1-194-553 - National Motor Museum/Heritage Images

1926 Ariel motorbike. The company was founded by James Starley and William Hillman in 1870 to make bicycles and the first patented tensioned wire-spoke wheel. Ariel first made a powered tricycle in 1898 using a de Dion engine. They made their first motorized two-wheeler in 1901, powered by Kerry engines, selling them in 1902. The company closed on 1970.