Brough Superior SS100: The Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles
The Brough Superior SS100 represents an elite era of hand-built British motorcycle engineering, earning its enduring moniker as the Rolls-Royce of motorcycles through performance, meticulous craftsmanship, and legendary associations. Originally introduced in 1924 by pioneer George Brough, the historic superbike combined top-tier components with guaranteed speed certifications that redefined two-wheeled transit during the interwar period.
The Origins of a Motorcycling Dynasty in Nottingham
According to historical records from Denik.cz, Brough motorcycles were manufactured in Nottingham starting in 1902 by William E. Brough. Editorial records show that William’s son, George Brough, parted ways with his father in 1919 following a disagreement over the development and manufacturing costs of a new 500-cubic-centimeter engine. George subsequently established his own manufacturing enterprise on Haydn Road, adopting a distinct corporate identity born out of a casual conversation in a local pub on February 2, 1919.
As detailed by Denik.cz, when a drinking companion named Bob Blay remarked that George’s experimental machine outperformed his father’s older model, the moniker Brough Superior was coined on the spot. The senior Brough reportedly quipped that the new name implied his own enterprise was inferior. Despite the family rivalry, George Brough emerged as a visionary designer, racer, and showman who constructed machines that lacked direct market competition.
Engineering Excellence and the Birth of the First Superbikes
The Brough Superior lineup established the blueprint for the modern superbike by merging high-performance capabilities with uncompromising aesthetic detailing. Historical archives cited by Denik.cz note that any machine failing to meet strict factory specifications was returned to the workshop for exhaustive reworking. In 1922, George Brough piloted an SS80 at Brooklands to achieve an unofficial lap speed of 160 kilometers per hour.
Launched in 1924, the SS100 stood out as the most powerful, luxurious, and expensive machine of its era. A. Prestwich (JAP) and featuring specialized Sturmey-Archer transmissions, each SS100 shipped with a factory certificate verifying that it had been tested to reach targeted high-speed thresholds. These elite specifications positioned the brand firmly at the apex of interwar motoring prestige.
Modern Revival and Contemporary Craftsmanship
Following a hiatus enforced by the outbreak of the Second World War, the storied brand found new life in the modern era. According to reporting by Garaz.cz, enthusiast Mark Upham acquired the global rights to the Brough Superior name and partnered with French designer Thierry Henriette, owner of Boxer Design based in Saint-Jean near Toulouse, to engineer a new generation of the SS100.
Reporting from Garaz.cz highlights that contemporary models stay true to their heritage through advanced, lightweight materials including aluminum, magnesium, and titanium. Notable modern innovations include Fior-type front suspension utilizing aluminum arms and titanium links, paired with a distinctive Beringer four-disc front braking system derived from aerospace engineering applications. The modern liquid-cooled 88-degree V-twin engine, engineered by Akira, produces 102 horsepower and 87 Newton-meters of torque while maintaining a dry weight of 186 kilograms.