Brough Superior SS100: the Rolls-Royce of motorbikes

The freezer section of motorcycling history is stacked high with dead brands, says Alan Cathcart on UltimateMotorcycling.com but just once in a while, one gets defrosted, brought to life, and lives again in a more modern context. Triumph, Norton and Indian are just some of the brands that have been resurrected in recent years. Now it is the turn of the "Rolls-Royce of motorcycles" the Brough Superior.

The new SS100 is a "homage to motorcycling's finest pre-war roadburner", says Roland Brown in The Daily Telegraph. As with the original, it will be handbuilt and expensive £50,000. But despite the hefty price tag, the bike is already selling well. And little wonder: the new makers of the machine have "excelled themselves".

The SS100 has a shiny hand-crafted tank, a muscular powerplant and a host of eye-catching details it is as innovative as it is stylish. The 997cc V-twin engine gives the bike strong if not ferocious acceleration, with rider-friendly delivery. It's good for a top speed of 130mph, and will cruise at the legal limit with "long-legged ease", and the handling is "reassuringly normal" given the bike's unusual but ingenious and immaculately detailed chassis.

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There will be people who will sniff at the very thought of any bike being worth £50,000, says MotorcycleNews.com. But they're missing the point. "The world is a better place" for having bikes like this back on the road. The Brough Superior SS100 is a "wonderful thing" and the lucky few who get their hands on one are going to love it.

The handbuilt bikes will roll of the assembly line at a rate of one a day and each is a bespoke build, allowing customers to choose between various styles and options. See here for dealers.

Price: £49,999Engine: 997cc, V-twin four-strokePower: 100bhp at 9,800rpmTorque: 66lb ft at 6,400rpmTop speed: 135mph (estimated)Range: 140 miles at 45mpg (estimated)