Modern Brough Superior
Having ridden several Brough Superiors, they have all been memorable for various reasons – a Matchless powered SS80 (aka MX80) because it was the first one I ever had a go on, a JAP-powered SS100 because basically it’s the pinnacle, really, and a 680, which although it has the looks of the 1000cc ohv beasts, doesn’t offer anything like the performance and is a much more genial, friendly sort. It’s the 190 SL Merc to the 300 SL, the bhuna to the vindaloo, the Cliff Richard to the Elvis; kind of did the same thing, but there’s no question one’s a much safer, sanitised and user friendly experience than the other.
The ‘modern’ Brough is no real relation to its forebears, other than bearing the same name – and some of its spirit. It was delivered to our office, and we all took some time standing outside looking at it; it’s one of those machines, which it’s impossible to decide whether it looks really good – or truly terrible. In honesty, I oscillated between the two.
To ride, though, there was no doubt – it was really rather good. Although a little high in the saddle (which was dad’s main complaint when he had a go) apart from that it did everything with aplomb. Is it £50,000 better than a Monster of R-nine-T? From a riding perspective, of course not – but then is a Black Shadow £50,000 better than a Thunderbird, an MV 750S than a CB750 etc. It’s not just about the riding, it’s the manner of riding.
My time with it included quite a few miles; the only issue was when it blew a baffle out of the exhaust, leaving me with a 120 mile ride on what was an already loud machine, that turned into one making an uncomfortably loud din. That aside, though, it was great, and one of my most memorable V-twin experiences.