Nishiki Ariel £160 BIN inc. Flexstem (Manchester)

Kestonian · Jan 8, 2009

What's the difference between an Ariel and an Alien?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/nishiki-ariel-ret ... 240%3A1318

mynchiboy · Jan 8, 2009

I'm ready to be trampled all over with this, but...

Ariel = Steel frame, no seperate rear triangle
Alien = Box section alloy front triangle, bolt on rear steel triangle

Either way, looks a deal to me, loved these BITD. There was a motorbike shop near me that for some reason also stocked these and alpinestars

. If only I had the spare cash and more importantly the space :cry:

Kestonian · Jan 8, 2009

I thought it looked like a good deal, but not sure on the pedigree.

If I was still in the UK, I'd probably have lifted it. Good looking steed if you ask me.

hairstream · Jan 8, 2009

Alein = Steel frame, no seperate rear triangle
Ariel = Steel frame, no seperate rear triangle
Alien = Box section alloy front triangle, bolt on rear steel triangle

Kestonian · Jan 9, 2009

Good knowledge, as usual, hairstream!

mrkawasaki · Jan 9, 2009

hairstream":2y5601o5 said:
Alein = Steel frame, no seperate rear triangle
Ariel = Steel frame, no seperate rear triangle
Alien = Box section alloy front triangle, bolt on rear steel triangle

A bit more...

Alien 89/90* - all tubular steel (dbl butted Tange CroMo)
Ariel 89/90 - all tubular steel (possibly lower spec tubing and groupset)

Alien SP* - box section all alloy 6061 - often all lime green
Alian ACX - box section front triangle/cro mo rear triangle (a la Richard Cunningham's Mantix XCR*)

All designs penned/licensed from Richard Cunningham, as was the Nishiki Pinnacle and Cascade* - normal two triangle designs.

I have examples of the ones with the * for reference!

Mr K

Serge bike junky · Jan 10, 2009

I had an Alien AL which was silver, then an Alien SP which was green/silver fade. Both were all ali square section etc. The Alien AL was the first ali one, followed by the SP. Back end quite different on AL & SP if I remember rightly?

Arran · Jan 11, 2009

mrkawasaki":2hy732ri said:
A bit more...

Alien 89/90* - all tubular steel (dbl butted Tange CroMo)
Ariel 89/90 - all tubular steel (possibly lower spec tubing and groupset)

Alien SP* - box section all alloy 6061 - often all lime green
Alian ACX - box section front triangle/cro mo rear triangle (a la Richard Cunningham's Mantix XCR*)

Sorry to say but...

Alien:
'89 = Tange Prestige Cr-mo
'90 ACX = 7005 rectangular box front & Tange Prestige rear *
'91 ACX = same as above *
'91 SP = 7005 box +
'92 = 7005 box
'93 = 7005 box

Ariel:
'89 = 4130 cr-mo (not elevated)
'90 = 4130 cr-mo *
'91 = 4130 cr-mo +

(I have examples of the above denoted by a '*' and catalogues denoted by a '+')

Kestonian · Jan 11, 2009

Founts of knowledge! Thank you!

Nishiki Ariel £160 BIN inc. Flexstem (Manchester)

Kestonian

mynchiboy

Kestonian

hairstream

Kestonian

mrkawasaki

Serge bike junky

Devout Dirtbag

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Arran

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