Photo: Ariel Motor
It’s really nice to see a British manufacturer of killer-looks, high-performance road racing cars back in the two-wheeled business. And to make things even better, the comeback machine is not the dull Honda-like bike some of use feared it would be: it’s a naked monster oozing street aggression and a price to match. Welcome Ariel Ace, the new British roadster!
After some half a century of silence in the motorcycle department, the Somerset naked car manufacturer is once more proud to hear the windows rattling at the sound of a bike. The Ace will be manufactured alongside the Ariel Atom 4-wheeled beast, in the Crewkerne plant, at a rather exclusivist rate which is said to not exceed 150 units a year. This back-to-the-roots bike is powered by the Honda VFR1200 and will sport the same Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT).
This is serious business, especially as the Ariel Ace looks like having also shaved off some weight compared to the VFR, and this means quite a lot of fun from the 173 hp (10,000 rpm), 1,237cc V4 power plant. With a no-nonsense peak torque of 131Nm (96.5 lb-ft) already available at 8,750 rpm, the smooth semi-automatic/automatic shifting and the precise shaft final transmission, the Ariel Ace is definitely a force to be reckoned with on the street.
The trellis frame of the Ace looks like an Ariel in-house achievement, and is consistent to the jaw-dropping attire of the Atoms. Definitely a modern type of beast, the Ace will soon be seen in multiple guises, as Ariel is planning to build each bike according to the customer’s specifications and biometrics, with the result being as unique and individual as the human riding it. This too, is causing the relatively low production volumes, but given the highly custom nature of the future machines, this is totally understandable.
In our book, the Ariel Ace is already a to-die-for monster, but even better things are on their way, as Ariel is offering a full range of customization options which include:
• Variants of front and rear suspension
• Low and high seats with pillion options
• Different sizes of tank, handlebars and wheels
• Different exhausts
• Several bodywork options
• Multiple colors, finishes and materials.
Prices start at 20,000 pounds, and his makes for a hefty €24,950 or $33,950, with the burning hole in your wallet getting bigger with the number of additional custom options you choose. Even though we’re dealing with a bike which is untouchable for most riders, this doesn’t change a bit its huge cool factor. The Ace shows up at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend, by the way. Nice job, Ariel!
This is serious business, especially as the Ariel Ace looks like having also shaved off some weight compared to the VFR, and this means quite a lot of fun from the 173 hp (10,000 rpm), 1,237cc V4 power plant. With a no-nonsense peak torque of 131Nm (96.5 lb-ft) already available at 8,750 rpm, the smooth semi-automatic/automatic shifting and the precise shaft final transmission, the Ariel Ace is definitely a force to be reckoned with on the street.
The trellis frame of the Ace looks like an Ariel in-house achievement, and is consistent to the jaw-dropping attire of the Atoms. Definitely a modern type of beast, the Ace will soon be seen in multiple guises, as Ariel is planning to build each bike according to the customer’s specifications and biometrics, with the result being as unique and individual as the human riding it. This too, is causing the relatively low production volumes, but given the highly custom nature of the future machines, this is totally understandable.
In our book, the Ariel Ace is already a to-die-for monster, but even better things are on their way, as Ariel is offering a full range of customization options which include:
• Variants of front and rear suspension
• Low and high seats with pillion options
• Different sizes of tank, handlebars and wheels
• Different exhausts
• Several bodywork options
• Multiple colors, finishes and materials.
Prices start at 20,000 pounds, and his makes for a hefty €24,950 or $33,950, with the burning hole in your wallet getting bigger with the number of additional custom options you choose. Even though we’re dealing with a bike which is untouchable for most riders, this doesn’t change a bit its huge cool factor. The Ace shows up at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend, by the way. Nice job, Ariel!
Google News