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Brough tests $185k 180hp AMB 001

Brough Superior AMB 001 track toy carbonfibre Aston Martin

Brough Superior has tested its $A185,000, 180 horsepower turbo AMB 001 track toy that comes with plenty of carbonfibre and Aston Martin wings.

The bike is not road registrable and only 100 will be made at their factory in Toulouse, France, with delivery late in 2020.Brough Superior  AMB 001 track toy  carbonfibre Aston Martin

Brough Superior Motorcycles Australia Sales and Network Development Dale Schmidtchen says they have one on order.

“We have been told they are expected in Q4 of this year and they are selling fast,” he says.

“I personally think they would look great sitting in a living room and admiring.”

The first Australian distributor for the venerable British-now-French marque in more than 80 years has opened a showroom in Brisbane.

Brough Superior Fred Drake
Importer Fred Drake with the Brough models

The model line-up is:

  • SS100, $105,000 (Euro 3);
  • SS100, $110,000 (Euro 4);
  • Pendine Sand Racer, $105,000;
  • Anniversary, $168,000;
  • AMB 001 (track only), $185,000.

Click here for a short test ride and more info on these models.

Tested on the track

The AMB 001 is a joint project by Aston Martin and Brough Superior.

Their project mule took to the track at Pau-Arnos in France recently to begin its comprehensive testing program in traditional Aston Martin Camo livery.

Aston Martin Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman said:

Everybody involved has managed to make tremendous progress with the development of AMB 001, despite the challenges we have all been facing. This special motorcycle is, like our road cars, the result of beautiful design melding with modern technology to produce a bike that any collector will be proud of. We are delighted to see how much progress has been made, both on and off track and look forward to the moment when production starts for this stunning machine.Brough Superior  AMB 001 track toy  carbonfibre Aston Martin

Prototype testing is one of the most vital parts of the development process with a test motorcycle allowing the team to validate the chassis geometry, the ergonomics and dynamic behaviour. 

In the same way that Aston Martin’s vehicle dynamics engineers can ‘read’ a car, Brough Superior’s test rider feeds back on all areas of performance, from the overall dynamic feel of the bike to details regarding cornering, braking, acceleration and the like.Brough Superior  AMB 001 track toy  carbonfibre Aston Martin

Brough Superior CEO Thierry Henriette said:

One of the key design features of the AMB 001 is an aluminium fin that runs along the full length of a carbon fibre tank, passing under the saddle and out onto the rear. The body holding the fin and supporting the saddle is one of the areas where we called on the unique knowledge of Mecano ID, who joined the project to apply specialist aerospace-quality carbon fibre skills to the exclusive AMB 001.

While the focus of the track testing is directed at the chassis, engine bench testing takes place in parallel.

The AMB 001 is powered by a 180hp (134kW) turbo-charged engine. The turbo package includes an intercooler with an oversized/wide intake manifold.

Once this testing process is complete the AMB 001 will go into production this northern autumn at the Brough Superior factory in Toulouse, France.

  1. I find this entire class of bike completely ridiculous. The price is an entry barrier, ensuring that only the effete, lacking in athletic gifts and coordination, lacking in skill and talent, will have nobody to challenge their imagined status. These are the same people who buy the most expensive of every toy, in an Oedipal attempt to gain some respect. These spoiled brats and mummy’s boys may as well just buy a Bugatti and crash it in central London, just for the admiration of random tourists with cameras. The one place you’ll never see them is on the race track. As if this bike would ever have been produced with competition or the cutting edge in engineering in mind… Anyway, buy one of these and become the self-imagined king of the world of motorcycling, and next week get one of those really rare Edo-period samurai swords. Whatever will impress the bimbo at the art galley, eh. Because you’re not going to do it with any special talent or a few extra inches.

  2. $180,000 for a bike that is down 20HP from naturally aspirated liter bikes that cost one sixth its price, and 120HP down from an H2R that costs one quarter its price? Plus it’s turbocharged to even hit that 180HP? Plus its not street legal?

    Who is this even for? Just get a Superlegera instead – it’s twice the bike for $40K less.

  3. bizzarre bike, underpowered and living on a name from yesteryear. the original bikes are works of art. This? i think not.

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