The Most Unique British 4-cylinder motorcycles !

In this video you will see the most interesting and unique 4-cylinder historic British motorcycles !
Many thanks to all bikers and motorcycle fans who contributed their videos to our motorcycle channel. If you have a motorcycle at home that you built yourself, or an old, interesting or unusual motorcycle that you would like to show, please send me short videos from your camera or mobile phone to: We Transfer - [e-mail]
I will process your videos and publish them on our motorcycle KZbin channel - Jawa Tino

[@jawatino3797]

The motorcycle in the picture in front of the video is a Douglas Doublefly Four, a motorcycle built on the basis of a Douglas Dragonfly. The motorcycle was made by British motorcycle enthusiast Eddie. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his contribution to the entire motorcycle world.

[@jubalseise9239]

Como hacer t bome stake en la fridora de aire

[@JimForeman]

I owned an Arial square four at one time. Basically a conjoined pair of 500cc twins.

[@michelguevara151]

you may not know, but the AJS Vfour was the first vehicle to be fitted with disc brakes, this one you've featured has the road half width SLS drums. the full race model was allready being fielded in 1928, water cooled, OHC, supercharged, battery coil ignition and cable operated disc brakes. it was disqualified for racing as 'uncompetetive' due to it's then immense power and was sidelined until the '30s, where it came back as a 'less complicated' aircooled roadster aimed at the "Squariel" Ariel Squarefour buying public. it was very much in advance of the times. I believe the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Meseum in England possesses one.

[@jimhood1202]

Thanks for the explanation of the Douglas. I thought it might be as I recognized the style from photos of my dad's Dragonfly.

[@routmaster38]

@@JimForeman As a teenager in 1956 ,I lusted after a "Squarial" but at £336 far out of reach!

[@buddywhatshisname522]

As a marine engineer and classic brit bike lover who’s worked with an many ancient prime mover, I’ve always been in awe of the craftsmanship and skills of those who designed and built these marvellous creations with nothing more than imagination and a slide rule. I actually knew an old timer who’d raced an Ariel square four back in the early sixties and talked about it with more love than he did of his wife... Thanks for the show.

[@donparker1823]

I had no idea about several of these marques. Very cool lesson in vintage British engineering. Love it.

[@rishi-eq8kx]

Calling from dehradun, India....grew up on a 500cc bsa 1943....had an ajs, an ariel, a triumph and a norton in the neighbourhood.....Plus....an Indian Chief and a Harley....alll owned by different families in our small-town...a valley in the base of Lower Himalyas.....oh ! what fun, watching this video now....the bikes really drive me mad !! I am 60....all about music, bikes and...THANKS , also for this highly informative and very thoughtfully made video .

[@jawatino3797]

I'm really glad you like it.

[@robertshatto2995]

They are like deco art,,,just beautiful

[@BattlecatRed]

I thought I had seen every piston engine configuration - but this video opened my eyes. Amazing! Liked and subscribed.

[@tekboyg]

Wow, all beautiful and unusual! Such a range of different solutions to the same question! Those British designers...

[@bruceburns1672]

It's hard to believe in this day and age that Britain was once capable of this level of of the engineering and manufacturing .

[@iankeith763]

Hold on, Britain still is. We have great engineers. The motorcycle industry was mismanaged. Look at the world of F1 for evidence of that.

[@trailingarm63]

I think what the British did best is have good ideas - we still do. The actual execution of them was often not so good - most of these old bikes had major and minor flaws. There's a thriving cottage industry devoted to addressing them retrospectively (using new ideas and new materials).

[@rupert5390]

They still make the best jet engines in the world ( until the Chinese steal the technology of course)

[@kenthepen4857]

@@rupert5390 I agree. A Chinese 'knock off' jet engine, now there's a frightening thought. No more flying for me, unless I know it's not a PRC engine keeping it in the air!

[@Chopper650]

mismanaged and lacked the discipline and work ethic of the japanese

[@중석-x3d]

세상은 넓고 바이크도 많다 흭구한 클래식 바이크들을 소개해줘서 감사합니다. 현죤하는 메이커 부터 역사속으로 사라져간 메이커들 이러한 바이크를 소개해줘서 라이더로서 고맙습니다

[@walteralter9061]

Nice job. Some juicy British iron right there. Bikes of that era had a beautiful form follows function look and feel. And you could wrench on them without a degree in engineering. Love the old time girder forks and saddle seats.

[@londonspeedway]

Incredible engineering. The beautiful supercharged AJS in particular looks almost modern. Thanks for a glimpse of those rare bikes!

[@victoryfirst2878]

Jawa are some of the best motorcycles made period. Peace

[@philliprobinson7724]

Hi V.F. They made top class speedway bikes. I had Jawas for many years, mainly the 350 two stroke twin. Very reliable and simply made bike. The only serious trouble it had was jumping out of third gear, but I fixed that by making my own stronger gearbox selector forks, and rebushing the selector fork slider rod. I then converted the 6v 45 watt Pal electrical generator to 12v 60 watts. After 120,000 miles something's going to go wrong, eh? Cheers, P.R.

[@victoryfirst2878]

@@philliprobinson7724 I love their bikes. I also have a 350 which is super. They just run and run. Simple too.

[@philliprobinson7724]

@@victoryfirst2878 Hi V.F. Not the fastest bikes to be sure, but they just kept on keeping on. I liked the "slick-shift" cam on the gear-change/kickstart shaft that depressed the clutch automatically when changing gear. I could ride my Jawa 350 with one hand tied behind my back: literally! Triumph had a "slick-shift" at one stage too, but they canned it. What year is your 350? Cheers, P.R.

[@victoryfirst2878]

@@philliprobinson7724 Mine is the 1972. I just love the two stroke. This will never die.

[@chrisweeks6973]

I certainly found them to be very reliable. I bought a Jawa 250 brand-new in 1963 and ran that as my sole means of transport for the 150-mile round trip to my military base. In '84 I bought a very neglected '70-model 350 Twin, completely refurbished it and kept it for 15 years. Really enjoyed that bike and wish I'd still got it, but today it's an '05 Guzzi Breva 750 which, at 79, I still enjoy riding.

[@barneybetelgeuse6273]

Unbelievable engineering from all of them

[@larstragl146]

The Matchless has an absolutely beautiful sound, love it :)

[@rodmckenzie2700]

i have some silver hawk parts i want to sell if any one interested

[@michelguevara151]

everyone loves a matchbox :-D

[@joepkortekaas8813]

7:09 Very fast, but atrocious road holding! Great video!

[@alloomis1635]

i am a bit surprised they didn't try a 'fan -four.' easy to put a opposed twin and a 90 degree vee on the same crank shaft, you get good cooling, good balance and compact.

[@darrylmoore127]

Very Cool motorcycles , I ve never seen these bikes, awsome post

[@victoryfirst2878]

Very nice video of old engines used in bikes. Peace too.

[@alexcaskie6054]

Wow, I had to watch this twice. Stunning engineering.

[@BritIronRebel]

Well done dnd interesting video... Thank you! I really loved the cut-aways showing the unique, diverse, and amazing ways to turn a shaft.

[@posniknelb6114]

Supercharged AJS v4 for me please.stunning!!!

[@paulqueripel3493]

First video I've seen that mentions the Wooler.

[@thatmanstumototours2270]

Quite an education in 7:30....Thanks very much.....

[@andyb.1026]

Please make the Text larger & Brighter. its almost impossible to read the very good information on there ... A very Good Channel

[@jawatino3797]

Well thank you. At first I tried to do it with a large text in the video, but it overlapped the important things in the video. So I tried to reduce it so that the bikes and details of the bikes could be seen as much as possible.

[@88BlueKeys4U]

And I thought I know them all.. Only the Ariel Square Four crossed my path, seen in New England where a dedicated tinkerer restored his in the 1990s, next to his Vincent Black Shadow, another 100mph club member of that era. Cool compact designs, interesting and ingenious crankshaft solutions, amazing for their time. The transverse Wooler 'boxer' layout appears to be a direct copy of the BMW classic, shaft driven and all. But BMW never experimented with 'stacked' cylinders like these creative cats from Great Britain. That was fun, thanks!

[@monsieurcommissaire1628]

Your videos are always excellent. I was just reminded of how much I lust after the 2nd generation Squariel. It has a kind of 'Triumph' vibe, not surprising considering the Edward Turner connection. The only thing I have difficulty with is reading the tiny text on the captions, but I manage. Thanks for all your effort, keep them coming!

[@jawatino3797]

Thank You !

[@jorgefernandez-mv8hu]

That was an amazing tour of motorcycle engines. The ones now are tame by comparison.

[@mikecarmean6446]

That's Back when the World had Amazing ✅ Engineers

[@stepheneurosailor1623]

British ones

[@mikecarmean6446]

Right...But Just Motorcycles ✅ Not Atomic Bombs

[@michelguevara151]

we still exist, but seat of the pants engineering has been superceded by nicad no nothings. I designed the first new gneration triumphs, but was young and john bloor is a wanker. I was never paid for my designs and he outsourced to kawasaki for the hideously ugly motors. he didn't think an 18 year old could design an engine, or you'd have 1200cc dohc radial five valve headed triples twins an sindles, built on my modular concept. I didn't pursue a suit simply because he made his fortune in coke dealing. it's a dirty little world. but this is why you no longer have motorcycles that you'd want to steal, being designed. just restyled overweight cookie cutter rubbish. more weight and complexity every year with a new set of clothes. sad , isn't it?

[@mikecarmean6446]

michel Guevara MG... Thank You For The History ✅ The New Generations Are To Lazy To Use Their Brain And Hands... Cheers

[@jahiol2579]

@@michelguevara151 Triumph have done themselves no favours by stopping UK production, if people want an Asian motorbike they will buy a Japanese bike that is better built and cheaper

[@colibri67]

The 4-cylinder Matchless is ridiculous, even for that era of motorcycling. What was the point? The same horsepower could have been produced with only one or two cylinders.

[@423FGFDFHFHV]

Most unique is not possible. Unique means one only.

[@mervynsands3501]

Some of these designs were so impressive as well as innovative for their era. Looking at the complexity compared to 21st century motorcycles, they were so well crafted. 🙂👍

[@harrybond9282]

Excellent video of vintage bike Lucky you are. Love this video and even the way you explained technical points. Keep it up

[@joe-bloggs.]

My Dad had an Ariel square four, I never saw it but he told me about the over heating issues. This is a first for me, thanks.

[@chuckp3131]

As usual great video. Thanks from North Carolina

[@fins59]

5:31 That 1938 Brough Superior's motor is a brilliant design and it has a shaft drive and a low centre of gravity, what a machine, truly awesome.

[@anair70]

Read about the Douglas Dragonfour in one of the bike magazines... Early 90s I think. It was on the cover

[@arthurn9237]

JAWA TINO GUY I'M TRULEY GLAD YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO READ THE DESCRIPTIVES OF YOUR CONTENT . FRIKIN SLOW DWN A BIT SOME OF US OUT HERE IN THE BIG WIDE WORLD HAVEN'T TGE ABILITY'S OF READING SOOOO FAST

[@markmark2080]

Very well done, interesting video, I really enjoyed it.

[@motoros222]

Fantastic history ! Goldened time ! Thank you !

[@zeus-mt7wx]

I had know idea. None zip buggur all that England made 4 cylinder bike engines. This is amazing video of history. The technology was on par with Bentley Aston Jaguars , of racing type cars. It totally astounds me H4, opposed 4, backwards 4 , upside down 4, V4, water cooled V4, water cooled V4 with super charger. This is an amazing video of pure history. Thank you for sharing this. Truly Great full. 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@vulekv93]

Straight to the point, excellent videos!

[@jawatino3797]

Thank you very much!

[@completelyboringstuff204]

The 1935 AJS is a stunner- if only the market for such marvels had been there at the time!

[@fidelcatsro6948]

Great episode!

[@andrewwatson4516]

Breathtaking British machines - beautiful bikes indeed, oh to win the lottery !

[@jimfrodsham7938]

I had an Aerial square 4 mark 2 in '68. Lovely bike but I couldn't afford to keep it, wish I had it'd be worth a fortune now.

[@tagomago2178]

Virtually all new to me - Fascinating. Some real experimentation here

[@pashakdescilly7517]

The Ariel Square 4 at 2:25 is not a production bike. It was never manufactured with the pivoted rear fork frame, as made for the mid-late fifties singles and twins. A number of Square 4 engines have been put in the fork frame, by enthusiasts, and maybe there was a factory prototype or two. Most Square 4s were sold to pull sidecars, and the plunger rear end (actually the Anstey link on an Ariel) was preferred by many for this role.

[@oldasdihrt5993]

I love these comments. ' As a retired rocket scientist, i can appreciate the engineering skills shown here blah blah blah '. Great video, by the way.

[@paullacey2999]

The supercharged AJS looks fearsome.Would love to see it moving!

[@pashakdescilly7517]

When lock-down is over, go to the Sammy Miller Museum. It is there, along with a whole lot of other tasty British bikes

[@paullacey2999]

@@pashakdescilly7517 That is something I very much wish to do! 👍

[@jobspeedmms]

This is an old motorbike, but it's unique and very cool, bro. In terms of the materials used, it's definitely still strong, right?

[@motocykleiiwojny1423]

Amazing bike ! Sound of Ariel square is the best.

[@adrianomotosrestauracoes2639]

Engenharia clássica , esse motor com pistões opostos sem o movimento direto do virabrequim me fascina !!! Obrigado por esse vídeo !!!!...(Fã do Brasil)

[@philliprobinson7724]

Hi Adrian. I wouldn't like to overhaul the motor though, all those extra parts and bearings. It must have been fairly gutless with all that extra internal friction. Cheers, P.R.

[@iankeith763]

Great, thank you.

[@CrusaderSports250]

Please leave the information on the screen for longer, some of us find it difficult to read the small print quickly and stopping the video is not always easy, aside from that observation it was a collection of gorgeous bikes, and the graphics showing how they worked was brilliant.

[@Timoteo53575]

Just change the PLAYBACK speed, lower right w/ a gear symbol....

[@cogitationescaecae1125]

That second bike with gold M letter on the tank is gorgeous and it sounds

[@raphaelandrews3617]

They were not bikes they were works of art engineering at its finest .My favourite is the shaft drive Vellocettes. i had a friend who owned one and it was one of best rides I ever had,

[@jagadishpuri]

Thanks very much uploading this vid It was good to see these unique bikes from last century A motobike fan Janos

[@POBulkhead]

My 1981 GS750 Suzuki has 68 horse power. I still love her.

[@thomasjordan5578]

Inspiring content and curiously transcendent musical accent.

[@caribman10]

The only motorcycle made before WW2 I ever wanted to own is a Matchless Silver Hawk. Thanks for putting one in here. They're phenomenal.

[@cliffordwaghorn6358]

My father had one, unfortunately he had sidecar on it to take my mum out, he was awful driver, so I was only 13 so only able drive locally!! Rattled badly, leaked oil everywhere and over heated, it was quite a handful at my age. Guys at the back of us had a Brough Superior and Matchless Silver arrow!!! one of them gave me a 1927 Francis Barnet two stroke with wood block bakes. As this was one year before the war ended we still had an indoor Morrison air raid shelter and Mum let me work on the bike on it!! Gave me a taste for motorbikes. Eventually with little help! I managed to save any money I earnt and ordered bike for my 16th birthday, Triumph Speed Twin. Followed by Vincent Comet a little later. Several yrs more and my Son got a Vincent Rapide which we upgraded to lightning spec. Wish we still had them🤧😎

[@wolfgangwind788]

Wenn diese außergewöhnlichen Systeme auch nicht überlebt hatten ( Serie ) aber sehr beeindruckende Design bzw Ingenieurskunst, die haben noch Charakter 👌 danke für das schöne Video 👍

[@jetlag4free621]

Big big Motolove! Love my very own Kawasaki. Always putting up the good stuff like Delta Parole, Metallica, Alice In Chains and others when I am working on her and sometimes even on drive! Moto is life

[@ldnwholesale8552]

The Matchless looks good in black. That hang on oil tank though lets it down

[@velobob4299]

Thanks for that, very good.

[@elyass.k.n5994]

It was great as always 👍👍👍

[@ovalwingnut]

STOP THE FILM! STOP THE FILM! I can't take any more.. my head is going to explode. I can't absorb a 100 years of genius in 7 1/2 minutes ;) I only wish my dreams were this good! Cheers

[@admiralbeez8143]

Triumph Quadrant must be included. The ultimate what-if of the British motorcycle industry.

[@basilpunton5702]

The Victoria Police had the Arial square 4 in the 1950's. Problems with overheating in the Australian summer.

[@chetlovesamerica6783]

Honda vfr 800 1999,same 4cyl set up all in one block ,,,still running strong today.Love all bikes that work,,lol.♡♡♡

[@pashakdescilly7517]

Honda VFR has a wide v angle. Matchless Arrow is 26 degrees

[@reinaldosotero7787]

Boa noite!! Tem algum vídeo de matches 500cc 1952.

[@williamjmansfield8768]

Enjoy your varied content. Rode for70 years.

[@carlosdemetriochavez5825]

Es muy interesante su video,no sabía que existieran este tipo de motores con esta configuración me admira la exelente ingeniería de construcción,gracias,saludos de Monterrey,N,L.Mexico.

[@MrNickelbrille]

Yours was the only side that didn't open with adds. And you are now the fourth within half a minute.I just klicked the others away. I knew I needet more time with you ;-)

[@ianlawrie919]

Splendid 👏👏👏👏👍

[@edisonelias6797]

Fantastic! Fantástico! maravilhosas motorcicle 😂 from Rio

[@gabrielruvalcaba2310]

British people.are genious Badasses making awesome bikes

[@darrinslack1269]

Try looking up the various designs from Brough superior , geared flat four ,inline water cooled 4

[@kenbradley5035]

I loved seeing all these wonderful creations, sadly all these companies went to the wall and all those fantastic and creative engineers lost... Imagine if these companies had carried on with proper funding. Thank you for sharing.... would help if things could be slowed down a pace so we can read the description and look at the image.

[@zoebettina]

I am in love...but I am in love with everything that has 2wheels....

[@wirlybird997]

The 4 cylinder engine is a beauty but like them all , they are a tinkers bike , there's always something to do.

[@RatsAndFunTV]

You speak as somebody who have never had one.

[@johncatt42]

The Japanese entered the market. I think Honda ,they offered push button start .pillion bags ,some people laughed but others liked the idea . Within 10 years they out sold all of the British manufacturers put together .

[@frijofrijo6477]

Most valuable collections 💥👌

[@andrewg.5129]

Great bikes and great video !

[@josecampos2469]

Un motor muy buen diseño y acoplado, debian de sacar mas en estos tiempos. José Campos, Yaracuy - Venezuela.

[@billsmith305]

lovely to watch, great bikes

[@rexalexander4843]

3-4 generations back the british were a superpower in every sense of the term. how did they lose almost everything so quickly?

[@majorlaff8682]

Then later they sold themselves out to the myth of multi-culturalism. Mistakenly believing that other cultures could add something worthwhile to theirs. Plus, they turned their back on God.

[@kenwhite5132]

Was it just me r did anyone else notice when he r she had the running with out the rocker boxs on it there was no oil coming up to rockers... love the way the exhaust comes out of the motor.... beautiful bike.....

[@shanehnorman]

Fascinating, a well-researched and well-edited video. However, the narrow-angle Lancia V4, with a single cylinder head, long predated the Matchless, having been launched in the Lambda of 1922. VW's VR4s are johnny-come-latelies by comparison.

[@joaobosco1834]

Uma moto dessa tem força como um trator... pensa numa maquina bruta.

[@wilsonsantos3991]

EU GOSTO DE ADMIRAR ESSAS RELÍQUIAS SÃO UMA HISTÓRIA MUITO INTERESSANTE SÃO MOTOS ANTIGAS .

[@kevinhoffman6592]

Who put thumbs down ? Are u kidding me

[@61Slughi]

The thumbnail was of a Douglas Dragonfly which wasn't in the video. I believe it was a 4 cylinder conversion by an owner. Maybe that's why it's a thumbs down.

[@garypeatling7927]

Excellent research so no one has made a w type vtwin been thinking about it

[@Budivedder]

Nice bikes

[@lukieboy549]

Just shows what brilliant inventive engineers we had in this once great country

[@horstpopescu1170]

Das ist schon mehr als Kunst wundervolle Maschinen, echte Kunstwerke

[@marvinhancock6433]

The British made beautiful bikes

[@billsmith305]

I used to have the 350 old war horse rigid rear suspension

[@Rudyikotyk]

Дивовижна інженерна думка, дякую!👍

[@davestambaugh7282]

What an awesome package this block is.

[@LesSharp]

The Squarial could easily rip the carcass of the rear tires available at the time to pieces. Edward Turner also designed the classic Triumph twin-cylinder engines that dominated the scene from the late 30's on into the 50's.