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Adler MB250 and the Ariel Leader
In the final part of the Val Page series (TCM, May 2022, page 70) I again implied the Ariel design team, led by Mr Page, took a long, hard look at the best 250cc, two-stroke twin on the market, the German designed and built Adler MB250, during Selly Oak’s design and development of the Ariel Leader.
As also written some months ago, purely by chance I had the opportunity to ride both an Adler MB250 and an early 1960s Ariel Arrow on the same day. Engine characteristics wise – with regard to ability to rev and perform – they were near-identical, and, as we know, they share bore and stroke dimensions of 54x54mm giving 247cc, have similar porting and develop nearly the same power.
Each time I pen words to this effect, a few Leader/ Arrow enthusiasts argue my thoughts are incorrect and two again took me to task at the May Kempton Park autojumble. The implication that the Ariel design team took a long, hard look at the Adler MB250 as their Leader development progressed is in no way intended to slight the work of Val Page, but it is a fact the engineers research their own and rival past and current designs when considering projects, a process which makes total sense and can lead to design improvements, limination of weaknesses and better sales. Of course, economy of
