The Final Ariel Motorcycle Looks ACE in Gulf Colours
British automotive maker Ariel is turning the page on motorcycle building, as the final Honda-powered Ariel Ace rolls out of the factory
The British brand Ariel can trace its production of two-wheelers way back to 1902, but that history looks to be coming to an end, as the last Ariel Ace rolls off the firm’s production line.
The firm started out building bicycles and lightweight motorcycles, but the most recent history of Ariel’s motorcycle production came in the imposing shape of the Ace. Built around the Honda-sourced V4 engine, as found in the now-deceased VFR1200 and VFR1200 X Crosstourer models, it combined Japanese performance and reliability, with boutique manufacturer and design processes, and a seemingly never-ending list of options and bespoke parts.
The Ace was first revealed in 2014, and while initial reports and reviews of the bike were wholly positive, its fairly high price (£20,000 plus for a base model), it remained a bit of an oddity, and a rarely-spotted sight on the UK roads.
That rarity is going up in 2025, as the last Ace to be built in the Somerset factory has been completed, but as swansongs go, it’s pretty damn cool! The bike, dubbed ‘The Last One’, features a colour scheme inspired by the racing cars of the 60s and 70s that wore that ohh-so-evocative Gulf petroleum livery. Making it even more special is the fact that it has been signed by the entire Ariel team.
Like every Ariel Ace built to date, this bike was built solely by a single technician from start to finish. “It felt like a big moment to send off the last Ace motorcycle,” said Joe Green, the man who tightened every nut and bolt. He went on to say “We’ve loved creating these bespoke works of art and we look forward to each returning for scheduled servicing – it’s like seeing old friends again.”
The bike may be the last Ace built by Ariel, but two-wheeler production is set to continue, just with pedal power instead of horsepower. The firm is developing the titanium and carbon Ariel Dash E-bike, the full production run of which is taking place soon. The Dash will be produced alongside the firm's four-wheeled offerings, like the Atom and Nomad lightweight sports cars.
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
