BS4

There are "trikes" and other three wheel "motorcycles", such as the Can-Am "Spyder" and the Polaris "Slingshot", but check out this unusual Brough BS4, a shaft driven bike that is quite a different breed when it comes to 3-wheeled motorcycles.

The first shaft driven motorcycles were produced in 1901 by Fabrique Nationale de Herstal (FN) out of Belgium, soon followed by BMW in 1923. But, George Brough upped the ante quite a bit by using a modified Austin automobile engine and connecting the drive shaft to a final drive gearbox placed between two close coupled rear wheels.

Check out the old poster, advertising the Straight Four (S4). And what about that price tag of £188. That would equal Can $314, but of course by the standards of 1932 it would be the equivalent of £12,745 or Can $22000 approx.

Now, having a three wheeled motorcycle in the form of a trike, or a reversed version like that in the Spyder and Slingshot, is one thing but when I see this bike and the close fit of the rear two wheels it makes a guy wonder how that would affect the handling of the bike. Maybe less of a factor on the version with a side car but how about the straight up version and its' cornering abilities?

Regardless of the above conversation, Brough sure did make some interesting bikes and they're one of the best looking motorcycles in that vintage style, in my opinion.