Pre-65 Bikes

Hi All, finally managed to scrape together the pennies for a basic Ariel, very different from the Bultacos, i normally ride. my sincerest thanks so far to John Bartram and JonV8 for the advice and guidance so far. The bike is an early Bartram frame, with a 1958 motor, interspan converted mag and Burman Box GB47, standard 500cc motor. as I am still recovering from the purchase and funds are tight (I could have bought 4 bultacos for i paid for one Ariel) I am trying to do the bare minimum to make it rideable in a trial. currently it is unrideable, carb worn out, and gearing way to high, bald back tyre, sadly it also running on Castrol R at present, not the best apart f…

Guys got decision to make Looking for a "NEW" bike Thinking of a Triumph twin well modified a Rigid ajs/Matchless Or a Ariel What would be the best for "Modern trials sections yet stiil Scottish pre 65 acceptable Looking forward to your thoughts Marty D

Hi, did anyone take over the manufacturing of Ariel barrels , or has anyone got one they’d sell ? I believe Mick Dickinson passed away but please correct me if that’s wrong

Anyone got a pic of an HT ( their bike ?) with an Avery Products- Terry Weedy tank? They're quite a bit cheaper than the Holtworks ones so just wanted to get an idea. Thanks

Can someone please let me have Mick Dickingson's (I think that's his name) contact details? The chap that makes the Ariel short stroke barrels. Thanks

Gotta build up my first Ariel 500 bottom end, any tips or things to aim for? Also, the roller bearing numbers would be useful so I can get some locally. I`m having the crankpin done for me, as haven`t got a press nor the experience to do one myself. What sort of end-float should I aim for? cheers

I collected a pile of bits from John Bartram yesterday afternoon for me and a mate,(Well he says he is when he wants a favour...) I now have a new frame and all the other very smart bits that John makes,including the first of the new design of swinging arms we persuaded him to design and make. This afternoon I laid it and all the other parts I have so far,I thought it would enthuse me to start the dry build... Bit of a shock really,its a realisation of what is ahead. There are some very nicely made bits there,John Bartram,John Budgen,Alan Whitton and Mick Ash are great to deal with,and clearly are able to deliver the goods.I took a picture so I can keep track of what els…

Hi, whats everyone using to lube the Burman box? Oil or oil/grease?

If anyone knows of any Ariel engine building specialists, can they please send me a message with their contact details? Thanks

Does anyone know where I can get hold of a fibre glass cover for a primary drive cover? I'm looking for one with a flat bulge (if that makes sense) at the crank end? SM Products sell some but they have a huge round bulge on their ones. Thanks

Hi guys. Well after a long week it looks as if my brother as bought two bikes off of a e-site that should be Ok for the pre 65 Scottish but do you think we will get an entry.The Ariel Ht 5 comes from Scotland, in the same spec as it left the factory. And the B40 as every thing BSA on it .So give us a clue or should our name be Miller or Andrews.or even "Bultaco Banbury Dan".

Anyone have an idea of how many HT3`s were built?

Advice greatfully recieved Iam in the middle of a belt drive conversion with an neb clutch was wondering how to seal the crankcase do i need to machine a seal holder and run the seal on a hardened sleeve or can i just fit a main bearing with a an internal seal , also I have got a 24 tooth front pulley but reaslise some people run a 22 so they can fir a smaller rear sprocket , thanks Jim ( sometimes easier to ask than work it out )

I've just spotted this HT5 for sale, advertised on the leboncoin site. It's in France, just south of Paris and asking €9900, which is about £9000. Could be of interest to someone, but, alas, not moi.

I've just done a deal on an HT5 that has not been used for 10 years,so will need a bit of sorting out.Its basically all good with mostly the right bits,but the carb is a Monobloc. I've had bikes with these before and had no problems,but it seems they are no longer in favour,most seem to have either a Mk1 Concentric or a villiers carb. I want to get this bike to run really well,so is the original worth playing with or is it better to change it ? Which is best ?

Help currently building a short stroke ht5 at the moment was wondering what barrel to use wether to do a lightweight nicasil bore or conventional cast liner also if nicasil what rings to use any suggestions opinions would help thanks jim .

Iam currently building an ariel ht5 using a frame from john bartrum i could do with a couple of photos of how people have mounted the footrests , or if not one of johns frames any others my email is huffysgas@aol.com thanks in advance jim

I am trying to find the builder of a frame which i have for sale on ebay it has an X stamped on the headstock and a frame number begining XG 25**4 any help would be appreciated

Hi,I have recently acquired my Uncles 1956 Ariel HT5 which he used in the late fifties and early sixties,as far as I can tell the bike has been unused/untouched since 1962. I would like to restore the bike but do not have much Knowledge of older bikes (magnetos etc.) and was just wondering if there is anyone local to me who could offer any advice. I will have to progress quite slowly with it as I do not have loads of money to throw at it,I am also unsure whether to try to return it to original spec.or just to restore to the spec,he used the bike in (seems to have several 'homebrewed'modifications).Any advice would be welcome.I am located near Leeds.

hi i'm nicolas from france i fitted a rotary morgo oil pump on my ariel ht5. the problem is that when i run it, i only see oil and air bulbs slowly exiting in the return hose...shouldn't the flow be airless and continuous?no wet sumping i think, because i do not see smoke at all, and the tank level looks the same... what could be the problem? when i unscrew the priming bolt, it leaks oil with no bulbs i'm afraid of the feed line... what do you think about that? cheers nicolas