Brough Superior Motorcycles 11-50 1933
This bike is arguably the legendary superbike of motorcycling between the wars ‘Golden Age’.
The Brough Superior was synonymous with high performance engineering excellence and quality of finish. That such a formidable reputation was forged by a motorcycle constructed almost entirely from bought-in components says much for the publicity skills of George Brough. If ever a machine was more than a sum of its parts it was the Brough Superior. Always a perfectionist Brough only bought the best available components for his motorcycles reasoning that if the product was right, a lofty price tag would be no handicap. In the roaring 20s there were sufficient connoisseurs around to prove him right, T E Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) being the most famous example.
Launched in 1933, the 1096cc 11-50 was the largest Brough Superior to enter series production. Powered by a sidevalve V twin (of an unusual 60 degree configuration) supplied exclusively to the Nottingham factory by J a Prestwich, the 11-50 fitted into the Brough price range between the SS80 touring and SS100 super sports models. The 11-50 was conceived as a long legged effortless tourer and could exceed 90 mph in solo form or pull a heavy sidecar at up to 75mph. Production lasted until 1939, by which time the 11-50 was the only JAP powered machine in the Brough range.
This machine was used in the UK until circa 1960 and brought to Austria by the legendary Austrian racing motorcyclist, motoring journalist and founder of the Salzburgring Oldtimer Grand Prix, Dr Helmut Krackowizer.
Previously owned and restored by the Brandstetter Collection (now housed at the Hockenheim Museum in Germany), the Brough was acquired by Professor Ehn in April 1969 and was last used on the road in 1977.
This bike has been subjected to the wonderful mechanical care and attention of Dave Clark, the Brough specialist in England.