Anyone out there still riding motorbikes.
- Thread starter gtbob
- Start date
Marcus,
You may be interested to know these bikes have been known about for many years. I believe the secretary of the Railton owners club which covers Brough Superior Cars went with a party to see the Brough car over 40 years ago but they were seen off in no uncertain terms by the owner holding and his shot gun.
Mr Vague also had a Brough Superior 8 cylinder car that he pushed up against the shed and left. There is nothing much left of it apart from a few aluminium body panels such a shame. I have a photo of it from around 30 years ago when I was looking for a Brough car and first got to know about the collection, taken by a friend of mine from a safe distance who lives in Cornwall and is Mr Brough Superior. When I say a photo all you can really see is a load of undergrowth.
In my opinion it is a real shame Bonhams eventually got hold of them as they have been pushing the price of the bikes into the stratosphere.
More info on the auction here https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/23600/
You may be interested to know these bikes have been known about for many years. I believe the secretary of the Railton owners club which covers Brough Superior Cars went with a party to see the Brough car over 40 years ago but they were seen off in no uncertain terms by the owner holding and his shot gun.
Mr Vague also had a Brough Superior 8 cylinder car that he pushed up against the shed and left. There is nothing much left of it apart from a few aluminium body panels such a shame. I have a photo of it from around 30 years ago when I was looking for a Brough car and first got to know about the collection, taken by a friend of mine from a safe distance who lives in Cornwall and is Mr Brough Superior. When I say a photo all you can really see is a load of undergrowth.
In my opinion it is a real shame Bonhams eventually got hold of them as they have been pushing the price of the bikes into the stratosphere.
More info on the auction here https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/23600/
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Nick,
thank you for these interesting facts. I think with prices of many old motorcycles skyrocketing (following the silly prices for many vintage cars) it´s no surprise that Bonhams and others are really trying to push the envelope here.
I´m observing this trend with old Ducatis (and that´s probably one of the drivers that makes me buying one later today...).
Looking at your name...you are not by any chance connected to the famous Brough family?
Best,
Marcus
Ron,
what a beautiful area, must have been a great time riding there.
Reminds me of my trip to Norway this year on an Honda CB1300.
A pity my 3 graces require a bit of attention at the moment with the 996 getting ready for her winter sleep, the Panigale requiring some fiddling and the 1098 S in need of preparation for the upcoming Valencia track sessions.
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Marcus,
You are being sensible buying now I got offered a Brough SS80 in 2001 for a fraction of what they are going for now, I am really regretting letting that one get away. Don't forget to put some pictures on here.
According to the Brough family organisation of America who asked a few years ago if they could trace my family tree. I am George Brough's 6th cousin 3 times removed. As I say to those who ask no idea what that means but it's good enough for me
P.S. Have you seen the new Brough Superior I like it, not everyone does.
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Appears to be fine for driving from bar to bar, as long as the bars aren't more than a couple miles apart. Is the engine their own design?
Ron,
I am sure they will be fine for long distance touring, (we are a bit tougher than you colonials
) which is what the originals are renowned for. Besides, with a £50,000 upwards price tags there won't be much money left over for the bar.Engines according to Mark Upham are bespoke for the Brough project, French in manufacture he told me. The bike is being built in Toulouse.
Ron Earp
Admin
I am sure they will be fine for long distance touring, (we are a bit tougher than you colonials
Must be. My back isn't going to like being hunched over on that thing for more than 30 mins at a time. But seeing as how they're asking 50,000 GBP for each one I'm not ever going to find out.
Pretty bike. But much like a machine a talented buddy of mine built, it's more art than anything else, which is fine.
Will be a shame as the originals where driven for hundreds of miles at one stretch by their owners particularly by Lawrence of Arabia. I have to say many owners of the originals tell me how comfortable they are, some appear to disagree.
"Lawrence thought nothing of covering 500 miles a day on an uncomfy bike on shite roads (rumour was he was into sado-masochism...). He even once raced a bi-plane on his Brough."
Part of an extract from his dice with a Bristol Fighter bi-plane whilst out on a run.
Play with the fellow? Why not? I slowed to ninety: signalled with my hand for him to overtake. Slowed ten more: sat up. Over he rattled. His passenger, a helmeted and goggled grin, hung out of the cock-pit to pass me the ‘Up yer’ Raf randy greeting.
Lawrence had some of his Brough bikes bought for him as presents by wealthy friends, I live in hope.
Ron cheap original one for you here estimate $160,000 to $200,000 as it has the wrong engine fitted Bonhams Las Vegas 7th Jan
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Here it is, just got it 2 hrs. agoepper:
Marcus,
Very nice but I think you need a bigger exhaust to make it stand out more.
Interesting. Perhaps we're built differently but that bike has a similar riding stance to most bikes in the '60's that converted standard 'upright' bars to what we called 'clip-ons'. Maybe the same over there. As such, we regularly did runs of over 100 miles (Brighton and back) without any back issues, in fact I found it more comfortable than sitting upright. Fast forward to today - with the guidance of physiotherapists, I find that a forward leaning position relieves the necessity of the chest muscles to support the upper body, and thus facilitates breathing and is generally less tiring.
Pete McCluskey.
Lifetime Supporter
It's my wrists that cop a pounding, I've never had a problem with my back touchwood.
Ron Earp
Admin
Maybe. But I find it more probable you've not been on a motorcycle lately and are fondly remembering your youth. I used to ride cafe racer style machines with clip ons. Sport bikes with clip ons and so on. First thing I did with a new machine back in the day was take that sensible upright bar off, slap on a flat bar or clip ons, put some bar end mirrors on, and have at it. Drive all over, 600 miles down to New Orleans, yeah boy, no problem.
Now I'm a bit wiser with long distance trips in mind I've found that a motorcycle with an upright position that roughly approximates how you might normally sit with proper posture, the spine erect, the neck at a normal angle, eyes forward, wrist and arms comfortably forward, yep, all that works well.
Here it is, just got it 2 hrs. ago
Nice machine! You are definitely going to need some larger silencers though. For sure.
