How many of you are familiar with George Brough and his motorcycles? Yeah...I've seen them mentioned a time or two...but I've become curious again... I'm doing some research on them... I think I will be writing something on their history in a day or two. Very cool machines.
For now, have a look at the builder of these incredible machines...he's sitting on his Matchless SS100 .... hang in there... you're in for a good read... guaranteed.
Hi Chessie,
ReplyDeleteIs that really a Matchless surely George Brough would be sitting on a Brough Superior.
It is one of the finest motorbikes ever made.
I used to have a 250 cc Greeves.
A lovely bike.
Love,
Herrad
Herrod, the Matchless SS100 is George's own bike build. He sometimes used the Matchless engine in his builds...and other times he used the J.A.P. engine. (I just read this...) So... I know I will have loads of information for you guys to read and enjoy.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to mention Lawrence of Arabia...
ReplyDeleteI had the opporutnity to ride an SS80 Brough- a half dozen years ago- it was very similar in power to my ;45 U model H-D, but had a more refined feel.
ReplyDeleteI came close to buying a '39 1150 model- $18000 seemed like ALLOT of money at the time, but now looking back it was a bargain.
The Brough was a premium motorcycle, and many survived post war as a side car slogger.
The Post war Vincent twin did it all better, faster and with less drama than the pre-war Broughs-
Brough did not make many parts, engine trans, wheels etc were brought in parts- Matchless or J.A.P engines, Sturmey Archer transmission. Royal Enfield wheels, etc. Brough 'knocked off' the castle forks that H-D was using in the 20's.
He had his own frame-both a rigid and a spring frame of his design, His saddle tank/gas tank design concept set his bikes apart, and of course his fit and finish were 2nd to none.
If I recall correctly, Brough built less than 3500 bikes of which aprox 500 were OHV models-mostly the SS100 1000cc twins, and a handful of the 600 cc Black Alpine, often referred to as the Jr SS100.
Curiously , his inspiration for a 1000 cc touring V twin came from watching Indian run their 1000 cc V twins at the Isle of Man racing circuit.
my two cents.
Sheepish smilin' Cheshirecat: I had better get to writing real soon,... or my readers will have it all done for me! Great information...thank you~! [sheepish smile]
ReplyDeleteChessie, Go to Jay Leno's garage he has a pretty good video on this. Yes I know of them. What a bike what a designer. Way ahead of his time he was.
ReplyDelete