1953 Ariel Square 4 Mk II custom, great running, fully restored by marque expert

Beautifully restored and customized by a marque expert!
1953 Ariel Square Four MkII
Engine Number: XJ224
In 1928, ngineer Edward Turner was shopping a new motorcycle design to English manufacturers. BSA turned him down, ut Ariel was interested. The engine was an unusual four-cylinder. V-twins and inline fours, et both lengthwise and across the frame, ad been used previously but Turner’s new design had two vertical twins sharing a common crankcase. The cylinder barrels were cast as a unit in a monobloc design. Their two crankshafts were joined by a flywheel and rotated in opposite directions. By having the two pistons of one crank at top and bottom dead center and the pistons of the second shaft at half stroke, he design was ingeniously compact and the firing order made it practically vibration free. The Ariel Square Four 4F made its debut at the 1930 Olympia Motorcycle Show featuring an overhead camshaft 500cc with a hand shift for the Burman gearbox, hich was integral with the crankcase. Overhead camshafts and unit construction were well into the future for most firms, o Ariel was a real pioneer. Few knew then that the bike would become a legend of the British industry, oth for its performance and dependability. The latter was underscored by the Square Four’s widespread used in the British law enforcement community.
Improvements were continuous during the Square Four’s 28-year production run. In 1932, he 4F was taken out to 600cc, lthough the 500 remained available. The next year, 4F 600 fitted with a supercharger lapped the famous Brooklands speed bowl at 110 miles per hour.
The 4G was introduced in 1936 with a new 996cc overhead-valve engine. To accommodate the larger displacement, new crankshaft was set in a much stronger crankcase. These years saw the British economy recovering in the run up to World War II, nd Square Fours were seen on the road more often, here they were known as the “Monarch of the Multis”, eferring to their multi-cylinder engines in a sea of British singles and twins. By the immediate post-World War II period, he 4G had a plunger rear end and telescopic front forks. Further refinement was added in the form of aluminum cylinder barrels when the Mark I began production in 1949. Introduced in 1953, he 'four pipe' MkII with redesigned cylinder head elevated the Square Four into the league of genuine 100mph motorcycles. To date, he innovative Ariel Square Four remains unique in motorcycling history; a true 'gentleman's motorcycle, his refined yet characterful machine retains an enthusiastic and loyal following, nd is now a greatly appreciating classic, ighly prized by discerning enthusiasts.
The example offered here has been in the long-term ownership of a former engineer and motorcycle collector. A pet project, he bike started as a ratty barn find and was subject to a full restoration with all kinds of modification performed on a newly acquired CNC Machine. At the heart of the bike is a motor fully rebuilt by marque expert Chuck Walton. Chuck’s tally now exceeds 110 engine builds and so to say he is an expert of the Ariel breed is just scratching the surface. His knowledge is encyclopedic and having restored so many engines, nderstands every pitfall of the unique design and precisely how to prevent engine failure. Tricks to rod bolts (a well-known weak point of the engine), ocker arms, rank bushings, alve guides and springs ensure engines with great power, uperb reliability and great longevity.
The engine is mounted in its original and unmodified, nmolested frame, ully restored with a fresh powdercoat finish in black. From there, he modifications are abundant with an earlier Ariel tank with its wonderfully classic looking dashboard to small Bates-style headlight, xhausts, eat, tc. etc.
The bike starts easily and idles well. It has the enormous grunt of a Square 4 of 1000cc and sounds great. It runs cool and strong, hifting well. Brakes and suspension work well.
A favourite of the owner, he bike was built to be ridden and could be seen on many local club rides around the countryside of Southern California.

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