Ariel Arrow Super Sports review

The Ariel Leader featured a pressed-steel beam-type frame clothed in attractive bodywork and a windshield and leg shields. The Ariel Arrow was introduced in 1960 but discontinued in 1964. The 20hp Ariel Arrow Super Sports models were known as the Golden Arrow because of their unique color scheme. They were released in 1961 to broaden the appeal of the 2-stroke twin.

Top of Ariels 2-stroke range, the Arrow Super Sports was given a glamour finish of glided upper works and whitewall tyres, for which reason it was often called the Golden Arrow. Also, it was one of the few British bikes of the time to have the distinctin of being modelled un plastic as a construction kit. Semi-propelled handlebars and a small plastic handlebar screen gave it a rakish air, but there was nothing about it and the Arrow SS was a very lively model quite capable of being developed further.

The reaction to the unfaired Arrow was positive, so from 1960 the gold and white bikes were given a slightly higher compression ratio (10:1) and a bigger bore Amal carb. The result was 20bhp @6000rpm which would propel this 300lb machine to a very respectable 75mph. More specs and user manual of Super Sports you can see in next overview.