Old but good!

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Old but good!

Viewing 10 posts - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)
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  • #360320
    Rik Shaw
    Participant
      @rikshaw

      At the age of 71 I am still able to find pleasure in a field. The first one always struck me as a bit of a space age new kid – the lovely Ariel Arrow. (Hope I have got that right!)

      arrow.jpg

      The second is a much older but equally as beautiful Humber tricycle:

      tricycle.jpg

      and a front view of madams seat:

      trikefront.jpg

      Unusual (to me) a model of a live steaming Suffolk Dredging Tractor:

      dredge.jpg

      and finally, a demonstration of what an Irish border crossing would look like after a hard Brexit:

      gits.jpg

      Edited By Rik Shaw on 01/07/2018 22:19:08

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      #34381
      Rik Shaw
      Participant
        @rikshaw

        Chickerell Steam Fair 2018

        #360322
        not done it yet
        Participant
          @notdoneityet

          It’s Hollowell next weekend. Hoping to get there on the Sunday.

          #360336
          thaiguzzi
          Participant
            @thaiguzzi

            That Humber 3 wheeler must be worth a fortune!

            #360337
            Daniel
            Participant
              @daniel

              Agreed, the Humber is fantastic

              yes

              #360458
              Meunier
              Participant
                @meunier

                Hi Rik,
                Yes, it's an Ariel Golden Arrow 250cc 2stroke twin of fond memory, an example of which resulted in my changing over to cars after the last in a series of appearances at various Magistrates courts along the length of the N.Circular road and A4 between Finchley and Heathrow resulted in a 3month ban ('63 or '64?).
                Went like stink (and that's approximately what PCnnn of X division told the beak) although I can count myself lucky I saw him before he saw me with my feet on the rear pegs and draped on the tank.
                DaveD

                #360491
                John MC
                Participant
                  @johnmc39344

                  I recently bought an Ariel Arrow, specifically a "Sports Arrow" with the gold dummy petrol tank "Golden Arrow" was never a name Ariel used, apparently, but that model seemed to always known as that. Been having a lot of fun with it, I was pleasantly surprised at it's lively performance, pity about the front brake…………

                  The previous owner gave me several files of information, lots of road tests from the classic bike revival period. All have missed the point of the bike, that is to say the ethos behind the design of the bike. Also some real gems, a two stroke engine was chosen because it does not require the accuracy in manufacture of a four stroke. The front brake (known to be poor) doesn't feel very good due to the anti-dive geometry of the front forks!

                  John

                  #360651
                  Meunier
                  Participant
                    @meunier

                    John MC, I also seem to remember it was notable for the engine and gearbox forming a structural assembly because there was no front down-tube to the frame.

                    Hope you have lots of fun with it !

                    DaveD

                    #360658
                    Samsaranda
                    Participant
                      @samsaranda

                      John, I had an Ariel Leader, mechanically the same as the Arrow, in the 60’s and used to commute on it regularly at weekends when I was in the RAF. Probably the best bike that I owned for roadholding and the performance was also good, bit slower than an Arrow with all the extra tinware. I agree the performance of the front brake was far from good but just about adequate, I had a frightening experience with the front brake to blame. I was cruising two up when I braked gently and the front brake locked solid and the bike pivoted around the front wheel, throwing off myself and the friend on the pillion, we both escaped relatively unscathed but the bike needed a replacement set of front forks and a new front brake. The cause of the brake locking solid was down to wear of the phosphor bronze bush where the front wheel spindle passes through the brake plate; because of the wear the brake plate moved enough on the worn bush to allow the brake shoes, when applied, to bind on the drum and jam solid, hence dumping us onto the road. I would check your front brake plate bush for wear, it is a seemingly innocuous part of the braking system but can have dangerous if not catastrophic results. Apart from that enjoy your Arrow, certainly wish that I had one now.

                      Dave W

                      #360678
                      John MC
                      Participant
                        @johnmc39344

                        Samsaranda, that sounded nasty! The previous owner had the front wheel rebuilt but did not have the drum skimmed to true it up, I've done that and turned the linings to fit the drum. I've also rebushed the cam pivot and the bronze bush the brake plate floats on, the bush is "oilite", not PH. bronze. I have also fitted a better brake cable. The result of this is still an inadequate brake for modern conditions.

                        I have a "British Hub" twin leading shoe brake that I will fit, that should be far better suited to modern road conditions.

                        John

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