The Brough Superior SS80 was a motorcycle designed and built by George Brough in Nottingham

Nottingham

Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...

 UK in 1924. Described by The Motor Cycle

The Motor Cycle (magazine)

The Motor Cycle was one of the first British magazines about motorcycles. Launched in 1903, its blue cover led to it being called "The Blue 'un" to help distinguish it from its rival publication Motor Cycling but the cover eventually became multi-coloured...

 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

George Brough

George Brough , , was a motorcycle racer, world record holding motorcycle and automobile manufacturer, and showman. He was known for his powerful and expensive Brough Superior motorcycles which were the first superbikes...

 set up Brough Superior

Brough Superior

Brough Superior motorcycles, sidecars, and motor cars were made by George Brough in his Brough Superior works on Haydn Road in Nottingham, England, from 1919 to 1940. They were dubbed the "Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles" by H. D. Teague of The Motor Cycle newspaper. Approximately 3,048 of 19 models...

. The SS80's model designation was based on Brough's guarantee that it could reach 80 mph. 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. 32 SS80s which were built in 1935. Early models used the 988cc J.A.P. sidevalve engine which was expected to be superseded by the overhead valve Brough Superior SS100

Brough Superior SS100

The Brough Superior SS 100 was designed and built by George Brough in Nottingham, England in 1924. Although every bike was designed to meet specific customer requirements—even the handlebars were individually shaped—sixty-nine SS100s were produced in 1925 and at £170 were advertised by Brough as...

 when it was introduced at the end of 1924, but SS80 sales continued well and in 1935 the SS80 was fitted with the 982cc Matchless V-twin

V-twin

A V-twin engine is a two-cylinder internal combustion engine where the cylinders are arranged in a V configuration.- Crankshaft configuration :Most V-twin engines have a single crankpin, which is shared by both connecting rods...

 engine, similar to the one fitted to the Matchless Model X

Matchless Model X

The Matchless Model X was a British motorcycle launched in 1929. There were yearly modifications and in 1937 the Model X was completely redesigned as a fast touring motorcycle...

 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

Brooklands

Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...

track at over 100 miles per hour (45 m/s). 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.