Motorcycle specifications Brough SuperiorSS 100 MKII 2018 Motorcycle art

Exceptional as they may be, motorcycles, like people, must conform to standards, laws and commandments. Even the Brough SS100, bending the brake in the face of mandatory ABS and accepting it in its wheels. It updates itself for Euro4 by meeting engine and technical requirements. A painless sting for its skills and silhouette. In any case, all eyes will be on the walls of its history, and little on legislation.

The British motorcycle industry was one of the most exciting of the last century. While 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.
With the craze for retro and prestige machines, the time has come for its return. The first step in this resurrection was taken with the SS100, a luxurious motorcycle based on an ancestor of the same name. And one that shared the fate of the famous Lawrence of Arabia.

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 done 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 propeller. Natively, it produces 100 hp at 9800 rpm. However, at the customer's request, another ECU can be grafted on to boost power to 130 bhp much earlier, at 8000 rpm. Torque is even more rewarding, rising from 9.1 mkg/7450 rpm to 12.2 mkg/6400 rpm. For track use only.
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 striking metal straps. 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 system, 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 both 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 reflected in the front end. In addition to its forks, the SS100 demands the very best in braking. Will we find Brembo M50? 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 supposed to recall 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. At the rear, a single 230 mm disc, clamped by a 2-piston caliper cleverly hidden inside the swingarm.

Only 300 units of the revived Brough Superior SS 100 will be produced. And despite its elitist price tag, they're sure to find takers. The lady will be offered in three trim levels:
- Traditional: the closest to the original spirit of the SS100. The decor combines black, gold and silver. Wheels, fork, frame, swingarm and tank top are painted black. Brake calipers are anodized in metal color
- Full Black: This finish is more inspired by the competition history of the Broughs. Black is present everywhere, from the brake calipers to the swingarm, including the casings, frame, fork, saddle, wheels and tank. Only the metal straps escape the darkness.
- Titanium: A more high-tech approach, highlighting the bike's finest parts. The titanium of the chassis and suspension is left unpainted to be fully admired. The rims are polished. Charcoal gray paint is applied to the forks, swingarm, front and rear mudguards, fuel tank and seat cover. The brake calipers are titanium-anodized.

Enough to make you hesitate until you want all three. Like Avinton, 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