VH 500 Red Hunter

1959 Ariel VH 500 Red Hunter Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

Built around Ariel's allround motorcycle platform, the 1959 Ariel VH 500 Red Hunter features a 497 cc (30.3 cu in) air-cooled single cylinder, four-stroke configuration. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 26 HP (19 kW) at 6,000 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 4-speed gearbox and chain final drive. With a specific output of 52.3 HP per liter, the engine character is prioritizing low-RPM tractability, mechanical longevity and relaxed throttle response over peak redline numbers.

On the scales, the VH 500 Red Hunter measures 170.1 kg (375 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.15 HP/kg (6.54 kg per horsepower). Rider ergonomics and chassis geometry center around a 1,422 mm (56 in) wheelbase engineered for balanced agility and highway composure. The 17.03-liter (4.5 US gal) fuel tank paired with a rated consumption of 3.04 L/100 km provides an estimated theoretical range of roughly 560 km (348 miles) between fill-ups, while factory top speed is listed at 133 km/h (83 mph).

Within MotoLibrary's Ariel archive, this model family spans 27 indexed model years from 1932 to 1959, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.