Just a few weeks in the past, MV Agusta debuted a prototype polygonal, square-esque engine at EICMA, and it was the discuss of the city. The 5-cylinder engine, with three pistons in a single row, and one other 2 within the second, and pushed by a bizarre U-shaped crankshaft, is claimed to have manufacturing intent, with the primary motorbike powered by the oddball coming doubtless late subsequent yr.
However MV Agusta’s sq. engine is not the primary to try the design. Ariel Bikes, sure, the precursor to Ariel Motors and the makers of the superior Nomad off-roader, as soon as made a sq. engine for its bikes. In reality, RideApart coated the “Squariel” back in the day, and our mates over at The Autopian cited our authentic protection when the MV dropped.
And that story, together with everybody else’s protection of the brand new MV Agusta motor and the historical past of sq. engines, doubtless put the motorbike again within the zeitgeist. A lot in order that one intrepid proprietor of a Squariel doubtless thought, “Hey, perhaps it is lastly time to promote mine?” That appears to be the case with this new itemizing from Bring-a-Trailer and its Squariel public sale topic.
The motorbike in query is a 1953 Ariel Sq. 4, which is powered by Ariel’s 997cc OHV four-cylinder engine and paired with a four-speed transmission. 4-cylinders aren’t extraordinary within the motorcycling world, clearly, however Ariel’s sq. format was one which was really a weirdo throughout the trade.
Based on our personal Jason Marker, the person liable for the Ariel Sq. 4 was Edward Turner who, in 1928, set about creating an engine that was much better balanced, with much less vibration, than different motorbike engines of the time. His design was an “engine [with] a box-shaped mill with two opposing crankshafts and its 4 cylinders organized in a sq. – two ahead and two aft. It was, by and huge, two parallel twins mated again to entrance on a standard crankcase.”
Picture by: Carry a Trailer
Marker added, “The crankshafts had been coupled by geared central flywheels and rotated counter to at least one one other. When all of it labored appropriately, two diagonally-opposed cylinders had been at backside lifeless middle, whereas the opposite pair was at prime lifeless middle. In concept, this association would cancel out the gyroscopic results of the rotating assemblies, which might considerably scale back vibration when operating. He known as his engine the Sq. 4.
However the engine fell out of favor near when this specific for-sale mannequin got here off the manufacturing line, with increasingly of us on the lookout for high-revving, smaller-displacement bikes. And Ariel ceased manufacturing round 1960 of the sq. engine. Who knew MV Agusta would mainly revive it some 65 years later?
Based on Carry-a-Trailer, “This 1953 Ariel Sq. 4 was imported to the US from the UK in 2001, and it was bought by the vendor on BaT in September 2023. Completed in burgundy with gold pinstripes, the bike is powered by a 997cc OHV square-four paired with a four-speed transmission. Tools features a steering damper, a kick starter, a twin exhaust system, a sprung solo saddle, Anstey-link rear suspension, and each rear and aspect stands. Work beneath present possession consisted of rebuilding the carburetor, altering the oil, and changing the tires, spark plugs, oil and gas strains, battery and field, and foot-control rubbers. This Sq. 4 is obtainable with an proprietor’s guide, an Ariel Proprietor Motor Cycle Membership Relationship Certificates, an AMCA judging type, and a clear Florida title within the vendor’s identify.”
As of this writing, the public sale bid sits at $8,000, which ain’t dangerous for a bit of historical past. Likewise, it’d get you a square-engined motorbike forward of MV Agusta’s timeline, so for those who do not wish to look forward to one thing bizarre to be in your storage, now’s your probability.
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