Ariel B 557

Italian documents and FMI inspection paper proving originality Fully restored condition ! Rare  B version which is the Luxury version with Burman gearbox

The new line of Ariels, introduced at the end of 1925 and designed by engineering genius Val Page, had been an instant success. Not so much because of its technical innovations, but mostly for its very attractive styling: lower saddle position, shortened wheel base and high saddle tank.

 Victor Mole was the new man in charge of sales at the Ariel works and he designed the new eye-catching emblem of the Ariel horse and coined the advertising slogan “Ariel, the Modern Motor Cycle”. Within a few years Ariel sales and profits rocketed. In 1927 sales were ten times as high as the 1925 sales before the introduction of the new line of machines.The 5 basic models ( A,B,C,D and E) that were produced in 1927 were continued for 1928, but with many improvements.

The most noticeable was the adoption of Brooklands-type fishtail silencers ‘certified by the automobile association’ , the use of enclosed valve-operation gear on the ohv machines and redesigned frames on all models.

The models A and B were 557 cc side valves. There were quite a few new features for the 1929 range, the most noticeable being the dry sump lubrication with separate oil tank and the ribbed crankcase.

The Models A and B had bore x stroke dimensions of 86.4 x 95 mm. The Model A was the Standard model, the model B the Luxury version.

There were not many differences, the most notable being the make of the gearbox: The A had a Sturmey-Archer, the B a Burman.