OzVMX Forum

Clubroom => Bike Talk => Topic started by: Graeme M on May 26, 2008, 09:38:06 pm

Title: Rickman Micro Metisse
Post by: Graeme M on May 26, 2008, 09:38:06 pm
Was browsing RacerX website as I often do and came across this interesting story. Thought I'd post the link here in case there's anyone who can help this guy.

http://www.racerxill.com/articles/detail/3338/your-collection.aspx
Title: Re: Rickman Micro Metisse
Post by: VMX247 on May 26, 2008, 09:56:27 pm
Just reading VMX number 5 about Metisse Motorcycles Limited and the name change etc.
I have emailed Tom and Carl's guardians the address/contact of the Metissa/Rickman company in Britain.
Cheers Graham ,Alison.
Title: Re: Rickman Micro Metisse
Post by: Cowboy Don on May 29, 2008, 07:54:43 am
Man, I love those bikes!  I've got a frame for one sitting in my shed.  I stuffed it in a duffle bag in Canada and brought it with me to Austrlalia, tells you how small they are!
Title: Re: Rickman Micro Metisse
Post by: firko on May 29, 2008, 09:50:02 am
The Rickman Micro Metisse is one of the cheapest ways of getting into the "pukka" Metisse/Cheney market. They're a beautifully built little jewell that are as light as a feather and handle like they're on rails. They have Ceriani forks standard, great lightweight hubs and are hand made from Reynolds 531 tubing. They came with Zundapp, Hodaka and a few with AT1 Yamaha engines but the frame cradle is plenty big enough for all sorts of engine swaps as Coffs Harbour Donnie and the TM Suzuki powered "Sickman" and Alan Jones Honda SL125 engined "Ugly Betty" testify. The legendary John Boag races a Zundapp version and swears it's the best handling vintage bike he's got. Bare and rolling frames are always on US eBay for chicken feed. I tried to post photos of the Sickman and Ugly Betty and the URL of this eBay Rickman frame( 350063930741 ) but got the dreaded error message.


Title: Re: Rickman Micro Metisse
Post by: VMX247 on May 29, 2008, 10:40:03 am
This is a real impressive website.Very nice :P
metisse-motorcycles
servicer wouldn't let me put the whole address.
Hubbies dream frame.
Alison
Title: Re: Rickman Micro Metisse
Post by: firko on June 05, 2008, 01:23:11 pm
Here's a good example of what I'm saying about little Rickmans being cheap as chips ...eBay # 130227693058
Title: Re: Rickman Micro Metisse
Post by: VMX247 on June 05, 2008, 01:35:40 pm
Thanks,don't suppose there is many for sale often in Oz.
Not at that price anyway.
Funny that, I actually asked the other day about building a whole Metisse/Wasp Truimph,
I didn't think u would have to send 24k on one.
Well i suppose if you want it new,it would cost.
Everythings possible if you look around.
Title: Re: Rickman Micro Metisse
Post by: Wombat on June 05, 2008, 06:01:59 pm
I'm not familiar with these bikes but this appears to be one on the grid at Nudgee last year.
Title: Re: Rickman Micro Metisse
Post by: Wombat on June 05, 2008, 06:04:03 pm
and ten seconds later...
Title: Re: Rickman Micro Metisse
Post by: firko on June 05, 2008, 07:46:05 pm
That's the legendary Sickman with Coffs Harbour Donnie on board. That's a TM125 engine swap jobby.
Title: Re: Rickman Micro Metisse
Post by: VMX247 on June 05, 2008, 09:15:29 pm
Beautiful stuff :-*
Where is Nudgee ??? ???
Title: Re: Rickman Micro Metisse
Post by: Wombat on June 05, 2008, 11:41:47 pm
Nudgee is a Brisbane suburb, just a few kliks north of the Gateway Bridge and Brisbane Airport.
Mick Doohans name is on the sign at the gate and I believe he played a part in the funding or set up; I'm sure one of the BMCC Brissie regulars could expand on that trivia.
The facility has a very popular dirt track (see photo) alongside the VMX track and it's also floodlit (the dirt track bit) for night meets.  
Title: Re: Rickman Micro Metisse
Post by: VMX247 on June 06, 2008, 10:11:09 am
Thanks Wombat,there are some big venues/clubs over east.
Cheers
Title: Re: Rickman Micro Metisse
Post by: firko on June 07, 2008, 12:01:54 am
Here's another shot of Ugly Betty which has a Yoshimura stage 3 SL125 Honda engine. Despite the bling Ugly Betty's a pretty low budget little bike, as opposed to her budget breaking big sister, Black Betty.
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/cd5purp.jpg)
Title: Re: Rickman Micro Metisse
Post by: firko on June 09, 2008, 10:42:21 am
Hows this for a great deal for one of the rarest of the rare. Apparently they only made 100 Hodaka Metisses. It looks to be in great condition as well.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Other-Makes-HODAKA-RICKMAN-VINTAGE-HODAKA-MX-RICKMAN-MINI-METISSE-100-AHRMA-RARE_W0QQitemZ230256656599QQihZ013QQcategoryZ6719QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Other-Makes-HODAKA-RICKMAN-VINTAGE-HODAKA-MX-RICKMAN-MINI-METISSE-100-AHRMA-RARE_W0QQitemZ230256656599QQihZ013QQcategoryZ6719QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
Title: Re: Rickman Micro Metisse
Post by: VMX247 on June 09, 2008, 01:19:35 pm
Might get third time lucky and get one on offer here in OZ.
Last one in UK was under 1500 pounds.
cheers
Firko wasn't your daughter sitting on that purple people eater before on this website somewhere.?
And is the Black one around here somewhere too.
Do you ever ride them,or are they show and tell kind of bikes.:D
Cheers
Title: Re: Rickman Micro Metisse
Post by: firko on June 09, 2008, 04:53:53 pm
Alison, the purple Rickman is owned by Alan Jones and the girly in the photo  is his daughter Elise.He most certainly races many of his bikes. The purple bike is newly finished and hasn't hit the track yet although he did take it out (and crash it in the mud) at CD5. I believe it'll make its race debut at the Nepean 2 day meet in August. 
Title: Re: Rickman Micro Metisse
Post by: VMX247 on June 09, 2008, 05:10:08 pm
Now the penny drops.
Does Alan know you have put his photos on here.
I'm no good at cooking fruit cake with a file in it. ;D
Title: Re: Rickman Micro Metisse
Post by: Tim754 on June 09, 2008, 07:58:27 pm
When I was very into Hodakas. I made an offer here in Australia for a much advertised complete running and very sweet Micro Metisse Hodaka. Sadly I twas turned down. It eventually went to the USA..............for $225 dollars less I offered.
That Yoshi 125 is sublime....... Oh Lotto Gods please just shit a little on this humble fella.................
Title: Re: Rickman Micro Metisse
Post by: firko on June 09, 2008, 11:40:28 pm
Alison, they're not his photos, they're my photos of his bike. He couldn't give a shit if I put photos of his bikes up here or not. He's my best mate anyhow.
Title: Re: Rickman Micro Metisse
Post by: firko on July 15, 2008, 05:04:48 pm
It's becoming a bit of an obsession. I've just picked up this little gem which will recieve my DT1 engine and MK3 bodywork.
 (http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/metissedt1.jpg) (http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/rickmandt1.jpg)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220254761420 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220254761420)
Title: Re: Rickman Micro Metisse
Post by: mx250 on July 15, 2008, 05:34:45 pm
Ya wanta Rickman....

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/RICKMAN-MONTESA_W0QQitemZ320273403863QQihZ011QQcategoryZ102690QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

....and its a Montesa - bonus ;D.

Looks a bits untidy, and the pixies are not good. $2500, maybe if I didn't have other projects  ::). I would love to have a restored one 8).
Title: Re: Rickman Micro Metisse
Post by: Yamaboy on August 07, 2008, 10:41:11 am
These little Rickmans are pretty adaptable. Check out this one that's set up for flat track fitted with an '86 CR125 motor.
It's a pretty good buy as a vintage racer. I'd buy it, sell off the later 125 engine and with that money buy a competitive pre '75 engine, fit it and go racing. You couldn't build a vintage bike to that standard for half the money asked considering the quality hardware it's got.
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/rickmanflat.jpg) (http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/rickmanflat1.jpg)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140255750827&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:MOTORS:1123 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140255750827&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:MOTORS:1123)
Title: Re: Rickman Micro Metisse
Post by: Old Husky on August 07, 2008, 09:21:04 pm
Firko, magic bike, as is Black Betty, that Old Bastard in the white Husky Top has either nodded off or he likes the bike that much that he's playing with himself??