A frame kit from the Rickman Brothers is still on my bucket list, and my oh my, one just sold at the Barret-Jackson auction for 17K plus, fitted with a unit 500cc Triumph plant. Typical of my champagne tastes on a beer budget, I still will have one somehow: it will happen.
Their website seems straightaway, all you needs is a motor! Anybody out there having done this beautiful thing, I would appreciate hearing your experience with Rickman, and how did it go before you got rolling?
I am usually over on the Water Cooled Twins Forum, so, thanks in advance for writing!
SaddleUp! WEEDIE
I saw one in the back of a pickup at Wauseon last year. I wanted to find out if it was for sale but the owner wasn't around. Then I saw the truck leaving from too far away to flag them down. Bummer.
If there is an interest in Rickmans,i will photo a few as i see some more.They do have a stand at the Birmingham show in October with about a dozen bikes.One has a prototype engine they are building,although,the same half built bike has been there for quite a few years so i think its stalled in development.
The one in the picture is the highest quality i have seen,and cleverly,has a right hand change with electric start cases.Wires to the contact breaker are encased in stainless tube and no wires can be seen.I will get some detailed shots of this one in the Summer months.
There are 3 that i know of within 30 miles but could be more out hiding or riding.
Again my thanks Rambo, any pics from there of the Rickman's would be a special event.
I was introduced to them as frame makers by the Triumph-Norton dealer where I was employed in the late 1960's. As a young pup here on this side of the pond, I learned everything from the man I worked for, Mr. Bob Schantz. He went to England many times on the treasure hunt for Vincents, Velocettes and the elusive Brough Superior (he did get one of those). He founded Sport Motors, Inc., and Domiracer Distributors here in the states, and kept many a British bike on the road with his comprehensive array of spares and accesories for Cafe bikes and now rare British makers."Eh, got a muffler for a Greeves Hawkstone?" YUP!
Wait,and watch this space.That one in the photograph,i will get some close ups mid year when the 2 local rides take place.I go to other shows and often find one or two at those.Then,in October,i will photo all bikes on the Rickman stand.I usually just take a few pictures at shows as i keep seeing the same bikes most years so this will give me an extra interest this year.
Ah Rambo, a fine gentleman that you are! I'm thinkin it would be a rich and rewarding thing to see more pics of the great engineering craft of the Rickman brothers. As I mentioned in the opening of this Thread, somebody thought enough of one clean Rickman bike to pay $17,000 for it out in Las Vegas at the BJ auction. It surprised me in one way, and in another way not at all - IMO they are worth every dime of that.
Many thanks, and we will be watching later on.
Cheers, WEEDIE
I raced a Rickman framed Honda (810cc) back in the late 70's.
I ended up having a pretty high speed off with it. It was amazing. When I finally had the courage to look at the damage (apparently, it went end over end three times), I was delighted to see that the frame was still intact and remained perfectly straight. Virtually everything else was trashed.
It took a little time, but I got it rebuilt, registered it for the road and sold it. It was a great handling bike but needed a little more ground clearance for the track. I would love a Triumph one, I have to say.
So, this thread sparked enough interest to dig through my old photo's
Here is my Rickman CR810, being "Looked after", by it's previous owner, Evan. I clicked the picture just before grabbing my helmet and gloves to take it out for it's first race in my ownership. I think this was 1978.
Thanks Suzyfan, loved hearing about your "adventure" with the Rickman frame...hope your recovery went well! I have "picked up the scent" of a Rickman framed 500 Triumph in another part of the county, but nothing sure. More later if it develops.
SaddleUp! WEEDIE
Thats an odd type and as with all these old bikes,someone will want it even more because of the odd choice of power.
Rickmans are often over £10,000 in the UK with the common Triumph engine.
I used to hang around the Windsor comp shop in the late 70's and there were always several Rickmans in there, probably 50/50 triumph and other engines.
Odd motor or not, I would be digging that Zundapp powered bike outa the chicken crap, like right now. The Rickman frames were made for guys like your brother, back in the day. Unless its crushed under your Massey Ferguson (!), damn right its got value!!
The motor most likely came from the Zundapp GS125 of 1972. It was a great little trail-enduro 2 stroke and that motor was probably bullet proof, and that's why he chose to put it in a custom built frame. Is he available to provide more info?
I don't know how to authenticate a 45 year old Rickman frame, chrome plated , double down tube for sure. Mr. Rambo might know, if he is following the thread here?? Anybody ??
Odd motor or not, I would be digging that Zundapp powered bike outa the chicken crap, like right now. The Rickman frames were made for guys like your brother, back in the day. Unless its crushed under your Massey Ferguson (!), damn right its got value!!
The motor most likely came from the Zundapp GS125 of 1972. It was a great little trail-enduro 2 stroke and that motor was probably bullet proof, and that's why he chose to put it in a custom built frame. Is he available to provide more info?
I don't know how to authenticate a 45 year old Rickman frame, chrome plated , double down tube for sure. Mr. Rambo might know, if he is following the thread here?? Anybody ??
I spoke to my brother last night and asked him if he was willing to sell his Rickman. He said that he wants to hold on to it for now. He thinks he'll start restoring it when he retires in a couple more years.
My brother used to work at a motorcycle shop back in the early 70's and they sold BSA's, Yamaha's, Rickman/Zundap's and the first bike that I ever had "Tuhatsu's". He said that when Zundap was about to quit selling motorcycle engines here in California he bought an extra engine and other extra engine parts like pistons, rings and gaskets. He used to race motocross with the bike and several other types of bikes like CZ360 and Yamaha. He was not a pro but had fun doing it as a novice.
I just googled Rickman and went to a Wikipedia site and read about the history on the Rickman motorcycle. It was quite an interesting read....Gary
I cant tell much about the frames,i just have a good look over the bikes i see out and about looking at the clever parts on a build.Wait until October and i will take a picture of every bike on display at the show.Could be some individual entries at the other classic show.Its a mission for this year then.
The "Zundapp" connection to Rickman sounded so improbable, it got me searching into the first person history of the Rickman brothers. A facinating true story of how two lads applied their dirt racing experiences into an improvement in motorcycle frame design.
The Zundapp relationship occured at the time when their frames became so popular, they made the natural upward progression to adding motors to their frames. They went to(BSA) Triumph first, and were turned away. No reason was given as to the "why," but we can guess that Triumph didn't think they were big league. This eventually lead to relationships with Matchless, Bultaco and Zundapp. The first 125cc Zundapp powered Rickman bikes were made to order for the local British police forces, fairing and all.
The USA distributor for Rickman frame/motor kits was in California, and most were sold on the west coast. The aforementioned 125cc Zundapp powered bike, in this thread, is undoubtedly one of those.
SO, yep, I would say that any of these bikes surviving from the early 1970's are a nice collectible example of some unique motorcycle history.
Great stuff Guys! SaddleUp! WEEDIE
Greetings RAMBO
Get on over to "New Milton," the site of the original Rickman works. Somewhere, hidden in a shed, barn or garage will be a 50 year old Rickman-Zundapp police bike, complete with white fairing! All you have to do is find one. Let the treasure hunt begin!
SaddleUp! weedie
High Five. GREAT picture, hope it sparked some good memories! We all had that "haystack" hair back then....... You were there, did that and earned the history!
Thanks for posting, Weedie
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