Brough Superior Motorcycles Are Back. A Fascinating Tale.

broughsuperior1broughsuperior2Brough Superior is  back with 2 models and will debut August 14-16th at the legendary 2009 Pebble Beach Concours. Their very high quality fabrication, fit and finish gave Brough Superior the deserved titled of “Rolls Royce Of Motorcycles”.

Their reputation for reliability and race victories make them among the most collectible and high valued motorcycles (about 1000 still exist valued from $80,000 to $3,000.000)). They were made by George Brough in Nottingham, England, from 1919 to 1940. 19 models for a total of 3,048 motorcycles were fabricated in 21 years of production (84 cars we also made).  T. E. Lawrence (‘Lawrence of Arabia’) owned seven bikes and died from injuries sustained while crashing one. George Bernard Shaw was another among many celebrities that were enthusiastic about Brough products.

 

broughsuperior3Responsible for the return of Brough Superior is an Englishman in Austria named Mark Upham, CEO of a company called Netherton Industries Ltd owning the trademark/name/intellectualright for the famous brand. Since 1996 he works on reviving Brough Superior and is ready to show the 2 all new models (rigid and rear sprung) based on the 1927 1000cc Alpine Grand Sport Model but of course using today’s materials. Mark will take orders and deposits for bespoke Brough Superiors, and as it was in the past, following each client wish list will make each of them truly unique. Want to know more? Visit their website for some very interesting history. Brough Superior.

14 Responses to “Brough Superior Motorcycles Are Back. A Fascinating Tale.”


  1. 1 Johny P. Aug 12th, 2009 at 6:50 am

    Hey Cyril. Your site is pure digital grass. Getting high every morning on your news and pics. Superb reporting work. I am wired.

  2. 2 Kirk Perry Aug 12th, 2009 at 8:36 am

    Bob Bishop and his dad Art from the San Diego Antique M/C bought an original one from England in 1991 or so. I think they paid 50K for it back then. Dunno what happened to it – might still be in the aerospace museum in Dago.

  3. 3 Brenda Fox Aug 12th, 2009 at 9:35 am

    Beautiful!
    Look forward to seeing it at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance – Love this show!

  4. 4 John E Adams Aug 12th, 2009 at 11:20 am

    Great piece Cyril! This guy is doing some great work -;0)

    John

  5. 5 nicker Aug 12th, 2009 at 2:59 pm

    Twilight Zone.
    (listen carefully, maybe you can hear the theme music)

    Pans & Knuckles are back
    Vincent is back
    Norton is back
    Indians are back
    Crocker is back
    Enfield has reemerged
    etc.
    etc.

    What’s happening…..???

    Sort-a-like the Skeleton Worriors rising out of the dirt in Ray Harryhowsen’s “Voyage of Sinbad.”

    Spooky!!!

    -nicker-

  6. 6 nicker Aug 12th, 2009 at 3:50 pm

    Twilight Zone.
    (listen carefully, maybe you can hear the theme music)

    Pans & Knuckles are back
    Vincent is back
    Norton is back
    Indians are back
    Crocker is back
    Enfield has reemerged
    etc.
    etc.

    What’s happening…..???

    Sort-a-like the Skeleton Worriors rising out of the dirt in Ray Harryhowsen’s “Voyage of Sinbad.”

    Spooky!!!

    -nicker-
    PS: Wanted to mention good post!

  7. 7 Kirk Perry Aug 12th, 2009 at 5:47 pm

    Yeh, I’d like to see it. Retro back to the genesis of it all, but you have to remember, that the old iron requires owner maintenance. There in lies the problem. The population is being de-mechanic-tized. They are breeding mechanics out of the DNA of humans. No one knows what a screwdriver is anymore.
    By 2010, we’ll all be wearing tunics, looking like DEVO, with ringed lampshades on our heads and driving electric cars.
    It’s over unless V-Twin® makes replica 3.5 gallon tanks that function. Over for the Knuckle and Pan builders. I hate the bean counters in the aftermarket.
    They get a hold of an idea for a product and cheep-it-up in developement to fit a wholesale price point and forget the replication, forgetting that people dont mind paying money for quality.
    Case in point are those 1954-59 OHV “speedster” handlebars (25-0661) V-Twin® has had on backorder for two freaking years when 18 months is the typical max. for turnaround. $140.00 retail and the last run was okay quality. But, you can pay $360.00 retail and get true replica “buckhorn” from http://fabercycle.com/ so what? So, ’54-59 handlebars aren’t the problem anymore, but the pop-up fuel tanks are.

    Whoever made those V-Twin® 3.5 gallon Knucklehead fuel tanks should be molasses and feathered and marched down Scobie Drive in Newburg.

    They made cheap tanks with fuel-rod pop-up holes that will never line up and the dash hole is too big. It set the aftermarket kit market back 20 years. Not to mention those bloopy, oversized, 3.5 gallon tanks they made 40 yrs. ago at CCI®. That’s all you see on build-up’s is those ugly as butt-hair tanks. What a legacy. Thanks for nothing ya’ creeps. Boo on you bums.

  8. 8 John E Adams Aug 12th, 2009 at 8:50 pm

    … It sure looks like Mark Upham and his partners in crime do know there way around the toolbox and 2010 is just over the horizon -;0)

  9. 9 Kirk Perry Aug 13th, 2009 at 10:50 am

    I’d put my 1955-57 USA/Taiwan repop Panhead up against the British Brough Superior any day.
    The idea that a British design can be replicated today, but not the most popular rider (1955-57 Pan) in motorcycle history, that they’ve been trying to make parts for the last 40 years and still can’t “crack the nut” is repugnant to me. I’ll at least try and win back respect for USA design here on our on soil.
    I’ll challenge that railroad trestle of tubes, Brough Superior to a road race if you think the rubber tires won’t separate from those clincher rims at high speed.
    The repop Superior motor is a work of art, but those push rod tubes and rocker boxes look a little frail to me. No way – with that long wheel base – will you be able to keep up with a Panhead in twisting curves. Forgetaboutit.

  10. 10 Kirk Perry Aug 13th, 2009 at 12:30 pm

    http://www.pebblebeachconcours.net/

    Can’t make this date, but I have a Bruce Lichtenberg designed CycleProducts® trailer and I’ll roll it over to any city on the west coast. Better to be based right at the base of a canyon, so we can have breakfast and then roll. I’ll wait for you at pull outs, if your machine is a tank shift.
    This will push me into painting my tin and then my ride is ready. 74″. New 0.020″ over pistons on seasoned Taiwan cylinders. Name the time and place.
    You can see it over at http://hydra-glide.com/ under the (registered member’s only) section labeled “Repop”. It’s the stripped black one

  11. 11 Rodent Aug 13th, 2009 at 6:11 pm

    There is no motor vehicle show on earth, not even Willie’s Ol Skool in Daytona that equals the Pebble Beach Concours de Elegance and they’ve added motorcycles. Yeah!!

  12. 12 Lyle Aug 13th, 2009 at 8:55 pm

    HA HA, Putting a repop late 50’s bike up against a repop 30’s bike. A real race would be a match between a real 50’s American V-Twin against real British V-Twin. But on the more serious side, that is a nice looking engine. And the square design ought to make some revs!

  13. 13 mike corbin Aug 14th, 2009 at 10:33 pm

    Looking forward to seing this master piece in person this weekend atPebble Beach, greatest show on Earth…

  1. 1 Jay Leno Rides The New Brough Superior at Cyril Huze Blog Pingback on Aug 31st, 2009 at 8:50 pm
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