent

[@SikandrShaikh-d4o]

🇮🇳👌❤👌❤👌❤👌❤👌

[@JonseyWales]

😍

[@kevinscudamore2711]

👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@gerry343]

Apart from the overheating issue, it would have made the engine simpler with 4 cylinders aligned across the frame.

[@dog8nut]

But, not near as compact !

[@arkhsm]

Not as cool though, lol !!

[@gerry343]

@@arkhsm Cool it was not, particularly the two rear cylinders.