Brough Superior has been called “the Rolls Royce of motorcycles,” renowned as much for power as beauty. Founder George Brough personally tested every motorcycle before it left the factory in Nottingham, England, so everyone who owns a Brough can say it was ridden by Brough.Now someone with deep pockets will own George Brough’s personal machine, the prototype Brough Superior SS100 Alpine Grand Sport he rode to victory in the eight-day 1925 Austrian Speed trials. The stunningly beautiful motorcycle will be auctioned Dec. 15 by Phillips de Pury & Co. It is expected to command at least $600,000.
The motorcycle — it seems uncouth to call something expected to fetch six figures a “bike” — was prepared by chief engineer Harold “Oily” Karslake specifically for the high-speed race through the Alps. It featured Rexine panniers for gear, two tool bags and a Bonnkksen time and trip speedometer. Karslake tuned the 1,000 cc V-twin for high-altitude, and like all Brough Superiors it was guaranteed to do 100 mph.
After winning the Austrian Speed trials, Brough won the London-to-Edinburgh Trial in May, 1925, and then loaned his motorcycle to J.P “Neon” Castley. Castley won the London-to-Exeter Trial in December, then returned the machine to Brough, who raced it in the Victory Cup Trial in March, 1926. He won, of course.
Brough Superior built 3,048 motorcycles between 1919 and 1940, and each was built to the customer’s tastes. T.E. Lawrence — aka Lawrence of Arabia — was among the marque’s most famous aficionados; he owned seven and called them all “Boanerges,” or “Sons of Thunder.” He is believed to have racked up 300,000 miles on his Superiors and once outran a Bristol Fighter at more than 120 mph.
About 1,000 Brough Superior motorcycles are believed to exist.
