THE CLASSIC NEW BROUGH SUPERIORS

If you follow the classic motorcycling scene, you’ll know that the Brough Superior name has been revived by Austrian-based businessman and motorcycling enthusiast Mark Upham. These bikes are meticulous recreations of the originals, and built to the same Rolls-Royce quality standard as George Brough’s own machines. The ‘new’ engines are liter-class OHV V-twins—updated and refined versions of the J.A.P. racing engine used by George Brough in 1927. And finally, these new Broughs are slowly getting the photographic attention they deserve—as the Vincent Prat images below show.

The four new Broughs were shot on the banks of the River Seine in October. The odd man out in this set is the bike with the heavily dropped ‘bars, in the image below. Known as the ‘Basil Brough’, it’s based on a 1928 model Superior. It was originally built by Chris Williams of Autocycle in the UK, a company that supplies useful spares for restoration. ‘Basil’ was built for sidecar racing, and runs on methanol. Mark Upham’s crew completely rebuilt the machine in 2008, to the extent of re-tubing the frame—which now has extra struts to handle the stresses of a ‘chair’. For more images and information about the bikes, check out the product pages on the Brough Superior website. I’m thinking of putting my name down for the bike in the final shot below, a ‘Pendalpine’ built in 2008 and based on the 1926 SS100.

Thanks to Paul d’Orléans and Jared Zaugg. Images by Vincent Prat of Guerry & Prat Images. Taken during a shoot by Nick Clements for Men’s File magazine.

Classic AERMACCHI In 1966 "SPRINT"

Aermacchi turned into a fabricator of aircraft for Italy’s struggle machine at some point of the second one global warfare. After the defeat of the Axis powers, the organization grew to become its efforts to the manufacturing of motorcycles and bikes. In collaboration with Harley-Davidson, many Aermacchi bikes discovered their manner to america inside the Sixties to meet the developing call for for 2-wheeled transport. And that is certainly one of them, a 350cc sprint now owned by way of Philadelphia-based invoice Becker.

Rebuilding bikes is invoice Becker’s passion. After retiring from a a success 40 year career in architectural layout and construction, Becker now turns his strength to what he calls “performance based design”—taking antique motorcycles, solving what worked nicely and enhancing what didn’t.

Classic AERMACCHI In 1966 "SPRINT"

“in the process, my bikes take on a extra practical look,” he says. “one which expresses what they were intended to do—go speedy and maneuver well. As maximum designers and artists mature, they discover ways to grow to be extra ‘reductive’ in what they are trying talk via their designs … it has the impact of higher expressing the motive of the components, and giving extra electricity to the overall composition.”

Classic AERMACCHI In 1966 "SPRINT"

whilst restoring this 1966 dash, bill modeled it after the Aermacchi racing bikes he’d discovered in antique racing competitions. “I endeavored to make it as light-weight and ‘naked’-searching as feasible,” he says. “the whole thing extraneous has been removed, and all the electrics had been tucked up under the fuel tank or seat.” The fittings for the smaller tank, racing seat and lighting fixtures are custom manufactured from aluminum alloy, and the 2-tone purple paint scheme displays the Italian racing motorcycles of the Nineteen Sixties.

Classic AERMACCHI In 1966 "SPRINT" 

Classic AERMACCHI In 1966 "SPRINT"

As well as his Aermacchi, bill additionally owns a 1975 Norton Commando café racer, a 1973 Yamaha RD350 road tracker, a 1988 BMW K75 and a 1949 CZ—which is currently underneath production. It’s safe to say they’re all in superb arms.

All pics © Roman Torres/Pixelcraft, used with permission. Thanks to Marc Grossman for the tip.

The Unique And Mellow Of "NORTON COMMANDO MK III"

It’s hard to enhance on the Norton Commando. However bill Becker, author of the lovely Aermacchi dash we featured a little at the same time as ago, has taken the long-lasting British motorcycle to a new degree.

The Unique And Mellow Of  "NORTON COMMANDO MK III"

Bill bought the Commando on eBay as a task motorcycle with a rebuilt motor and powder covered body. The whole thing else changed into in a kingdom of disassembly and arrived in 3 boxes. “That changed into ok with me,” says invoice. “My rationale changed into to construct a cafe racer based totally on a 1970s superbike platform, however with modern improvements—with a ‘bare’ appearance customary after period-racers.” The details had been to be realistic and serviceable, with paint kept to a minimal.

The Unique And Mellow Of  "NORTON COMMANDO MK III"

Invoice laced Excel alloy rims to the Commando’s unique polished hubs, adding stainless-steel spokes and Avon terrific Venom tires. The the front brake gadget is through Norvil, with a reconstructed master cylinder and smaller diameter piston. The rear brake is an authentic Norton, with the rotor vented and lightened. Rearsets are antique 60s objects rebuilt to house custom brake and transferring preparations.

A belt replaces the triple chain as a primary force, and the authentic primary cover has been closely ventilated to keep the pressure cool. “I additionally changed the gearbox cradle to offer for belt tensioning,” says bill. “at the same time as the gearbox turned into out, I rebuilt it. The secondary power is a 520, O-ring chain, to allow for a bigger rear tire.” The Commando’s gas shipping is now thru new Amal 932 concentrics.

The Unique And Mellow Of  "NORTON COMMANDO MK III"

The Unique And Mellow Of  "NORTON COMMANDO MK III"

“I hit on the proper search for the gasoline tank on the third strive … I modified a Norton seat pan and cowl, and had a pink leather-based panel stitched into it.” invoice then hooked up an alloy oil tank beneath the Commando’s seat, vented to relieve crankcase stress. Small SuperTrapp mufflers deliver an exhaust note that invoice describes as “unique and mellow”.

Classic Urban Motor Of BMW R100RS

A few bikes are so “right” from the start that it’s nearly not possible to personalize them. And one such device is BMW’s R100RS. This beautiful resto-mod comes from urban Motor of Berlin; it’s referred to as “Werkstattrenner” and it’s a 1977 model motorbike, which changed into the first 12 months for BMW’s flagship.

The boxer twin motor, just beneath a liter in length, puts out 70hp—plenty enough for actual global riding on a conventional gadget. So city Motor has centered extra on healing than customizing. The biggest change is the elimination of the fairing, which has not elderly nicely with the passing years. Greater subtle upgrades include a k&N air consumption and a complete custom exhaust. The rims are new and the tires have been upgraded to Metzeler best ME 77s, a traditional tread pattern designed for medium potential bikes. An earlier tank with knee pads and a solo seat have also been unfashionable-outfitted.

Classic Urban Motor Of BMW R100RS 

Classic Urban Motor Of BMW R100RS 

Classic Urban Motor Of BMW R100RS

Head over to the very fashionable city Motor website for more tremendous restorations—including the ‘Earl gray’ BMW café racer we featured ultimate yr—and ‘Scoro’, a brutal Moto Guzzi Le Mans III custom.

With thanks to Christian Wanscher.

Classic & Unique Of "HONDA CB1100R"

There’s something surprisingly compelling approximately 1980s superbikes. The French have a phrase for it: jolie laide, meaning both pretty and unsightly at the equal time.

To my eyes, Honda’s CB1100R is a traditional instance of this. It’s a ‘homologation special’, produced in small numbers so that the motorcycle certified for manufacturing-magnificence racing in Europe, South Africa and Australia. (As a long way as i will tell, this model by no means made it Stateside.) The motorcycle become based at the CB900F Bol d’Or, with a comparable but higher-fine metallic body and a solo seat. According to the CB1100R owners’ club, the air-cooled motor became bored out to 1062cc; it turned into also geared up with aggressive camshafts, cast pistons, a much broader primary chain and an upgraded gearbox. Output, according to whom you consider, became between 100 and a hundred and fifteen bhp. There are little race touches everywhere, with a lightened alternator and, on a few Rs, a lightened starter seize tools too. The tank is aluminum and holds 24 liters (6.Three US gallons), ideal for longer races. This specific device is a overdue-model CB1100R from Japan, and it’s got to be one of the maximum pristine examples still on the road. With a bit of luck it’s nevertheless ridden in anger. [Via Bike Bros.]