Who rides motorcycles?

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I finally got around to taking my first ride of the year on my 1946 Ariel Square Four. The photo was taken just after I had started it and gone up and down our dead-end dirt road to see if everything still worked. Before going on the longer ride I put on my helmet and jacket. I'm only a little over six feet tall but the bike does look small under me even though it has four cylinders and a 1,000 cc motor. The starting procedure is, with the fuel tap turned on, one kick with the ignition off to "charge the cylinders" and then, with the ignition on, one kick to start it. After sitting for six or seven months it fired right up.

Beautiful bike. I've always wondered about the crank timing and performance of these. I wonder how they compared to the British twins of the day, like the 650's and 750's? Does it vibrate much?

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

it was nice to take a ride with all 3 of my bikes … (one is now sold) the Tenere handles pretty good with these tires pretty impressive.

You must be a great rider!

I used to could barefoot water ski, ride a unicycle, but I've never been able to ride more than 1 bike at a time. What's your secret?

 

[Rockbadchild]

You must be a great rider!

I used to could barefoot water ski, ride a unicycle, but I've never been able to ride more than 1 bike at a time. What's your secret?

a few good friends

 

[CalG]

To go a step farther, I have a very cool little old car that gets 48mpg. It looks sporty, fun to drive, and thanks to the .gov we can't have this anymore.

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I guess I shouldn't get out the Datsun 1600cc Roadster.... Too small... Too dangerous! Two Seater! ;-)

 

[FPGT72]

I guess I shouldn't get out the Datsun 1600cc Roadster.... Too small... Too dangerous! Two Seater! ;-)

Rebel, be part of the resistance, get that old gal out and enjoy.

 

[Quebecguy]

Beautiful bike. I've always wondered about the crank timing and performance of these. I wonder how they compared to the British twins of the day, like the 650's and 750's? Does it vibrate much?

Thank you for the compliment.

The two crankshafts, rotating in opposite directions, are coupled by large gears on their left ends. This system works well but the gears produce a noticeable whine especially when accelerating. For sure, the Square Four motor produces a distinct sound, not at all unpleasant!

The motor has an un-earned reputation for overheating of the rear cylinders resulting in seizure. In reality, the rear cylinders do not overheat but there is a design problem that owners should be aware of: the oil passageways in the crankshafts can become blocked by sludge relatively quickly which results in catastrophic failure. The original oil filtration system is about as efficient as the screen door on your porch and there is no provision at all for filtering the air entering the carb. I have fitted a modern, cartridge oil filter to avoid taking the motor completely apart every ten to fifteen thousand miles to clean those passageways. There is no way to check the passageways without dismantling the engine totally. Although I have had my motor apart several times it is still a big job for an amateur mechanic like me!

The motor is pretty well vibration free and must have been quite a revelation when introduced in the early Thirties. As for performance compared to the twins of the day I would say not very much difference. Road tests when the bikes were new give the iron motors like mine a top speed of 95 MPH with a little over a 100 MPH for the later alloy, four pipe motors. With that girder fork front suspension and the state of our roads you will not catch me coming anywhere close to those speeds!

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Thank you for your kind reply and explanations.

 

[CalG]

Rebel, be part of the resistance, get that old gal out and enjoy.

But the '79 RX-7 is in the way!

 

[FPGT72]

But the '79 RX-7 is in the way!

That car is for the sunny days in the early spring and fall when it is 40F outside, or you taking the wife out to breakfast and she does not what her hair messed up.

 

[Rich B1]

Paint s done. And the Kawasaki got a few laps with me aboard, gonna have it at the amateur race the day before the Lima AFT race. And it has a rider…..