Motorcycle specifications Brough SuperiorSS 100 MK2 2023 Motorcycle art

Unlike large-caliber manufacturers, a small prestige brand doesn't have the same stakes when it comes to upgrading a model. Market research, production volumes, delivery deadlines... all this takes a back seat when it comes to reworking a noble creation like the S.S. 100.
But Brough has done it. With care, lightness and detail. As if the lace of a garter belt had to be sewn directly to the skin.

This is how we can identify the reworking of the tank lugs, now inclined to give an impression of dynamism. This momentum has also dictated the shape of the new front and rear mudguards. On the other hand, the edges of the headlamp are timidly rounded. The exhausts take on a new identity with their conical shape, and are slender enough to soften a noticeable increase in size.
A more "visual" update than that of 2018, when the Franco-Englishwoman had to bend the brakes in the face of mandatory ABS. But all these considerations are almost illusory once the enthusiast comes face to face with this moment of luxury built on a legend.

The British motorcycle industry was one of the most exciting of the last century. If today only one major manufacturer remains, Triumph, and a few brands with remarkable track records (Norton, Ariel, Matchless, etc.), the past is quite different. The dawn of the 20th century saw the clash of BSA, Vincent, AJS, Velocette, Triton and so many other manufacturers. The British Empire saw the birth of hundreds of brands. And among them, one stood out even more. Brough Superior. With its top-quality models, first-rate performance, small-scale production like a Rolls-Royce, and an exceptional ambassador (T.E Lawrence), the brand founded by Georges Brough is in the pantheon of motorcycling greats.

a name that chews like a whisky rasping the accent of an English lord. However, it wasn't on the outskirts of Nottingham that the taste resurfaced. A certain Mark Upham bought the brand in 2008 and put his faith in a company far from the Big Island. Boxer Design has since taken charge of the development of the new SS100. An excellent choice, as Thierry Henriette's French company is no stranger to creating beautiful creations. Does the VB1 ring a bell? The FB Mondial Nuda, the SSR 1000, the Superbob, collaborations with Honda, Suzuki, Voxan... Let's stop here and contemplate the Brough Superior of the 21st century.
We had to do things right, and the result is beyond compare. The SS100 is an achievement between motorcycle and work of art. A bridge between time and solemnity. Everything has been worked out in a spirit of creativity, homage and magnificence.

It needs an engine, and a beautiful one. No fins, no old-fashioned technology, no interwar mechanics. Broughs were motorcycles in search of perfection. This quest must continue. A big V-twin is mandatory, as on the Inspirator. The block here is open at 88°, built like a modern engine with liquid cooling, double ACT, 4 valves per cylinder, injection and all the rest - but above all, it looks like the work of a craftsman. As if an enthusiast had spent every evening honing, grinding and sanding it, making it as precious as a part of his soul. But it's not to a master of the evening that we owe this block. It's Akira, another French company, which worked closely with Boxer to create the engine. It produces 102 hp at 9,600 rpm and 8.9 mkg of torque at 7,300 rpm
Certainly classic values for a 997 cm3 V2. Ducati has done much better with its 999s. But the SS100 doesn't play in the Superbike arena. It expresses itself in the jousts of the aristocracy. The only false note is that the hoses are not sufficiently concealed, standing out from the mass-machined parts.

the chassis is just as worthy. It loves titanium, and very few models in today's production are bursting with this noble material. As the engine has a load-bearing function, the designers were able to create a minimalist, and above all invisible, tubular titanium trellis frame. The mechanics are thus totally exposed to view. On its back, an immensely long aluminum fuel tank is held in place by metal straps to great effect. Simply superb.
A single, large speedometer sits in front of the low handlebars. Speed is the priority, with a preference for miles/hour. A needle as mistress, a small digital display as valet, pulses to throb. And technique to fantasize about.

Rather than seeking a certain ease with an inverted fork, the Brough asserts its nobility and cultural exceptionalism with a Fior-style wishbone front axle. The design? A double wishbone constructed from a magnesium-aluminium alloy grips the wheel like a swingarm. This particular fork simply provides guidance. The supporting triangles are made of titanium. For damping, an Öhlins shock absorber is installed in the middle of the steering column. With this kinematics, the damping works independently and is less subject to the stresses of the dive effect.

as for the rear swingarm, another fine piece of equipment, it is double-reinforced at the top and bottom, and benefits from the same oligarchy as the front axle. Made of aluminum-magnesium and Öhlins amorto.
Unlike fashion, which reinvents the past, the SS100 merely winks at it to establish its future. A round headlight for a vintage look? Not really. All we see is modernism, with real complexity and large LED assignments. Only the 18-inch wheels seem conventional in this universe, disguising the symbolism of spokes with their 18 spokes.

Spectacular, top-of-the-range and demanding - all of this is striven for on the front axle. In addition to its forks, the SS100 demands the very best in braking. Will we find Brembo Stylema? Carbon discs? No, more intriguing. Beringer is in the spotlight, with Brough opting for its 4D system. With its small 230 mm discs, this system is reminiscent of the drums of yesteryear. In terms of performance, Beringer claims superior efficiency, 3 times less gyroscopic inertia, less weight and, in terms of looks, a decal effect with these double-disc calipers. Each accommodates 4 pistons and 3 pads. For the rear, a single 230 mm disc, clamped by a 2-piston caliper cleverly hidden inside the swingarm.

Like Avinton, Ecosse or confidential brands, Brough doesn't intend to make motorcycles, but motorized jewelry. A lightning bolt to the firmament of motorcycle history, dreaming of the most sumptuous corners to set its wheels.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos