Brough Superior coming to Australia
After an absence of almost 80 years, Brough Superior motorcycles are officially back in Australia, following the appointment of a local distributor for the revived English motorcycle brand.
‘Brough Superior Australia’ signed on as official importer and distributor for Australia and New Zealand almost twelve months ago, with an announcement confirming the appointment and that the order books were open made this past May.
Brough Superior Australia is led by motorcycle industry veteran Fred Drake, a longtime two-wheel enthusiast who brings extensive knowledge of both the bike industry and dealership operations to the premium brand.
While Drake admits the current economic constraints caused by COVID-19 make this far from the ideal time to be introducing a new motorcycle to the market – especially a premium model – he and his team are confident that Brough Superior can find an audience in Australia and New Zealand.
All sales and servicing will be based out of Brisbane initially, with Brough Superior Australia actively seeking new dealers, both here and in New Zealand.
The Modern Brough
While many motorcycle enthusiasts are familiar with the Brough Superior brand, most only know the original version, which was founded by George Brough in 1919 and used by such identities as T.E. Lawrence (aka Lawrence of Arabia), who owned eight of them throughout his short life.
Produced in small quantities – a little over 3,000 were built before production ended in 1940 - Brough Superior motorcycles were high quality and priced accordingly. As such, they earned the tag of “the Rolls-Royce of motorcycles”. That reputation exists to this day, with Brough Superiors a favourite amongst serious collectors and regularly attracting six-figure sums at auction.
The modern Brough Superior motorcycle is a little over a decade old and was founded in 2008, when English motorcycle enthusiast and restorer, Mark Upham, acquired the rights to the Brough Superior name. The first all-new Brough Superior in 73 years – the ‘SS100’ prototype - debuted at EICMA in 2013 and was an instant sensation. Production versions were announced the following year.
While still quintessentially English, the new Brough Superior is actually something of a “cross channel” effort, as the SS100 (Super Sport 100) styling was the work of French designer, Thierry Henriette of Boxer Design, and the new bikes are manufactured at Boxer Design’s workshop in Toulouse, France.
Reflecting George Brough’s approach, the new Brough Superiors are built to extremely high standards and use componentry sourced from only the best suppliers in their segment, with many vendors working in the aeronautical field.
Since that launch at EICMA, the SS100 has gone into small volume production, joined by derivatives in the form of the ‘Pendine Sand Racer’ and ‘Anniversary’; the latter created in honour of Brough Superior’s centenary in 2019. A more recent addition is the ‘AMB001’ produced in collaboration with Aston Martin.
Modern Spec
While the latest Brough Superiors carry styling cues and the same v-twin engine configuration as their predecessors, they’re modern motorcycles in every other aspect. The engine used in the SS100, Pendine Sand Racer and Anniversary is the same unit - a v-twin of 997cc capacity and 94mm bore x 71.8mm stroke, with double overhead cams 4-valves per cylinder, an 11:1 compression ratio, EFi, a Synerject ECU and compatible throttle bodies.
In Euro4-compliant form, this 88-degree, water cooled v-twin produces 75kW at 9600rpm (Euro4 spec) and 87Nm at 7300rpm, with a 6-speed gearbox and chain final drive.
Each Brough Superior frame and subframe is machined from titanium, with the engine used as a stressed member. Titanium is also used in the unusual front end, which features twin articulated triangular links and an Öhlins single coilover shock. This is known as Fior-style suspension, but think of it as somewhat similar to a BMW Telelever front end. Preload and rebound adjustability are offered on this package, with 120mm of travel.
A more conventional swingarm and monoshock sits at the rear, again using Öhlins components, but the pivot point is actually within the engine’s crankcase. Also offering preload and rebound adjustability, the rear suspension provides 130mm travel.
Braking consists of Beringer componentry at each end, with four 230mm stainless steel discs up front (yes, four), paired each side and fitted with dual four-piston radial calipers. The rear brake is a single 230mm stainless steel disc with a two-piston caliper.
Wheels are 18-inch alloy units at each end, with a 120/70-18 tyre up front and 160/60-18 at the rear.
While all the aforementioned specs are likely to feature on locally-delivered units, Brough Superior Australia advises that some elements may change.
The AMB001 uses much the same mechanical spec as the other models, but wraps it in a much more futuristic body. The design and features of the AMB 001 will be addressed in more detail in a future article.
Australian Range
Brough Superior Australia will offer the full range currently available. Six units were already in stock at the Brisbane showroom and service centre at time of writing, including two examples of the entry-level SS100 in Euro3-compliant spec, one SS100 in Euro4 spec, two Pendine Sand Racers and an Anniversary. Pricing starts at $105,000 for the SS100 in Euro3-compliant form. All new Brough Superior street legal motorcycles come with a two-year, unlimited kilometre, parts and labour warranty.
Brough Superior Australia are taking orders now, with approximately two months between order and delivery.
For more details, contact Brough Superior Australia on (07) 3846 9901 or go to: https://broughsuperioraustralia.com.au/
Brough Superior 2020 range pricing
SS100 - $105,000 (Euro 3)
SS100 - $110,000
Pendine Sand Racer - $105,000
Anniversary - $168,000
AMB 001 - $185,000
