moshe_levy Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 All- Sorry for the OT post, but this is bugging me and one of you will surely know the answer. In the very beginning of LOA (film), Lawrence goes riding off on some old gorgeous V-Twin machine, crashes, and dies. What kind of bike is that? Watched the movie last night with the wife and that bike scene distracted me for the rest of the film! -MKL Link to comment
Rich06FJR1300 Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 from wikipedia its a Borough Superior SS100 but that was in real life, not sure if they used that in the movie Link to comment
Paul Mihalka Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Motorcycle was a Brough Superior. More info here: http://www.broughsuperiorclub.com/pages/news/tel_brough/tel_brough.htm Link to comment
Silver Surfer/AKAButters Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Good read Paul. Thanks! Link to comment
Selden Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 The last time I saw the film, I thought it wasn't the right bike, but I believe I was wrong. If I remember correctly, the engine for the Brough was sourced from someone else, and I think they got this detail right in the film. The last time I saw it (in a theater setting, with a restored 70mm print), I remember thinking "They don't make films like this any more." Lawrence is truly one of the top 100 films of the 20th century. Reading this thread reminded me that T.E. Lawrence wrote one of the great essays about riding. It's available online. Link to comment
Rocer Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Moshe - while this movie is fresh in your mind can you tell me, in the first shots of Lawrence starting out on his bike, there is a sequence of shots of his hands and feet engaging the controls. Do you see his hand or his foot shifting the bike into gear? After seeing this movie when it first appeared I copied the directors sequence of close ups of LOA starting his bike shot from above using my families 16mm movie camera. My bike was a 250cc. twin 2 cycle yamaha. The gear shift of course was a foot shift. Perhaps I've confused my home version with the movie but my foggy memory was a foot shift in the movie as well. Can you clarify this? BTW - I think the other posters will agree with me that you'll remember, not only the movie, but especially the opening shots the rest of your life. Link to comment
r77toy Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Go here: http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/video_player.shtml?vid=806181 for a view of one. Link to comment
Mark P Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 The last time I saw the film, I thought it wasn't the right bike, but I believe I was wrong. If I remember correctly, the engine for the Brough was sourced from someone else, and I think they got this detail right in the film. The last time I saw it (in a theater setting, with a restored 70mm print), I remember thinking "They don't make films like this any more." Lawrence is truly one of the top 100 films of the 20th century. Reading this thread reminded me that T.E. Lawrence wrote one of the great essays about riding. It's available online. Brough used Japanese engines, but having found this, they were obviously badged with the Brough name - http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/Bike%20Directories/Brough%20Bikes/pages/Brough-Superior-1000-Engine.htm This gives more information about the SS100 with some interesting information about Lawrence's fatal accident here http://www.motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/classic_bikes/brough-superior-ss100.php This is thought to be his bike http://www.broughsuperiorclub.com/pages/news/tel_brough/tel_brough.htm Link to comment
Boffin Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Some more reading for you, including T.E. Lawrence's short tale "The Road" describing what was for the time an exterordinary ride - though commonplace for him. The tale includes wining a race against a biplane fighter and gives a superb insight into the relationship T.E. Lawrence had with "Boanerges", his beloved Brough. The Road Andy Link to comment
Ron_B Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 Also from Lawrence: "When my mood gets too hot and I find myself wandering beyond control, I pull out my motorbike and hurl it top-speed through these unfit roads for hour after hour. My nerves are jaded and gone near dead, so that nothing less than hours of voluntary danger will prick them into life." Link to comment
Hawk28 Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 In 2006, the Legend of the Motorcycle event at the Ritz Carlton at Half Moon Bay in northern California had the Brough Superior as one of the two featured marques. My wife and I attended just to see the Broughs. One Brough owner said that this was the largest display of Broughs ever in the U.S. These bikes are extraordinarily beautiful in person. It was a memorable day. Link to comment
Dave in Doodah Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 What an interesting thread - thanks. Sorry in advance if this is a hijack, but here is another interesting Brough Superior, with some comparisons to BMW boxers: Golden Dream link Link to comment
BigAL Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Go here: http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/video_player.shtml?vid=806181 for a view of one. Wow, what a great video! Lawrence of Arabia is one of my favorite all time movies, too. Great thread as well... AL Link to comment
Boone60 Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 O Go here: http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/video_player.shtml?vid=806181 for a view of one. Wow, what a great video! Lawrence of Arabia is one of my favorite all time movies, too. Great thread as well... AL +1 Leno is having too much fun. Link to comment
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