
During WW1, George Brough envisioned manufacturing an ultimate high-performance motorcycle, but his father refused the concept, so George set up his own factory nearby. He assembled the best racing components from engine, gearbox, forks, and wheel manufacturers for his first model, the Mk 1 of 1919. It used a J.A.P. racing OHV v-twin motor of 1000cc and a heavyweight Sturmey-Archer 3-speed gearbox, in a very robust frame with a long wheelbase, crowned with the world’s first round-nosed saddle fuel tank, resplendent in nickel plating, black paint, and gold pinstriping. A friend suggested he call it ‘Brough Superior’, as it so clearly was, but father William was not amused, presuming the family product was then relegated to ‘Brough Inferior’.








Related Posts
December 7, 2021
The Vintagent Selects: 1928 Brough Superior SS80 Deluxe: An Oily-Rag Survivor
Something is only ever original once.
Ahhh … just look at all those shiny fuel tanks . I’ll never forget my first encounter with a Brough . Puddling around an acquaintances massive H-D collection ( had gone because he had the exact bike/side car rig my grandfather had back in 1926 ) waiting for him to get back from a phone call so he could teach me to ride a 1926 H-D … my eyes after spying a Vincent Black Shadow … caught the gleam of … could it be ? … why yes it was … a Genuine Brough Superior SS100 .
Damn … what a day … ride the equivalent of grandpas bike … see yet another Vincent … and my first encounter with a Brough … damn … other than following it up with a vintage cognac and a damn fine cigar ( which we did ) .. could it get any better ?