The Ariel 3 was a tricycle moped produced by the BSA[1] factory in the UK. The Ariel 3 was a sales flop whose £2M development cost contributed significantly to the demise of BSA.

Ariel 3

Ariel 3
Manufacturer	BSA
Class	Moped
Engine	50 cc (3.1 cu in) air-cooled, two-stroke, single
Brakes	Drum, front and rear

Even the Ariel 3's promotion was ill-conceived, the sales slogan being "Here it is - whatever it is!".[2] Cohn Atkinson attributes its failure to a remote management at BSA who "didn't even like bikes" and who "made the most appalling decisions" on production and marketing.[3]

Design

The engine was a Dutch Anker 50 cc (3.1 cu in) 2-stroke, situated between the rear wheels. The pressed-steel forward section of the frame, supported by torsion bars, could swivel to enable the rider to lean the vehicle into bends like a motorcycle.[3][4]^{[better source needed]} The front "fork" was a single-sided down tube with a rudimentary rubber block suspension. All three pressed steel wheels were interchangeable. Drive was to just one of the rear wheels, and only one of the rear wheels had a brake, a small drum item. There was a similar front drum brake. A true moped, the Ariel 3's engine was started by first pedalling and then releasing a decompressor trigger. The rider could assist the little motor on hills by pedalling. The six volt headlight was single beam, with no dip. There was no rear suspension.

See also

• List of Ariel motorcycles

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ariel 3.

This motorcycle, scooter or moped-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

• v
• t
• e