The Frank Harvey Brough, 1924 Brough Superior 986cc SS80

Registration no. RK 2439 Frame no. 178 Engine no. KTCY/C/98823/3 (see text)

• Featured many times in The Motor Cycle pre-war
• Known ownership history
• Fully restored in the late 1990s/early 2000s
• Present ownership since 2012
• Banbury Run award winner

Legendary superbike of motorcycling's between-the-wars 'Golden Age,' Brough Superior - 'The Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles' - was synonymous with high performance, engineering excellence and quality of finish. That such a formidable reputation was forged by a motorcycle constructed almost entirely from bought-in components says much for the publicity skills of George Brough. But if ever a machine was more than the sum of its parts, it was the Brough Superior.

W E Brough's machines had been innovative and well engineered, and his son's continued the family tradition but with an added ingredient - style. The very first Brough Superior MkI of 1919 featured a saddle tank - an innovation not adopted by the rest of the British industry until 1928 - and the latter's broad-nosed, wedge-profiled outline would be a hallmark of the Nottingham-built machines from then on. Always the perfectionist, Brough bought only the best available components for his bikes, reasoning that if the product was right, a lofty price tag would be no handicap. And in the 'Roaring Twenties' there were sufficient wealthy connoisseurs around to prove him right.

Introduced in 1922, the JAP-powered SS80 achieved instant fame when a racing version ridden by George became the first sidevalve-engined machine to lap Brooklands at over 100mph. With the new SS80's performance threatening to put the overhead-valve MkI in the shade, it was decided to completely re-design the latter. The result was the legendary SS100.

Brough entered the 1930s with an entirely JAP-powered range and then, after a brief absence, the SS80 reappeared in 1935 as the SS80 Special, this time with an engine built by Associated Motor Cycles. Although broadly similar to that of the Matchless Model X, the 982cc sidevalve v-twin incorporated Brough's preferred 'knife-and-fork' big-end bearing arrangement instead of the side-by-side connecting rods of the Matchless. By now recast in the mould of luxury tourer or sidecar tug, the SS80 continued to use the AMC engine until production ceased in 1939.

One of only 14 SS80s produced in 1924, 'RK 2439' was supplied via Allen Bennett Ltd of Croydon to Mr Frank Harvey on 31st October 1924. 'The Frank Harvey Brough' is well known in BSC circles and rightly so, for its owner famously rode his machine on a succession of long-distance adventures both in the UK and on the Continent, commencing in June 1927 with a trip from his home in Carshalton, Surrey to Inverness. Amazingly, this feat was accomplished in 20 hours, which would be a creditable time today and must have been almost unimaginable then. His route card, still in its original wallet, is on file. Frank's articles about this trip and others were published in editions of The Motor Cycle magazine. Copies of the relevant magazines (five in number) are on file together with copies of period photographs, one of which shows the SS80 fitted with Webb forks and attached to a sidecar. Franks exploits 'north of the border' inspired the BSC's 2011 Scottish Rally.

Frank Harvey kept the Brough until 1952, only parting with the machine because an American friend had crashed it. An old-style continuation logbook shows that 'RK 2439' was sold to Frank Verrell of Waddon, Croydon, and it subsequently passed to Michael Braid in Hackbridge, Wallington, and then Dan Keen, who purchased the 'rough and rusty remains' from the BSC in 1972 for £25 (copy bill of sale on file). The Brough was then placed in storage, remaining untouched for over 20 years until its restoration commenced in 1996. The original engine ('16139') had long gone but fortunately the machine came with the 1928 unit (from SS80 '708') that had been fitted at some time prior to 1952 (see aforementioned logbook). Rebuilding the SS80 was entrusted to recognised marque specialists, including Dave Clarke, then president of the Brough Superior Club, and Tony Leedal. The restoration took 11 years to complete and was finished in time for the SS80 to participate in the Brough Superior Club's 50th Anniversary Rally in 2008.

The current owner purchased the Brough from the Keen family in 2012. The following year 'RK 2439' took part in the VMCC's Banbury Run, winning the Brough Superior 'Bike of the Event' award. Used infrequently since then, the Brough has recently been re-commissioned by Classic Super Bikes of Fleet, Hampshire and will be presented in running order at the sale. A well known Brough with a fascinating story, 'RK 2439' comes with a V5C, substantial file of history and is worthy of the closest inspection.
Offered without key