In 1919, after parting with his father W.E. Brough who had
been building Brough machines for many years, George Brough set out to
begin manufacturing his own motorcycles. George had visions of a far more
luxurious machine than the reliable but somewhat pedestrian vehicles his
father made, and named his motorcycle the Brough Superior - and superior
they were, in every aspect.
Brough presented his first bike at the Olympia show in late 1920 and
began production in 1921. This first machine had an OHV J.A.P. engine,
and although models with the Swiss Motosacoche V-twin and the Barr
and Stroud sleeve-valve engine were built, J.A.P. was the almost exclusive
supplier from 1923, with the introduction of the SS80, until towards the
end of 1935 when Brough switched to the more reliable Matchless motor.
The SS100 was introduced in 1925, and some 400 of these were produced
including about 100 with Matchless engines. In 1938 he produced the legendary
Dream,
an elegant horizontally-opposed four cylinder design with shaft drive.
Brough achieved many racing successes and speed records, and in fact
one machine achieved the astonishing speed of 180mph at Budapest in 1938
- but no record, as the rider, Eric Fernihough, crashed and was killed
on the return run.
In 1940, shortly after the onset of war, George ceased motorcycle manufacture
in favour of aircraft components, and although he did build one experimental
post-war machine, he decided against going into production. He continued
in business building precision engineer's tools and Brough Superior parts
for many years before his death in 1969.
Brough Superior motorcycles have become one of the most sought-after
of all collectors machinery, not least because of their strong connection
with the enigmatic Lawrence of Arabia.
Brough Superior and T.E. Lawrence
Brough
Superior at Cybermotorcycle
Brough
Superior Links
Sources:
IC, Rider April 98....
