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The Craftmans Shop => PowerSports => Topic started by: Bluechip on June 29, 2010, 05:39:58 PM

Title: Never knew that .. Brough Superior ?
Post by: Bluechip on June 29, 2010, 05:39:58 PM

Brough Superior 3-Cyl. Supercharged Radial bike engine ..

Just found out about this tonight from a Biker mate ..

And about 4 miles away from me ...

Sounds quite nice ..

Dave BC

Title: Re: Never knew that .. Brough Superior ?
Post by: andyf on June 29, 2010, 07:19:12 PM

Nice engine!

I cringe when I see a crank handle gripped like that, though. My Dad taught me  :hammer: to wrap my thumb round the same side of the handle as my fingers, in case the engine kicked back and broke it.

Andy

Title: Re: Never knew that .. Brough Superior ?
Post by: Bernd on June 30, 2010, 08:45:18 PM

So that's what a 3 cylinder Harley is supposed to sound like.  :lol:

Very nice sounding indeed.

Bernd

Title: Re: Never knew that .. Brough Superior ?
Post by: Ned Ludd on July 18, 2010, 08:34:58 AM

Hi Guys,
As they would say on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In "very interesting, but stupid".
Mr Brough may have been a "brilliant engineer", but that does not like a good engine configuration for a road bike. The weight is too high and 2 cylinders are vulnerable on bends and the third would over heat. Having said that, wouldn't it be great to have one.
Ned

Title: Re: Never knew that .. Brough Superior ?
Post by: andreas on July 18, 2010, 08:42:37 AM

I can imagine a project like a small one-man plane using this beauty!!!!! :proj:
Andreas

Title: Re: Never knew that .. Brough Superior ?
Post by: cidrontmg on July 18, 2010, 05:47:53 PM

Erm...  :scratch:  Why is it called "Brough Superior"?  What´s the connection to the bike made famous (among others) by Lawrence of Arabia? The pre-war Brough Superiors were powered by J.A.P. engines, now also extinct, 2 cylinders at 45deg., or the very similar Matchless 1000cc V-twins. Brough didn´t make engines themselves. The frames they did build, but I don´t see any frame there, just the motor.
In itself, that´s a nice motor, just rather short on cylinders for a radial. Love those flames issuing off the exhausts, not very efficient,  power-wise... But mounted to a bike, scooting around on it during night-time, a sure-fire (hehe...) head-turner. Even for blind people - no silencers...   :lol:

Title: Re: Never knew that .. Brough Superior ?
Post by: Bluechip on July 18, 2010, 06:01:26 PM

Hi Troops

Maybe the radial configuration was intended for a sidecar bike, Brough made sidecars as well as bikes...   :thumbup:

Ah, Citrontmg ...

Never made their own engines ,,, ??  Oh, no, they didn't ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brough_Superior_Golden_Dream

Oh, yes they did  :thumbup:

Also put Austin7 engines in them ...

http://vintagebike.co.uk/Bike%20Directories/Brough%20Bikes/Brough%20Superior%20index.htm

Dave BC

Title: Re: Never knew that .. Brough Superior ?
Post by: cidrontmg on July 18, 2010, 07:09:20 PM

Heh, OK, I stand corrected!  :bow: (Sort of... 5 bikes worth...)   :)
"Five Golden Dreams were produced during 1939 and another model was planned for exhibition at Olympia; but World War II was declared in September 1939 and the Brough works were turned over to the war effort, making components for Rolls-Royce. They never returned to motorcycle production."

"Maybe the radial configuration was intended for a sidecar bike, Brough made sidecars as well as bikes..."
They certainly did, and they even made a few (some 85) cars. Using engines & chassis from Hudson. And one with a Lincoln-Zephyr V12.