The Turbocharged Aston Martin That Only Had Two Wheels
Ask anyone what comes to mind when they hear Aston Martin, and the answers would usually be “beautiful grand tourers, handcrafted luxury, and James Bond.” Well, there aren’t many brands that can claim success on the racetrack and in Hollywood, but this British marque has managed both.
But among all the super tourers and supercars to wear the famous wings, would you be surprised to know that one of its most fascinating creations never actually had four wheels? Yes, Aston Martin once poured its expertise and craftsmanship into an extraordinary, turbocharged, high-performance motorcycle. But there’s a catch: they didn’t build it alone.
Born From A Historic Partnership
It was the result of a partnership between Aston Martin and an Anglo-French motorcycle brand, Brough Superior, originally founded by George Brough in Nottingham in 1919, after the First World War. Brough Superior started with Mark I Overhead JAP in 1920, which used an overhead-valve (OHV) engine. Then arrived a V-twin-powered SS80 JAP, followed by the SS100 JAP in 1925, a machine that was capable of hitting 100 mph, an astonishing feat at the time. The SS100 was so ahead of its time that it even became the favorite motorcycle of T. E. Lawrence, better known as “Lawrence of Arabia.”
In 1931, Brough Superior shifted its focus from traditional large-capacity motorcycles to the compact segment, developing a new 500 cc OHV engine. It appealed to urban riders looking for a lightweight machine that was easy to live with every day. Yet the company’s boldest leap came in 1938 with the unveiling of the “Dream,” featuring a horizontally opposed twin-cylinder engine. But just as Brough Superior seemed poised for a new chapter, it had to cease operations in 1940 amid the Second World War, as the factory was repurposed for building aircraft engine components and other military equipment.
Over the course of two decades, Brough Superior produced around 3,000 motorcycles, each assembled with an obsessive level of craftsmanship and precision that earned the marque a title no other two-wheeler manufacturer could claim at that time: the “Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles.” Yet its story was far from over. Almost 70 years after production came to an end, Brough Superior returned with a new home in Toulouse, France, reopening its doors in 2015. Although its identity had shifted from British roots to French ownership, its core philosophy of building extraordinary and finest motorcycles in the world remained unchanged. And in 2019, it partnered with Aston Martin to make an ultra-exclusive turbocharged machine on two wheels, the AMB 001.
Every Detail Reflected Aston Martin’s Design DNA
The AMB 001 made its global debut at the EICMA show in Milan, Italy. It was a track-only performance motorcycle and the first ever to wear Aston Martin’s iconic wings. Visually, there was no mistaking its Aston Martin roots. From its flowing bodywork to the finest design details, the motorcycle carried the same aerodynamic character that defined the brand’s mid-engined cars.
It was showcased in Stirling Green and Lime Essence shades, essentially Aston Martin’s traditional racing colors. One highlight that immediately grabs your attention is the carbon-fiber fin, inspired by Aston Martin’s signature side strake. It starts on the Sterling Green fuel tank, disappears beneath the hand-stitched saddle, and extends all the way to the tail. Up front, the aerodynamic cowls do more than just look dramatic, helping the motorcycle generate extra downforce as the speed climbs.
Premium Materials Made It More Art Than Motorcycle
But the AMB 001 was a lot more than just engineering and exceptional design, as every component on this Aston Martin motorcycle reflected meticulous attention to detail. It incorporated some of the finest materials ever seen on a production bike, including a carbon fiber rear subframe paired with machined titanium support for enhanced chassis rigidity. It even featured an exhaust manifold made from Inconel, a superalloy that offered exceptional heat resistance. Built exclusively for the track, it featured ultra-light Aston Martin wings beneath the lacquer on the nose and fuel tank. These were the very same nine-micron stainless steel wings seen on the Aston Martin Valkyrie.
The AMB 001 used matte black forged aluminum wheels that not only had an impressive strength-to-weight ratio, but were also exceptionally light. The double-wishbone front forks were also made from billet aluminum. The leather saddle and handgrips were individually handcrafted.
A Turbocharged V-Twin Unlike Anything Else
Powering the AMB 001 was a 997cc DOHC turbocharged V-twin engine that made 180 hp, paired with a 6-speed gearbox that transmitted power to the rear wheel via a chain drive using an APTC clutch. It had a variable geometry turbo which was not only efficient but also eliminated the initial turbo lag.
AMB 001 Pro: Aston Martin Wasn’t Finished Yet
The AMB 001 attracted so much attention that Aston Martin and Brough Superior developed a successor in 2022: the AMB 001 Pro. While retaining its track-focused character, the Pro received a significant power boost to 225 hp (a 25 percent increase over its predecessor) resulting in an impressive power-to-weight ratio of 0.581 hp/pound. For context, that was almost on par with the power-to-weight ratio of a Formula 1 car at the time. Despite the increase in performance, Aston Martin managed to keep the bike’s weight at just 386 pounds, an impressive feat for a motorcycle powered by a nearly 1,000cc engine.
Exclusivity Was Part Of The Plan
When two marques known for making some of the world’s most desirable machines came together, building an ordinary motorcycle was never the goal. Aston Martin wanted the AMB 001 to carry the same engineering philosophy and aspirational appeal as its cars. It was aimed at enthusiasts and collectors who valued craftsmanship as much as outright performance. That exclusivity was reflected in its production numbers too, with just 100 examples of the AMB 001 ever built, while the AMB 001 Pro was even more exclusive, limited to only 88 units. In 2019, the AMB 001 was priced at $121,000 before taxes, while the AMB 001 Pro was even more expensive at $157,000.
Sources: Brough Superior Japan, Aston Martin
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