WHAT THE PAPERS SAID

In 1947 The Motor Cycle tested a VB600 with a Watsonian Monarch Tourer side car attached, describing the Ariel as “admirably suited” for sidecar hauling, whether for touring or pulling a commercial sidecar. Idling was slow and reliable whether the engine was hot or cold, though the report commented that “tickover and pick-up became slightly unreliable when the engine was unduly hot.”

The tester noted the quietness of the engine mechanically, apart from a little piston slap when cold: “The transmission was sweet, with the engine shaft shock absorber working very well in all conditions. The intermediate gears were almost inaudible on both drive and the overrun.

“If necessary, the Ariel could be used as a top gear machine from 15mph up, provided the ignition control was used.”

The sidecar outfit was, the tester concluded, “pleasant to drive, comfortable for the passenger and simple to maintain; it is a machine that could be relied upon to give long and trouble-free service.”