Brough superior motorcycles as a teenager i read seven pillars of wisdom without much comprehension, but i reread it in my late twenties and began to understand that it was more than a great boys own yarn. Brough superior ss100s cost the equivalent of a decent house in britain at the time, at. Brough model w engine at the spring 2012 bonhams stafford auction, and here relates the tale of creating a motorcycle around his purchase. This was the seventh brough that lawrence had owned. The full history of brough superior motorcycles and cars brough superiors in. This 1938 brough superior ss100 has seen better days, but most of what you need for a project bike is right there.
The brough superior brand has always fascinated motorcycle enthusiasts. Every now and then something special comes up for sale and, in my book, this qualifies, a 1939 brough superior ss100. He named his company brough superior to outdo his father who was also a motorcycle manufacturer. In 1919, george decided to follow his dream and build the finest, luxurious and most powerful motorcycles, in a word superior. Fully restored, it looks about as fine as they come. Brough superior british only austria fahrzeughandel gmbh. This book documents the full story of brough and brough superior from the early years of the. Collection of rare brough superior motorcycles discovered in. Elf will become a technical partner to brough superior starting on november. Lawrence of arabia was particularly keen on brough motorcycles, as he covered about 300,000 km in 11 years from the property from where he keeps a detailed log of his motorcycle trips. Although every bike was designed to meet specific customer requirementseven the handlebars were individually shaped sixtynine ss100s were produced in 1925 and at. Convinced he could improve on his fathers designs, all brough superior motorcycles were high performance and superior quality. Brough superior motorcycles were consider the finest motorcycles in the. Mar 01, 2020 get an exclusive tour of the brough superior room from jay himself and go for a ride on his 1150 with sidecar.
Great reading for motorcycle lovers and history lovers alike. The rollsroyce of motorcycles a foulis motorcycling book. Upon hearing the name of the new motorcycle company, his father made the comment, i suppose that makes mine the brough inferior. Clean it up, add a seat, and youll have an exceptional sporting motorcycle. As a writer, he describes his glorious activities so well in his autobiographical book seven pillars of wisdom, which inspired the worldfamous 1962 film lawrence of arabia. The ss100 is the original piece on brough superior s score.
Lawrence of arabia, who owned seven broughs and died. Lawrence of arabias brough superior ss american motorcycles, racing. Brough superior motorcycles, sidecars, and motor cars were made by george brough in his. Metal also suitable for other engines that require a 10w60 oil. Brough superior the rollsroyce of motorcycles ronald h. The company produced motorcycles between 1919 and 1940. Clark reissued for the 40th anniversary of the brough superior club, this complete story of the most distinguished name in the history of british motorcycles was written with the full cooperation of the brough works and of george brough himself. The brough superior ss 100 is a motorcycle which was designed and built by george brough in nottingham, england in 1924. Brough superior and elf oil partnership elf joins brough superior as official lubricant technical partner. George brough was a racer, designer, and showman his father william e.
Lawrences brough superior ss100 motorcycle, 1932 the. Brough superior the complete story by peter miller. The rollsroyce of motorcycles a foulis motorcycling book clark, ronald h. The machines were named brough superior both to distinguish them from his fathers brough machines and to denote the highest levels of performance and quality of manufacture. Originally william brough s son, george brough, was a partner in his fathers company, but he split from it in 1919 and started his own factory, also in nottingham. Dec 14, 2015 just 380 brough superiors were built with te lawrence, better known as lawrence of arabia, a famous owner, including the 1938 brough superior 1,096cc 1150hp project. The first new brough test ride in more than 70 years 2017 brough superior ss100. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the name brough superior was synonymous with the very best in motorcycle design. Its short and dense history over 21 years, the circumstances of its disappearance, the rarity of its motorcycles, their high price and their careful manufacture, have contributed to make this name a myth. The ss100, like a jazz tune in spring the ss100 is the original piece on brough superiors score. Britain mark upham, who acquired the brand in 2008, has been building new examples of the iconic brough superior ss100, which in many ways was the first true superbike and in the 1930s was the motorcycle of choice for cognoscenti of speed. Designed to sing in unison with its owner, the model is personalized down to the last detail, from the handlebars to the final customization. Just make the header elf oil and saybrough superior motorcycles have teamed up with elf oil to market a purpose made 10w60 oil for the latest brough superior motorcycles. Jan 30, 2015 this cc motorcycle was the prized possession of t e lawrence, better known as lawrence of arabia, and the machine on which he was killed in may of 1935.
Jul 27, 2009 brough superior is generally reqarded as the rollsroyce of motorcycles, yet there has been only one history book written on this nottingham based manufacturer back in 1964 and updated twice, the last time in 1984. The ss100, like a jazz tune in spring the ss100 is the original piece on brough superior s score. The story of george brough and his passionate quest for the ultimate machine. Summer 1909 1100 mile walking tour in syria and palestine sketching and photography. Brough superior motorcycles were built in nottingham, at founder george broughs factory in haydn road. Bikes like these should be exercised now and then, its what they were built for. The resulting brough superior motorcycles set new standards, even being assembled in white gloves. Ver mas ideas sobre motos, motos antiguas y motos clasicas. George brough pronounced as you would pronounce rough was the son of a motorcycle. Convinced he could improve on his fathers designs, all brough superior motorcycles were. The best part is its ready to ride, not just display. Apr 17, 2010 quite what george broughs father, nottinghambased motorcycle manufacturer william edward brough, thought when his younger son cheekily added the word superior to the family name when founding his rival marque can only be imagined, but its thanks to this act. The ss100s of the 1920s are the most highly coveted by collectors, and remain generally the most expensive roadgoing motorcycles today, barring the odd originalpaint harleydavidson strap tank.
Born in 1890, george brough was the second son of w. As william junior turned his energy to shipbuilding. Customers suggestions allowing it to constantly evolve. Gillies, mark 1989, az of cars of the 1930s, bay view books. But if ever a machine was more than the sum of its parts, it was the brough superior. A motorcycle superior to all others george brough was a man who had a love of motorcycles and a social intelligence that enabled him to put his finger on george brough was a man who had a love of motorcycles, and a social intelligence that enabled him to put his finger on the pulse of what would be attractive to britains upper classes and to offer them a niche product that would sell well to. Dec 21, 2010 brough superior has long been regarded as one of the preeminent motorcycle designs of history. Brough superior books and calenders british only austria. That such a formidable reputation was forged by a motorcycle constructed almost entirely from boughtin components says much for the publicity skills of george brough. Brough superior is generally reqarded as the rollsroyce of motorcycles, yet there has been only one history book written on this nottingham based manufacturer back in 1964 and updated twice, the last time in 1984. Brough superior a short history of the rolls royce of motorcycles. Brough superior is generally reqarded as the rollsroyce of motorcycles, yet there has been only one history book written on this nottingham based manufacturer. A brief history of the brough superior ss100 the worlds.
It remains the only motorcycle in history to use this configuration. Although every bike was designed to meet specific customer requirementseven the handlebars were individually shaped 2 sixtynine ss100s were produced in 1925 and at. The history of brough motorsthe full history of brough superior motorcycles and carsbrough superiors in competition and record breakingspecial modelsbiographies of key individualsfull specifications. Established manufacturers get a pass when producing ugly. Collection of rare brough superior motorcycles discovered. Brough superior is generally reqarded as the rollsroyce of motorcycles, yet there has been only one history book written on this nottingham based manufacturer back in. Born on april 21, 1890 in nottingham, george was the second son of william edward brough, a motorcycle builder. See more ideas about vintage motorcycles, motorcycle and lawrence of arabia. Aug 03, 2019 brough superior motorcycles have always been rare, expensive and preferred by a lot of celebrities, still being desired by a lot of motorcycle collectors. This machine is an exact replica of the brough superior used by le vack during the 1924 season, in which he has been successful in winning nine worlds records, including the fastest speed ever accomplished on a motor cycle, namely, 123 m. Approximately 3048 motorcycles 19 models were made in the 21 years of production. Brough, the creator of the original brough motorcycle.
Book information for brough superior the complete story, 9781847971128. This cc motorcycle was the prized possession of t e lawrence, better known as lawrence of arabia, and the machine on which he was killed in may of 1935. When i discovered that lawrence was also a motorcyclist i began researching his history in earnest. Lawrence, the diminutive multilingual british scholar who led the successful arab revolt against the turks in the first world war, will forever be associated with his thundering brough superior ss100 motorcycle gw 2275 on which he was killed in 1935. Wrote an essay discussing the influence of the crusades on european military architecture.