ARDIE 1919-39
Ardie tank badge
Started in Nurnberg in 1919 Ardie took its name from its founder Arno Dietrich who had been chief designer for Premier.The company’s first efforts were 305 and 348cc two/stroke singles .Dietrich was killed in a racing accident in 1922 and the firm passed in to the hands of the Bendit factory,and from 1925 they used British JAP engines ranging from246cc to 996cc but the best seller was the490cc overheadvalve engine.In the mid thirties the British engines were dropped.They were replaced by makers Bark,Kuchen,sachs and sturmey Archer.Richard Kuchen(Later to be known for his engine designs for Zundapp,Hoffmann and Victoria)designed a interesting 348cc ohv V-twin transverse engine,but it only reach the prototype stage.
Ardie 350 1936
Ardie RBK 550 1936
Ardie RBU 350 1937The RBU 350 from 1937 note now the bike has the Ardie winged tank badge. Ardie 'Wanderfalk' RBZ200(translates to Peregrine Falcon)
- Engine of ‘Wanderfalk’
The utube video below is what! made me fall for this kleine Germanic bike. <iframe title=”YouTube video player” width=”480″ height=”390″ http://www.youtube.com/embed/A3gvqTcYU4M” “
Ardie RBZ 250cc of 1938
Ardie RBZ 250cc 1938
Top rider for Ardie in Sauerland in 1938
- Ardie RB206 200cc 1936-38
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Ardie BK 200 (Bark engine 199cc OHV 1936)
- a very correct RBZ 250 I find this bike so ‘Cool’i want one! A very correct RBZ 250 I find this bike full of charm..I want one!
- RBU 350
<iframe title=”YouTube video player” width=”640″ height=”390″src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/z_dW-nXhuQ0” 
feel like i got very lucky! 2 weeks after saying a would like a Ardie RBZ 200 Wander-falk(it translates to Peragrin falcon) I now own one.All due to a very likeable friend ‘Fritz’.Also within the same week on Utube was a clip from even a rarer Ardie a RBK 200cc (The BK stands for Bark engine)!!! Lets hope he can get that motor to run OK.
http://www.youtube.com/v/6kofP5LGVoU?version=3″><param ” http://ahref=</ Now the owner of the ex ‘fritztoons’ Ardie i spent the summer doing few runs on it.My first run on a ‘BRITISH TWO STROKE CLUB’ run was stressful also tiring! the problem being although the little Ardie had the luxury of 4 speeds! it also seem to have about 24 neutrals!! not much fun,when you climbing a hill,with 20 or so riders behind you trying to find a gear.But with a bit of adjusting of the gear change mechanics,I have now reach the stage where i have 4 gears and 4 neutrals, not perfect, but a improvement.
With more confidents! it was entered for the International West Kent Run a run of about 120 kilometers,which i am glad to say it completed without missing a beat.see picture
West Kent International Run 2011
Hi,
You can see my Ardie site in Facebook. Look up ” My Ardie” or :Richard Lant:
Please post fotos and info of your Ardie.
Thanks,
Rich Lant
lantrb@yahoo.com