The new Ariel Ace Iron Horse is slated to debut at the UK’s Motorcycle Live show, and it certainly bears little resemblance to the Ariel machines of old.
The reborn Ariel marque is a great example of a zombie brand, resurrected to haul in big bucks due to a name based on past glories. Like most of the machines from these arrangements, the new Ace Iron Horse bears no resemblance to Ariels of years gone by, but it is a very complicated-looking and likely expensive motorcycle.
Visually, the first thing that grabs you is the super-exposed aluminum frame, made from a process combining CNC work, hand welding, and a lot of polishing. Then there’s the girder front end, Ohlins shocks and and the V4 motor from Honda’s 1200 Interceptor. Other touches include full LED lighting, traction control, ABS, adjustable foot and hand controls, six-piston dual front brakes, and heaps of carbon-fibre bodywork. All in all, a lot of muscle on display.
But does it do the average motorcyclist much good? Probably not, unless they’re willing to mortgage their house, or at least their cottage, to pay for it … MSRP is supposed to be £29,686, which works out to roughly $50,000 Canadian.
to be fair Ariel has been kicking around since the early 2000s and this bike riffs off the design from their atom car rather than the square four
And in light of the Atom’s street cred, I’d be rather shocked were the bike not to be a credible performer in its own right. The Atom is legit nuts.
Given the level of sophistication and materials, I’m surprised it’s not more expensive. (In the same vein as Confederate motorcycles).
where the hell is the fuel tank
It’s that carbon fibre strip nestled into the top between the frame rails. Expect a capacity somewhere between 10-12 litres. Not a tourer. LOL