Ariel Ace (2015): the new motorbike from the makers of the Atom

By Jonny Edge

First Official Pictures

25 June 2014 10:47

British sports car manufacturer Ariel - best known for manufacturing the big boy’s go-kart, the Atom - has pulled the covers off its first new motorcycle in more than 50 years.

The Ariel Ace bike will be priced from around £20,000, and will be manufactured in small numbers alongside the Atom sports car at the Ariel headquarters in Somerset.

The Ace will build upon Ariel’s relationship with Honda by featuring its 173bhp 1237cc V4 engine and drive system. Instead of focusing on the powertrain’s evidently enormous performance potential, Ariel reckons buyers will be attracted by its bespoke build system – claimed to be a first for a production motorcycle.

Each Ariel Ace will be made specifically to the individual rider’s requirements, and Ariel say there is a large number of customisable options, making each Ace 100% personal.

Owners will be able to choose from variations such as front and rear suspensions, handlebars, bodywork, size of fuel tank and even exhausts. The choice of wheels includes a lightweight carbonfibre and aluminium option made specifically for the Ace. Colours, materials and finishes on the bike will also be tailor made.

‘Motorcyclists have a real passion for their machines,’ said Simon Saunders, the owner of Ariel. ‘They like them to be individual, and they want them to be their bike. With the Ace the uniqueness is built in as the bike is produced and each one will be as individual as its owner.’

Building on a system used with the Atom, the Ariel Ace can be upgraded over time at the factory. This is a system that Ariel claims has seen much success with the Atom, with owners choosing to retain their vehicles and upgrade instead of possibly buying into the opposition.

Ariel’s roots can be traced back to 1870, when it used to make early Victorian bikes. The company prospered for almost a century, but folded in 1970. Biking enthusiast Simon Saunders started Ariel Motor Company in 1999 and began building the Atom, which has much in common with its two-wheeled ancestors.

Back in 1895, Ariel started a relationship with tyre manufacturer Dunlop and it’s been rekindled with the new Ariel Ace; customers can choose their pick of a number of Dunlop tyre options.

Production of the Ace is scheduled to start in early 2015 with only 100-150 to be produced each year.

By Jonny Edge