Ariel Arrow Super Sport 250
Ariel Arrow | |
Manufacturer | |
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Also called | Arrow Super Sport 250, Arrow 200 |
Production | 1961 - 62 |
Engine | Two stroke, parallel twin |
Compression ratio | 10:1 |
Top Speed | 126 km/h / 78 mph |
Ignition | Coil |
Battery | 6V |
Transmission | 4-Speed |
Suspension | Front: Trailing link fork Rear: Swing arm, twin shock absorbers/dampers |
Brakes | Front: Drum, 6 in, leading shoe Rear: Drum, 6 in, leading shoe |
Front Tire | White wall |
Rear Tire | White wall |
Wheelbase | 1300 mm / 51 in |
Seat Height | 760 mm / 30 in |
Weight | 132 kg / 290 lbs (dry), |
Fuel Capacity | 13.6 L / 3.6 US gal |
Manuals | Service Manual |
It could reach a top speed of 126 km/h / 78 mph.
Engine[edit | edit source]
The engine was a Air cooled cooled Two stroke, parallel twin. The engine featured a 10:1 compression ratio.
Drive[edit | edit source]
Power was moderated via the Multi plate.
Chassis[edit | edit source]
It came with a White wall front tire and a White wall rear tire. Stopping was achieved via Drum, 6 in, leading shoe in the front and a Drum, 6 in, leading shoe in the rear. The front suspension was a Trailing link fork while the rear was equipped with a Swing arm, twin shock absorbers/dampers. The Arrow Super Sport 250 was fitted with a 13.6 L / 3.6 US gal fuel tank. The bike weighed just 132 kg / 290 lbs. The wheelbase was 1300 mm / 51 in long.
Photos[edit | edit source]
Overview[edit | edit source]
Ariel Arrow Super Sport 250
When introduced, the Ariel 2-strokes were, by the standards of the time, quite a modern and different conceptand in many ways still are. The Ariel Leader was the first to appear, introduced at the 1958 Motor Cycle Show and was a sensation. The stripped down version, the Arrow, arrived late '59, and the Super Sports Arrow appeared a year later at the beginning of January '61. All were 247cc twin cylinder 2-strokes, the Leader and Arrow being fitted with a 7/8 Amal 375 Monobloc carb, whilst the Super Sports had the larger 1-1/16 Amal 376 which gave it the edge in performance and with its very glamorous teenage grabbing finish. It was an immediate hit and sold well. For the time, performance of the Super Sports Arrow was excellent with rapid acceleration and an indicated top speed of 80mph flat on the tank (rider prone) but it took about a mile to get the right numbers on the clock. However, slightly downhill and with a following wind it would often see an indicated 84mph. The standard Arrow was a few mph slower. Fuel consumption seemed to vary little from 70mpg irrespective of how it was ridden. This was in contrast to the Japanese 250cc 2-stroke twins that were arriving. Their consumption was much greater, but so was their performance.
The Leader and Arrow were all based around the same rigid box section frame and the clever trailing link front suspension, the design of which gave an almost constant wheelbase whatever the suspension movement. With the fuel tank enclosed within the frame (early examples 2.3 gals, later 3 gals) and the engine suspended on lugs beneath, a very low centre of gravity was achieved, the combination of which resulted in excellent handling. Because of this, Arrow riders loved the twisty bits, and often surprised riders of much larger motorcycles. These big bike boys would more often than not take the Mickey out of any 2-stroke riderand especially the Arrowsbecause they were so different and "a bit scooter-like". Probably the worst feature of the design was the poor front brake, and for anything like decent retardation both brakes had to be used hard and in unison. The rear was OK, if not brilliant, but as both are exactly the same 6 units, it must largely be down to a lack of leverage to the front.
Make Model | Ariel Arrow Super Sport 250 |
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Year | 1961 - 62 |
Engine Type | Two stroke, parallel twin |
Displacement | 247 cc / 15.1 cu in |
Bore X Stroke | 54 x 54 mm |
Cooling System | Air cooled |
Compression | 10:1 |
Fuel/oil Mix | 50:1 |
Exhaust | 2-into-2 |
Induction | 1-1/16 in Amal 376 carburetor |
Ignition | Coil |
Alternator / Generator | Lucas |
Battery | 6V |
Starting | Kick |
Max Power | 14.9 kW / 20 hp 2 6500 rpm |
Clutch | Multi plate |
Transmission | 4-Speed |
Final Drive | Chain |
Front Suspension | Trailing link fork |
Rear Suspension | Swing arm, twin shock absorbers/dampers |
Front Brakes | Drum, 6 in, leading shoe |
Rear Brakes | Drum, 6 in, leading shoe |
Wheels | Steel, laced wire spokes |
Front Rim | 3.25 x 16 |
Rear Rim | 3.25 x 16 |
Front Tire | White wall |
Rear Tire | White wall |
Wheelbase | 1300 mm / 51 in |
Seat Height | 760 mm / 30 in |
Turning Radius | 2.4 m / 8 ft |
Dry Weight | 132 kg / 290 lbs |
Fuel Capacity | 13.6 L / 3.6 US gal |
Average Consumption | 3.5 L/100 km / 28.6 km/l / 67 US mpg |
Top Speed | 126 km/h / 78 mph |
Review | Extracts from Terry Stokes, Sump Magazine |