Win a dashcam

Brough Superior SS80

Manufacturer	Brough Superior
Production	1924 to 1939
Engine	990 cc 50 degree V-twin

The Brough Superior SS80 was a motorcycle designed and built by George Brough of Brough Superior in Nottingham, UK from 1924 to 1939.

Described by The Motor Cycle as "The Rolls-Royce of Motor Cycles", production ended with the outbreak of World War II in 1939

Development

The SS80 (Super Sports) model was developed in 1920, soon after George Brough set up Brough Superior. The SS80's model designation was based on Brough's guarantee that it could reach 80 mph (130 km/h). Finished to a standard that put it well beyond the reach of most motorcyclists, the SS80 set out the key features of all Brough Superior models to follow. Thirty-two SS80s were built in 1935. Early models used the 988 cc (60.3 cu in) J.A.P. sidevalve engine which was expected to be superseded by the overhead valve Brough Superior SS100 when it was introduced at the end of 1924, but SS80 sales continued well and in 1935 the SS80 was fitted with the 982 cc (59.9 cu in) Matchless V-twin engine, similar to the one fitted to the Matchless Model X but with Brough's modified big end arrangement. Before production ended with the outbreak of World War II in 1939, 1,086 SS80's were manufactured in total, of which 460 were Matchless-engined.

SS80 De Luxe

The SS80 "De Luxe" specification included a fully sprung rear wheel, bottom link front forks, a patented rolling stand, pillion footrests and a specially tuned engine.

Racing success

George Brough used an SS80 he nicknamed 'Spit and Polish' (so called because of the immaculate finish he always maintained) to become the first sidevalver to lap the Brooklands track at over 100 miles per hour (161 km/h). The same motorcycle went on to win 51 out of 52 races. The only time it failed to win was due to a puncture.

Brough became famous as a competition rider and only retired from racing following a serious crash which left him recovering for eight months in hospital receiving skin grafts, as he never wore protective clothing.

Pictured

While equaling a Rolls Royce for quality of construction and finish, in spirit the Brough Superior was more akin to the sporting Bentley.

In its own maker’s words the Brough was ‘a type of machine designed from the experienced solo riders point of view’. To prove the point, George Brough lost no time in demonstrating his machine’s capabilities in the most attention grabbing way possible—by racing at Brooklands.

Introduced in 1922 the JAP powered SS80 (so called because of its guaranteed 80 mph top speed in road trim) achieved instant fame when a stripped down racing version (nicknamed ‘Spit and Polish’) and ridden by George Brough became the first side valve engine machine to lap the Surrey track at over 100mph. That particular Brough SS80 –subsequently rechristened ‘Old Bill’—went on to win 51 out of 52 races contested only failing in the last when a tyre burst.

This superb model, with matching numbers (registration/frame /engine) is a standard model SS80 and comes with Brough Superior Club copy build sheet recording that it was supplied via Falles Garage in Worthing. It has with it the old style green continuation logbook (issued Jan 1970) and records that the owner at the time was none other than William Stanley ‘Bill’ Gibbard of Chingford a noted Brough collector and Author of “Maintaining your Brough Superior”. The only other listed owner is one Leonard Fredrick Sanger who acquired the machine in 1977.

Brian Verrall purchased the bike in 2004 and offered it for sale via Bonhams Auction house in 2008. Brian was a serious collector of vintage and classic bikes in the UK.
This particular bike has had a freshening by noted English Brough specialist, Dave Clark.