Post Sale Update: This Leader sold for $4,676 after just 3 bids on eBay.
For good or bad, the Ariel Leader was appropriately named – it may have even been too far ahead of its time. It was never officially sold in the US, but a few examples from the 1958-1965 production run have made it across the ocean.
The 249cc two-stroke twin produced 16 horsepower, enough to get this bike up to 68 miles per hour while pushing that giant fender/windshield combination through the air. The entire package weighed about 330 pounds dry. Interesting design features include an underseat fuel tank (the dummy fuel tank was used for storage and could fit a helmet like the new Honda NC700X) as well as optional hard luggage. Speaking of options, this was apparently the first British bike to offer turn signals. For more on the Leader, check out this buyer’s guide from Sump Publishing.
This example (VIN: T13980/A) is a runner with no title, and the seller is unclear on the exact year of production. Find this Ariel Leader for sale in Indianapolis, Indiana with bidding up to $3,650