Classic Bike Guide

Brough Superior ‘The Rolls-Royce of motorcycles’

Mythology and rumour would have it that George Brough designed his motorcycles like this – he’d buy copies of the motorcycle magazines and cut out bits and pieces, ‘assembling’ all the best components (Harley-Davidson forks, JAP V-twin engine, Sturmey-Archer gearbox, Royal Enfield brakes et al) and then adding the crowning glory of a polished fuel tank, ‘Superior’ to the family name – to set them aside from dad’s products, simply known as ‘Brough’ – and, hey presto, ‘ta-dah, here’s the motorcycle you’ve always dreamed of.’

Of course, there was more to it than that, but there’s no disputing that George cherry-picked the best components money could buy and then, using his natural showmanship, added a sprinkling of star-dust and away he (or more precisely his Brough Superiors) went.

From 1919 to 1940, Brough Superiors were made in, frankly minuscule numbers, but the endless promotion by George, the implied friendships (real or otherwise) with the right people (most famously TE Lawrence, aka Lawrence of Arabia), record-breakingdomination with a multitude of riders (including the outright Brooklands record thanks to Noel Pope; 124.51mph set in 1939) and the show-stopping specials, ensured George’s products received far more column inches then perhaps were justified.

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