T. E. Lawrence Correspondence – Page 87

To G. Brough 27. 9. 26 Dear Mr Brough Yesterday I completed 100000 miles, since 1922, on five successive ... Brough Superiors, and I'm going abroad very soon, so that I think I must make an end, and thank you for the good pleasure I have got out of them. In 1922 I found George I (your old ... I)the best thing I'd ridden, but George V (the 1922 SS 100) is ... better. In 1925 and 1926 (George IV & V) I have not had an involuntary stop, & so have not been able to keep your spares service, on which I drew so heavily in 1922 and 1923. Your present machines are as fast and reliable as express trains, and the greatest fun in the world to drive: - and I say this after twenty years experience of cycles and cars. They are very expensive to buy, but light in upkeep (50-65 m.p.g. of petrol, 4000 m.p.g. oil, 5000-6000 miles per outer cover, in my case) and in the four years I have made only one insurance claim (for less than £5) which is a testimony to the safety of your controls & designs. The 3.g.v. holds the road extraordinarily. It's my great game on a really pot-holed road to open up to 70 m.p.h. or so and feel the machine gallop: and through only a touring machine it will do 90 m.p.h. at full throttle. I'm not a speed merchant, but ride fairly far in the day (occasionally 700 miles, often 500) and at a fair average, for the machine is speed to the open ... has one crank through the towns, & still average 40 - 42 miles in the hour.The riding position open a slow powerful turn-over of the engine at speeds of 50 odd give one a very restful feeling. There, it is no good telling you all you knew before I did: they are the jolliest things on wheels. Yours very sincerely T E Lawrence.