Aston Martin, Brough Superior create ‘AMB-001’
At this year’s EICMA motorcycle show in Milan, Aston Martin and Brough Superior presented the ‘AMB 001’ motorcycle.
A collaboration of Aston Martin design and Brough Superior engineering, the AMB 001 is the first motorcycle to officially wear the Aston Martin logo and is described as “art for the motorbike connoisseur”.
“This is what we believe a cutting-edge motorcycle should be and we are very proud to see the Aston Martin wings on a motorcycle for the first time,” said Aston Martin Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman.
“In addition to applying the skills we have developed for cars, we have also been able to bring our special expertise in the traditional craft techniques to this project. The finished product is a truly beautiful motorcycle; a design and engineering work of art.”
Finished in traditional Aston Martin racing colours of Stirling Green and Lime Essence with matte black wheels, the AMB 001 also features detail elements in exposed carbon fibre, titanium and billet aluminium – lightweight components that are cause for the bike’s light weight of 180kg. This is 6kg light than the modern Brough Superior it’s based on.
The notable styling feature is a central carbon fibre ‘fin’ that is designed to emulate the side strakes on Aston Martin cars. Running the length of the fuel tank, the fin runs under the Oxford Tan leather saddle and continues onto the tail.
Other design elements include a touchscreen-style digital instrument display and wings on the carbon fibre front fairing. Designed to emulate similar features on the front end of Aston Martin’s Valkyrie hypercar, these wings also have a practical function in increasing downforce on track days.
“The same people who work on the design of our cars have worked on the AMB 001. These people are absolute experts and have delivered many of the special project cars that we have designed,” Reichman added. “Unlike at other car companies, our designers have the full breadth of experience and I think this is showcased in this aspirational bike.”
The AMB 001’s powerplant is based on the 88-degree 997cc DOHC v-twin used in the new Brough Superior, which puts out 75kW and 87Nm in standard form, but the addition of the turbo in the AMB 001 increases maximum power to a claimed 134kW, with “huge torque” throughout the rev range. With an intercooler and modern turbine with low inertia, the turbo design is said to avoid the turbo lag usually found on such applications.
The turbo v-twin hooks up to a 6-speed with chain final drive, as per the reborn Brough Superior.
The engine serves as a load-bearing member of the frame, which is CNC-machined from titanium, with a carbon fibre subframe, while the billet aluminium double wishbone front suspension is said to separate steering and braking functions for increased stability and more precise steering.
Forged aluminium wheels and the race-developed braking system are exclusive to the AMB 001.
To be built in Brough Superior’s factory in France, the AMB 001 will be limited to just 100 units globally, priced from €108,000 Euros (AU$175,000 approx.). Production is already underway, with the first customer deliveries expected before the end of 2019.
