Identify these fine machines?

[slofox]

a mate used to have an Ariel (red?) Hunter.i thought it was a 500 single.i was intruiged with the manual advance-retard ign and one of the other controls we take for granted was also manual.

My first bike was such an one...but 350cc...1953 model.

Edit: Man - that takes me back. Those big fat pushrod covers always leaked around the rubber seals...and the external oil tank hoses weren't the best either...but I cut my teeth on that machine and learned heaps about improvising repairs...no other way to keep it on the road.

[Big Dave]

imagine how long your bike would have to slide down the road to wear it down to 1/2in long.I seem to have lost that souvenir along the way.

How did the rider fare?

[Big Dave]

My first bike was such an one...but 350cc...1953 model..

So you were 50 when you started riding??

[Ixion]

You've met Mr Motu, right? Not quite half an inch lhigh, true, but bear in mind, before that slide he was 6 foot 2

[Ixion]

So you were 50 when you started riding??

Well, in those days it took you that long to save up for a bike.

[slofox]

So you were 50 when you started riding??

If I was 50 when I started riding that means I am now 92...no wonder I feel so fucked in the mornings...

[avgas]

...no wonder I feel so fucked in the mornings...

I thought that was old age.........but clearly things get better with the mrs the older ya get

[Motu]

How did the rider fare?

Gravel rash on one hand,leg and arse...but pretty good considering I had no helmet and was wearing jeans and a demin jacket with Beatle boots.

[Big Dave]

Gravel rash on one hand,leg and arse...but pretty good considering I had no helmet and was wearing jeans and a demin jacket with Beatle boots.

Youch. You know in a lot of years riding I'd never dropped a bike* till I moved to NZ. By that time I had good gear all over.


* When sober.

[Motu]

I've always considered my motorcycle crashes to be my own fault,whether I just dumped it in a corner,or ran into a car that pulled out...all my mistake.But I have a hard time taking all the responsibility from being run down from behind.