Rickman Metisse

Further Interceptor Developments


 

After the death of Floyd Clymer in 1970 the Rickman Brothers acquired the rest of the Enfield Engines. The engines were in possession of Mitchell's in Birmingham waiting to be sent to Italy to be assembled. Mitchell's were an import/export company and wanted to dispose of the engines as soon as possible. They approached the Rickman Brothers for a frame and the Rickman Metisse was born.

There were however, only 137 Rickman's originally made. There were six or seven prototypes also made (R651, 797, 810, 811, 979) Production went from April 1970 until January 1972.

Elite Motors Advert, From
"The Book of Superbike Road Tests" 1972

 

 

 

 

 

Customer's Bikes

Phil Sampfords Rickman, Fitted with MK1A Engine with Amal GP Carbs

Robert Taylor's Rickman, purchased new from Elite Motors

Certificate of Authenticity for Robert Taylor's Rickman (left)

Invoice For Robert Taylor's Rickman

Dan Rickwood's Rickman

Bill Rosen's Rickman, Chicago
Technical Specification
Engine: 736cc RE Air-Cooled Twin. 71 x 93mm bore and stroke
Transmission: Duplex Primary Chain to 5 Plate Wet Clutch, Albion 4-Speed Gearbox
Frame: Nickel plated and eccentric fork pivot
Suspension: Rickman Telescopic Front Forks with Hydraulic Damping, Swinging rear fork
Wheels: Borrani Light Alloy Rims, Dunlop TT100 Tyres, Magnesium Hubs
Brakes: Lockheed disc Brakes 10" Front, 9" Rear
Electrics: Lucas 120 Watt 12 Volt Capacitator System, Lucas Continental 700 7" Headlamp
Equipment: 3-Gal Fibreglass Tank, 150mph Smiths Speedo, 10'000 RPM Smiths Tachometer, Light Alloy Centre Stand, Banana Fold Up Seat

Sole UK Dealer: Elite Motors (Tooting)
Canadian Dealer: Chariot Cycle (Vancouver) The Rickman was unable to be imported direct to the USA due to the US Department of Transportation's regulations. It seems that some were stripped down and smuggled over.
 

Rickman's In the Register, Add your bike here!

Frame#

 Engine# Year GBox# Location   Comments
R797       Lisieux, Normandy France The second Rickman prototype which ran the 1970 Bol d'Or
R810 1B-1928 1970   Chelles France One of the two prototypes which ran the 1970 Bol d'Or
RR204 1B-2203X 1970   Poitiers France Frame from my weslake racer for my old friend Royal
R1004 1B-2206X 1970 BGA60 Salzgitter Germany Elite Motor's Press Demonstrator. Still running in original conditions
R1014 1B-2207X     Ashby de la Zouch England Blue, Engine Rebuilt. But Not in Frame
R1007 1B-2228X 1970   Auckland New Zealand Orange. Complete and running
R1023 1B-2237X 1970/71 BGA216 Perth Australia Currently being restored to original R/E spec after removing Yamaha engine.
R1063 1B-2238X 1971 BGA169 Ayrshire Scotland First UK registered in Oct 1972, now under restoration by new (third) owner
R1037 1B-2482X 1970 BG708 Oxfordshire England Orange, New from Elite Motors, Tooting(Pictured Above with Paperwork)
R1045 1B-2455X 1970 BG724 Cricklade, Wilts England Acquired from Pitsburg, USA
R1042 1B-2485X     Cambridgeshire England Orange, Original Dealer-Elite Motors, Tooting
R1049 1B-2487X 1971 BG670 Salzgitter Germany with half-fairing, clip on bars
R1026 1B-2492X     Ashby de la Zouch England Orange
R1045 1B-2495X     Wiltshire England Orange, number 45 out of 138 (Pictured Above)
  1B-2524X     Ashby de la Zouch England Spare Engine From USA
R1121   1971   Chicago area USA 2K miles
R1124 1B-2543X 1971/1970 BGA293 Minnesota USA  
R1128 1B-2549X 1971 BGA310 Raglan Wales Returned from USA, 2000 miles on clock
R1121 1B-2553X     Chicago USA Rickman Rear sets, Interceptor Pipes w/open megaphones
  1B-2566X     Copenhagen Denmark Engine purchased from Rickman late 70,
Converted to MK2
  1B-2567X     Rossland Canada Spare Engine
R1034   1971 Jan AAG 7 Cambridgeshire England 1967 MK1A Engine, Built from new parts, Alloy Cylinders
R1130       Layton, Utah USA Last one made, I think.