My last bike was an Aerial Square Four…… .

[Tony50]

she's almost certainly right, they generally are - annoyingly.......

When it's black is it blue ?

 

[Sapper520]

When it's black is it blue ?

Yep, if she says so…easy.

 

[Fatboy]

One of mine...

 

[maison]

76 years old this month, still riding regularly, part of a Classic Motorcycle Club, and just bought another bike last Saturday.

Our Club which consists mainly of gentlemen of “a certain age”, oldest member still riding is 86 yes old, is known as “Hell’s Anginas” to some.

My two present bikes.

 

[Twoleftfeet]

You’re never to old to ride a motorcycle, you get old when you stop riding

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[Spriddler]

76 years old this month, still riding regularly, part of a Classic Motorcycle Club, and just bought another bike last Saturday.

Our Club which consists mainly of gentlemen of “a certain age”, oldest member still riding is 86 yes old, is known as “Hell’s Anginas” to some.

I'm 77 and my biker chums are of around similar age and that of our bikes and for maybe 20 years have also been known as 'Hell's Anginas' as in my post #45 ...........

Me and my Hell's Anginas chums on a Sunday Brunch Run - average age 70.

View attachment 656678

 

[85769]

when I was in my early 20's.
Now, at the ripe old (but reasonably fit) age of 71, I'm concidering buying a Moto Guzzi V7.
Am I a bloody idiot with a death wish (as some family members think) or should I go for it?

I had a 1939 Squariel with cast iron block. no problems with rear cylinders overheatin. That started when the "improved" aluminium block was fitted.
Suggest you join local bike section on IAM and do their advanced skills course to prepare you for modern riding challenges.
Otherwise go for it. Look at Honda Deauville V twin as well, mega reliable and mega comfortable with weather protection, plus great handling and brakes.

 

[robnchris]

Square 4 a great design had a 1939 with cast iron cylinders, girder forks and rigid rear when I was 16 in 1958. Overheating only started when cast iron was replaced by aluminium block.
Get a bike, but suggest smaller lighter one, same or better performance than you remember.
Do the IAM advanced rider course BEFORE you take to the roads alone.
Enjoy.
Finally gave up bikes and sailing when I had a triple by pass in 2016.
You only live once, and quality beats longevity!!

Just been reading back through this thread and read your post, actually it wasn't the change over from Cast Iron to Aluminium that caused the problems, Aluminium actually dissipates heat better than Cast Iron, Ariels decision to save cost and reduce the size of the cooling fins attributed to the overheating problem, this was of course on the 500cc engine.
The problems carried on into the bigger engines until Val Page was given the job to sort the problems out, this he did by re-designing the engine, introducing an airport between the front cylinders and increasing the cooling fins on the head.
By the 1950's the engine was now 1000cc and the overheating problems re-emerged, so the MK11 square four was treated to 4 exhaust ports fitted to the head by an exhaust manifold, cylinder barrels were separated and a re-designed cylinder head solving once and for all the over heating problems.
Incidentally the Healey brothers fitted a revised Square Four engine into an Egli Frame in the 1970's "The Healey 1000/4, they built less than 30 of these machines due to lack of parts, a great shame as it was a fantastic machine.
This bike sold by Bonhams in 2013 for £29.000

 

[jongood]

Just been reading back through this thread and read your post, actually it wasn't the change over from Cast Iron to Aluminium that caused the problems, Aluminium actually dissipates heat better than Cast Iron, Ariels decision to save cost and reduce the size of the cooling fins attributed to the overheating problem, this was of course on the 500cc engine.
The problems carried on into the bigger engines until Val Page was given the job to sort the problems out, this he did by re-designing the engine, introducing an airport between the front cylinders and increasing the cooling fins on the head.
By the 1950's the engine was now 1000cc and the overheating problems re-emerged, so the MK11 square four was treated to 4 exhaust ports fitted to the head by an exhaust manifold, cylinder barrels were separated and a re-designed cylinder head solving once and for all the over heating problems.
Incidentally the Healey brothers fitted a revised Square Four engine into an Egli Frame in the 1970's "The Healey 1000/4, they built less than 30 of these machines due to lack of parts, a great shame as it was a fantastic machine.
This bike sold by Bonhams in 2013 for £29.000

View attachment 714161

I'm pretty sure they ve got one of these at national motorcycle museum.

 

[Platelet]

This is my trusty steed. I was out Friday night marshalling the Liverpool Glow Green Walk

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[bigtree]

When I was younger I wasn’t allowed a bike, an old workmate used to tell me about his Aerial square four. Once I got a bit older with some money I did my test, love bikes and I’ve just turned 67.
I’ve got a KTM Superduke RR and an 890r that we take touring with us.

 

[maison]

I'm 77 and my biker chums are of around similar age and that of our bikes and for maybe 20 years have also been known as 'Hell's Anginas' as in my post #45 ...........

Oh, dear, and we thought it was original!

Still, it’s good to see that we are not leaving all the fun to the youngsters.🏍

 

[Oldrat]

Ducati’s first cafe racer, my 1974 750 sport alongside my Zagato Guzzi cafe racer.
In my humble opinion, nothing better looking - but I would say that wouldn’t I?

 

[Mark Brenton]

I could ride a cafe Racer even now...never stand up straight again after but I'd ride it!

 

[garry55]

My Moto Cati V70 Monzta project bike - best of both of the above ! (IMHO)

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[Spriddler]

My Moto Cati V70 Monzta project bike -

'Project bike'?

Nah, THIS is a project bike, ridden to a camping rally in Poland and back.

Matchless 650cc G12CSR.

And this'll be O.K after a bit of Solvol.