The 11-50 is a touring motorcycle built by the british manufacturer Brough Superior from 1933 to 1940. Compared to the top modell of Brought Superior the SS100, the 11-50 was not built for high performance but focused on endurance and robustness.

The 11-50 in the words of the motorcycle broker 👇 (link below) 👇

The Brough Superior 11.50 saved the famous brand from an early demise. The great depression ran between 1929 and 1932 in Britain and luxury motorcycles were not at the forefront of anybody’s mind. About 30% of Brough’s machines went for export and the UK market just wasn’t thinking about buying the Rolls Royce of motorcycles. George Brough needed to secure some industrial contracts and the police were who he targeted. He used the depression as leverage to negotiate a great deal to secure supply of John Alfred Prestwich’s new 1100 cc side valve motor. The 50 in the 11.50 title referred to the overly optimistic horse power. These were great motors for powering a sidecar outfit which made it popular for use by the police or for families who could no longer run a car.

The Brough Superior 11.50 is a rare British motorcycle, as only 308 were ever built. Brough only made 283 of their iconic SS100, which makes this an under the radar Brough Superior. These machines came with their soldered together, hand beaten petrol tanks, just like the SS100. There was the choice of rear suspension or hardtail frame and most of the police machines were attached to an enclosed sidecar. This example we sourced for our client was originally supplied to Sheffield police with a sidecar in 1937 with three other identical machines. When classic motorcycle buyers think of Brough they usually think of the SS100 or the SS80, but the Brough Superior 11.50 is a rare British vintage motorcycle indeed and is worth a look.
Brough Superior 11.50 Alternater belt casings RHSBrough Superior has always been at the pinnacle of vintage motorcycle investment

This Brough Superior 11.50 has more documented history than any other example we have ever come across. No one knows when Sheffield police de-commissioned it, but it was bought by a gentleman who worked for George Brough and was also a friend of his, in the 1950s. It has factory records and retains the original motor and so many of the original parts that cannot be sourced today. As good fortune would have it, we exhibited the motorcycle at the 2022 October Stafford show where it was awarded 3rd for the best British motorcycle built before 1960. While we were displaying the machine an 89 year old gentleman came up to me and showed me a black and white picture with himself by the bike. He told me that he was the owner between the 1950s and 1961 when sold it for £15. He was the friend who George Brough who worked for him, so the history has been really filled out by a complete coincidence.
Barry Robinson with BroughThe owner this Brough between 1950 and 61 who worked for George Brough

The Brough Superior certainly is the Rolls Royce of motorcycles, certainly for its time. There are luxurious touches all over the machine, like that hand beaten petrol tank with shaped scallops which would have taken an age to make. The neat saddle bags look perfect and the top of the headlamp bezel are all things of beauty and elegance which serve no motorcycling purpose. The machine glides along with the dignity of The Flying Scotsman and turns effortlessly with such a low centre of gravity. Getting it on the stand is definitely always a two-man job, so these machines would have been leant against a wall when parked up after being ridden solo in their heyday. Both sprung saddles make all day riding a pleasure, rather than a pain and contrast starkly the modern sports motorcycle of today. Everywhere you cast your eye over this motorcycle there are little details which just scream out luxury, even down to the rear light built into the rear number plate.

Find out more here 👇
https://themotorcyclebroker.co.uk/bro...