How often do you see another custom bike and it looks cookie cutter. As in you can see every bought part on there and it just feels pieced together, rather all parts coming together as a whole making a truly unique machine.
With that in mind, you just happen to glance over some classic images and there sits one of the most unique and truly superior designs in a machine built around two wheels. Do yourself a favor and dig into the Brough Superior motorcycle.
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| Brough Superior, one of the coolest motorcycles ever designed. |
"A number of
manufacturers have sought to produce the "ultimate" motorcycle, a
machine with that intangible blend of performance, handling, quality,
looks and that little "something" extra that places it above and beyond
its competitors. A number have got close, but have not been able to make
the transition from contemporary ultimate to achieving an enduring
status as the pinnacle of desirability, that accolade falls to two
manufacturers, Brough Superior and Vincent. Both machines were the
result of one mans search for perfection, both were and are exclusive,
admired by all and possessed by a select few, as desirable now as they
were when built, however the Brough Superior did something that had not
been achieved before, paving the way for the later Vincent, it became an
object of desire for all. George Brough's customers included the
aristocracy and royalty, the Brough Superior became one of the most
desirable machines built, accepted and admired as much as a Rolls Royce
or De Haviland Comet by all sectors of society, motorcyclist or not.
George
Brough had learnt his trade whilst working at his fathers Brough
company, but a divergence in views regarding motorcycle design, prompted
George to establish his own company in a prefabricated concrete
building at Haydn Road in Nottingham.
Advertisements for the first
Brough Superior, the Mark 1, appeared in the press during November 1920
and orders were forthcoming, however, George Brough was not satisfied
with his new machine and started development of a "super sports" model,
the SS80, that became available during 1923. As with all his products,
the SS80 was not a response to the views of the press and other
"experts", it was developed by George Brough to meet his standards,
tested and evolved by him. It was followed in 1925 by the SS100, an
overhead valve 1000cc that was inspired by by Le Vack's record holding
machine.
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1929 Brough Superior SS100 right side of engine |
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1929 Brough Superior SS100 right side of motorcycle |
The new machine was guaranteed to be able to reach the
magic 100mph mark, but just as importantly it offered exceptional
handling, braking and good looks. During the first year of production 69
of the JAP KTOR, delivering 45 bhp, powered machines were built. All
were fitted with the patent "Castle" fork and three speed Sturmey Archer
gearboxes and sold for £170. Little changed for 1926, although the
"Alpine Grand Touring" was now available having been announced at the
the end of of 1925 and at the 1926 Show the stripped down, tuned
version of the SS100, the Pendine was shown for the first time. 1927 was
a quiet year for the SS100 with the company focusing on the new "680",
however for 1928 the SS100 received a new "super heavyweight" Sturmey
gearbox to cope with the increased power output delivered by the JAP
JTOR engine that had supplanted the KTOR as the standard fitment in the
SS100. 1928 also saw the introduction of the Bentley and Draper sprung
frame.
1929 saw 29 SS100s produced in Pendine and Grand Alpine
form with the option of the B and D sprung frame and the three speed
"super heavyweight" gearbox, although a few are believed to have been
built with the standard unit. 1929 also saw the introduction of the new
dual headlight, as fitted to the machine offered, although not all the
1929 SS100s were so equipped.
The beautiful example offered was
purchased by the vendor as a complete, original machine in need of a
complete restoration. It was restored between 2000 and 2001 and has
subsequently been used extensively travelling to Scotland, Spain,
France, Austria and Italy. The vendor describes the machine as being in
excellent condition in all respects. It is offered with a Swansea V5C
and a dating certificate."
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1929 Brough Superior SS100 front wheel |
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1929 Brough Superior SS100 left side of motorcycle |
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1929 Brough Superior SS100 detail on engine |
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1929 Brough Superior SS100 dual gas caps on tank |
