The January 26, 1961 issue of "The Motor Cycle" features the 1961 Ariel Arrow Super Sports - 'The most glamorous 250cc twin ever designed.".
The Ariel Leader, and its sports derivative, the Arrow, sought to combine the virtues of speed and agility with those of cleanliness and convenience.
Launched in 1958 and powered by an all-new 247cc air-cooled two-stroke twin with unitary transmission. The "Leader" also broke with British tradition in its frame and suspension design, employing a stiff, fabricated-steel beam instead of tubes, and a trailing-link front fork. Detachable panels enclosing the engine and most of the rear wheel extended forward to meet the leg-shields and the fairing, and fully enclose the rear chain. Announced late in 1959, the Arrow dispensed with the Leader’s enclosure panels and weather protection while remaining mechanically virtually identical. The Arrow was revised for 1961, gaining squish-band, center-plug cylinder heads while a third model - the Super Sports, universally referred to as the ‘Golden Arrow’ after its distinctive color scheme - was added at the same time.
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