 | |
| Manufacturer | Brough Superior |
|---|---|
| Production | 1924–1940 |
| Predecessor | Brough Superior SS 80[1] |
| Engine | 998 cc (60.9 cu in) air cooled OHV 50° V-twin |
| Transmission | 3-speed, hand-change gearbox, chain |
| Wheelbase | 59 in (1,500 mm) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.8 US gal (18 L; 4.0 imp gal) |
The Brough Superior SS 100 is a motorcycle which was designed and built by George Brough in Nottingham, England in 1924.[1] Although every bike was designed to meet specific customer requirements—even the handlebars were individually shaped[2]—sixty-nine SS100s were produced in 1925 and at £170 (equivalent to £12,200 in 2023) were advertised by Brough as the "Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles".[better source needed][3] The term was coined by a magazine road tester in his review of the bike, and Brough eventually obtained explicit permission to use it after a Rolls-Royce executive toured the Brough Superior factory.[4] All bikes had a guarantee that they were capable of 100 mph (160 km/h).
The SS100 (Super Sports) was the first custom motorcycle[dubious – discuss] with components chosen from many different suppliers. The first engine (from 1924 to 1936) was the twin-cam KTOR JAP (made by J. A. Prestwich) V twin (upgraded to a Matchless engine from 1936). Gearboxes were the 4-stud 3-speed from Sturmey-Archer, with a chain drive.[4][5] Brough developed the features of the Harley-Davidson forks and produced his own version (made by the Castle Fork and Accessory Company) to combine light weight with strength that was to become a feature of the SS100 handling.[6]
- ^ a b Walker, Mick (23 August 2006). Motorcycle: Evolution, Design, Passion. The Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 68–69. ISBN 978-0-8018-8530-3.
- ^ Kemp, Andrew (2001). Classic British Bikes. Bookmart Ltd. pp. 69. ISBN 978-1-86147-058-4.
- ^ Brough Owners Club accessed 2008-05-05 Archived 29 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Cathcart, Alan. "Brough Superior SS100". Motorcycle Classics March/April 2012.
- ^ Wilson, Hugo (1993). The Ultimate Motorcycle Book. London: Dorling Kindersley. pp. 66–67. ISBN 978-0-7513-0043-7.
- ^ Simms, Colin (1984). Brough Superior SS100. Haynes publishing group. ISBN 978-0-85429-364-3.