Description
H&H Classic Auction @ National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
30th Oct, 2024 11:00
1969 Rickman Metisse Project
Includes a Triumph T100SS engine
Estimate
£2, 500 - £3, 500
Registration No: Not Registered
Frame No: 1730
MOT: Exempt
Mark 4 Metisse chassis and bodywork
Includes MP Forks, front and rear wheels
c1964 Triumph T100SS 500cc engine
Rickman Motorcycles was an independent motorcycle chassis constructor established by brothers Derek and Don Rickman in the late 1950s. Both successful off road riders, they initially made frames for their own use but before long their competitors realised how much better the brothers’ bikes handled and limited production was set up to build more for sale. Initially, the frame designs were for off-road scrambles and track racing but by 1966 frame kits for road bikes were being offered. The first street-legal bike used a Triumph Bonneville engine with Rickman only being able to supply frame kits to the public as no major motorcycle manufacturers would sell engines separately. The kits were built to take many engines including Triumph, BSA and Matchless and by the 1970s they began selling chassis kits for Japanese bikes like the Honda CB750 and Kawasaki Z1. Because of the 'cross breed' approach to making complete bikes the Rickman brothers decided to call their first bike the 'Mongrol', but quickly decided the French translation 'Metisse' sounded a bit classier.
This interesting project is from a deceased estate so unfortunately not much is known of its history, but with the kind help of Metisse motorcycles the chassis has been identified as a Mk4 that was manufactured on the 27th October 1969 and exported to Rickmans agent in the USA Steens in California. John Steen was a fascinating character who was part of the California off-road fraternity with Steve McQueen and Bud Elkins and did much to spread Rickmans popularity in the USA. The frame is numbered 1730 and comes with a steel fuel tank and Avon fibreglass seat unit, side panels and air cleaner box all finished in USA Blue. The front forks and yokes are MP as used by the Rickman brothers in the day with a conical rear hub and a full width alloy front brake. The engine is stamped T100SS H35460 suggesting it is from a Unit Construction 1964 Tiger 100SS, a card with it states the crank has been ground to -20 and the bore is at + 40, although it has not been stripped to check this. It appears that a lot of the major components are there to start a challenging but rewarding build of this iconic 1960s classic.
