Cheney or Rickman metisse Triumph 650 pre-65 MX

[firko]

Jesus, you want to start WW3 do ya Mark?.

As for WW3 Davey, the Hobbit put my money where his mouth is.

I think John was referring to me bringing up the ghost of Vern Grayson's Cheney Triumph Marc. About 15 years ago Vern and his bike were involved in an eligibility dispute that got extremely ugly and eventually ended up in civil court. It's a very long story to relate here but the nuts of it were whether the single downtube Cheney frame was eligible for pre 65. The backlash from the case is still felt today and it was a defining reason for the pre 65 class losing favour with racers. Many of the pro and anti brigade still don't talk to each other fifteen years later!

That's why I'm asking if anyone has a photo of the bike or perhaps they could scan my piece on the bike and the case from Dirt Action magazine circa 1995 so I could write a little post on the affair. 

[Marc.com]

The backlash from the case is still felt today and it was a defining reason for the pre 65 class losing favour with racers. Many of the pro and anti brigade still don't talk to each other fifteen years later!

Thats clears that up, I thought John was remarkably well informed about my comings and goings in Hobbiton.

man can't believe eligibility went to court, make a good magazine article and the happy care free old VMX days, 'Same Old Court Same Old Fun'

[livi.05]

Thanks to all for your suggestions ,info and photo's , i must admit that i do prefer the Cheney .
Since i placed this posting i have investigated the prices of both of these beautiful machines
and to my disappointment the Cheney is around $6900 AU delivered and the Rickman Metisse is
$3800 AU delivered ,so my decision has been made without me even having to think about it ,
it was decided by the bank balance . I still absolutely love the Metisse , so it is hardly second
 best and after all it was the bike that initially got me interested in the pre-65 class in the first
place and it is a truly unique looking machine , one day i may even manage to
get a Cheney into the shed as well as a metisse (wouldn't that be greedy ) .
So thanks again . Jason

[Marc.com]

Well one thing about the Rickman is they are usually ex stock, you are not waiting for Cheney to fire up the welding torch.

[firko]

Well one thing about the Rickman is they are usually ex stock, you are not waiting for Cheney to fire up the welding torch.

Or have to deal with Simon Cheney.

[Mick D]

Hi Jason, this one ticks all the boxes for me

[VMX247]

Thanks to D Fisher from Cheney Twin Shock facebook for showing the below bike up for sale.
I saw a twin pipe on the weekend with some very well made pipes going down either side of the bike and she ran a good race in A Grade....looked great and neat twin finish from the rear view .. 
cheers A


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Triumph-Cheney-Motocross-650cc-1968-/300561733603?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item45fae017e3

[VMX247]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1968-Rickman-Metisse-ONE-OWNER-Stunning-Original-/370512267416?pt=US_motorcycles&hash=item5644408898

includes youtube clip

[flower pot racing]

Thanks to D Fisher from Cheney Twin Shock facebook for showing the below bike up for sale.
I saw a twin pipe on the weekend with some very well made pipes going down either side of the bike and she ran a good race in A Grade....looked great and neat twin finish from the rear view .. 
cheers A


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Triumph-Cheney-Motocross-650cc-1968-/300561733603?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item45fae017e3

Not the prettiest Cheney you will ever see, but well sorted and quick (the owner is no slow coach)  Could well be serious value for money depending on what the reserve is set at....

[Marc.com]

to my disappointment the Cheney is around $6900 AU delivered and the Rickman Metisse is
$3800 AU delivered ,so my decision has been made without me even having to think about it ,
it was decided by the bank balance . I still absolutely love the Metisse , so it is hardly second
 best

Yeah and you have a better chance of the Rickman arriving on schedule as lets just say customer satisfaction and delivery schedules can be a little patchy at Cheney. I have found Rickman really good to deal with ( by British standards) when I have wanted stuff for mine. 

[dfisher]

Jim Sandiford's 1970 Cheney Triumph 504 Bonham's auction.

http://www.bonhams.com/eur/auction/19285/lot/206/

[Marc.com]

Jim Sandiford's 1970 Cheney Triumph 504 Bonham's auction.
http://www.bonhams.com/eur/auction/19285/lot/206/

Wow sorry but that is uglier than the last one. Make mine look like this ....