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261:'backbone' fabricated from 20-gauge pressed steel panels. The fuel tank was hidden inside this structure and accessed by lifting the hinged dual seat. A dummy petrol tank was used for storage and was large enough to fit a spare crash helmet. It was the fully enclosed body, similar to that developed by
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was made to sell alongside the Ariel Leader. The budget engine, designed by Val Page to do 75 mph (121 km/h), was canted to fit the Arrow frame. It was thought the initial 18 bhp (13 kW) power output could have been increased to 24 bhp (18 kW), but development money ran
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between 1958 and 1965. A radical design, the Leader was fully enclosed with an integral windscreen and was the first
British motorcycle to have optional flashing indicators. After a few years of success, Ariel could no longer compete against Japanese imports. The last Ariel Leader was made when the
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Motorcycle of the Year award in 1959. Ariel supported the launch with a range of options, which was unusual at the time. Hence few of the 22,000 Ariel
Leaders produced were the same. Colour schemes, many of them two-tone, were also a break with tradition. They included Oriental Blue or Cherry Red
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A sister-machine designated Ariel Arrow 200 – with a smaller capacity of 200 cc, achieved by reducing the bore to 48.5 mm from 54 mm whilst retaining the same stroke – was available from 1964 to bring it into a lower tax band and benefit from lower UK rider insurance premiums.
285:, the first flashing indicators on a British motorcycle, a dash-mounted parking light, windscreen top-extension (adjustable on the move), a rear rack and a clock aperture built into a dashboard, which was closed by an Ariel badge when not fitted.
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As well as a full body, the standard Leader features included a headlight trimmer, an extendable lifting handle for easy centrestand use, and a permanent windscreen mounting. Factory listed options included: integral hard-luggage
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Launched in mid-1958, the Leader claimed to offer the comfort of a scooter with the performance of a motorcycle. It sold well, and it won the
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573:... the relatively new Arrow 200 ... Reduced insurance premiums, for only slightly less performance; that's the Arrow 200 claim
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The bike had the usual Arrow ivory background colour, but with the tank and chaincase finished in either aircraft blue or
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closed the Ariel factory in 1965, but continued to make Ariel Arrows until 1967. In 1970 BSA revived the brand for the
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After the Ariel factory closure, in 1967 Ariel marketed its last motorcycle, the Arrow 200 produced for a time by BSA.
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This was a cheaper, stripped Leader produced from 1959 and was developed into the Golden Arrow sport version in 1961.
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Later in the course of production, Ariel two-strokes failed to compete against
Japanese imports.
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Leader dash showing parking light behind screen with headlamp trimmer knob near to speedometer
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Four-speed, unit construction, fully enclosed half-inch pitch chain final drive
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80 miles per imperial gallon (3.5 L/100 km; 67 mpg
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reported good performance, with an absolute top speed – with "
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54 mm × 54 mm (2.1 in × 2.1 in)
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In 1960, a prototype Arrow with a 349 cc twin-cylinder
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and
Bernard Knight, The Ariel Leader featured a 250 cc
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Currie, Bob (15 October 1964). "Road tests of new models".
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2 imperial gallons (9.1 L; 2.4 US gal)
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weight varies according to optional equipment fitted
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312:Ariel Golden Arrow showing 'roll-feet' centrestand
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344:, and tank badges with the legend "Arrow 200".
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418:. London, UK: George Newnes. 1960. p. 58.
245:Leader with optional panniers and indicators
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109:16 bhp (12 kW) at 6,400 rpm
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129:(front) trailing link oil-damped (rear)
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565:Guide: Ariel Models for 1965 Season".
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434:"Look at the Leader! Used road-test".
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155:Front and rear tyre 3.25 x 16 in
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142:6-inch (150 mm) front and rear
70:249 cc (15.2 cu in),
607:"An Everyday Story Of Ariel Folk".
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13:
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571:. 19 November 1964. p. 850.
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355:out and the project was dropped.
628:List of motorcycles of the 1950s
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181:330 pounds (150 kg) (
661:Motorcycles introduced in 1958
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1:
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7:
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458:Classic British Motorcycles
335:rider lying flat, of course
300:with Admiral Gray accents.
99:68 mph (109 km/h)
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440:. August 1966. p. 50.
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165:51 inches (1,300 mm)
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233:factory closed in 1965.
173:30 inches (760 mm)
666:Two-stroke motorcycles
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416:Motor Cycle Data Book
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586:"Ariel Arrow review"
460:. Chancellor Press.
456:Currie, Bob (1993).
437:Motorcycle Mechanics
342:British Racing Green
267:Vincent Black Prince
511:"1963 Ariel Leader"
491:. 16 September 2007
489:"1959 Ariel Leader"
265:for the innovative
214:8 feet (2.4 m)
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640:Real Classic Guide
517:on 15 January 2009
352:four-stroke engine
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21:Type of motorcycle
16:British motorcycle
656:Ariel motorcycles
467:978-1-85152-250-7
257:suspended from a
255:two-stroke engine
230:Ariel Motorcycles
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43:Ariel Motorcycles
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613:. November 1981.
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563:Earls Court Show
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296:Motor Cycle News
199:Fuel consumption
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634:External links
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642:Ariel Leader
610:Classic Bike
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590:. Retrieved
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519:. Retrieved
515:the original
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493:. Retrieved
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323:In his 1964
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263:Phil Vincent
249:Designed by
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228:produced by
222:Ariel Leader
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131:swinging arm
115:Transmission
77:, alloy head
39:Manufacturer
25:Ariel Leader
18:
568:Motor Cycle
544:Motor Cycle
521:24 November
495:24 November
329:road test,
326:Motor Cycle
304:Ariel Arrow
237:Development
170:Seat height
60:Ariel Arrow
650:Categories
395:References
331:Bob Currie
226:motorcycle
125:Suspension
72:two-stroke
49:Production
259:monocoque
206:) maximum
204:‑US
161:Wheelbase
96:Top speed
57:Successor
622:See also
283:panniers
251:Val Page
592:3 March
369:Ariel 3
52:1958–65
464:
359:Demise
289:Launch
178:Weight
138:Brakes
87:stroke
66:Engine
375:Notes
151:Tires
144:drums
105:Power
594:2014
523:2008
497:2008
462:ISBN
220:The
83:Bore
75:twin
365:BSA
183:dry
652::
553:^
531:^
476:^
446:^
424:^
403:^
85:/
596:.
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547:.
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470:.
185:)
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