bultaco mk 1 metisse

[albrid-3]

Mark, I don`t have a problem with your metisse, the bike is eligible to be race in pre 65, I have no delt that the maico where built in 64, Mark your taking it out of contexts.
The very first bultaco metisse was a single down tube side port 200cc 4 speed, what these companies like montesa and bultaco did, they started off building small capacity engine and build up to 250 and larger capacity. I am not knocking your bike, its a lovely bike as I said before.
Yes, I do want people to build these bikes, because pre 65 is great class and true era and they must strick to rules, if a person is building a pre 65 race bike, as long as they do it right, in your defence mark, your bike is fine.

[cemotobull]

Lets see some progress pics Firko or are you in the planning phase??

[firko]

I'm still in the planning phase, the frame and bodywork are still at Flowepot Bens place in the UK ready to be shipped along with Jims Antig Bully dirt tracker. I've been collecting parts and getting the 360 motor ready for its 350cc conversion. I've built up a set of Ceriani's with CZ fork tubes and Race-Tech emulators and have built a pair of Rickman Montesa wheels. I can't wait to get the frame and kit so I can get into it.
I'll go a photo blog of the build once I gert rolling on it.

[cemotobull]

Definately sounds like the projects moving! As long as you have something to work on over the Xmas break, nothing worse than suppliers shutting down over xmas when you need bits!!

[flower pot racing]

I'm still in the planning phase, the frame and bodywork are still at Flowepot Bens place in the UK ready to be shipped along with Jims Antig Bully dirt tracker. I've been collecting parts and getting the 360 motor ready for its 350cc conversion. I've built up a set of Ceriani's with CZ fork tubes and Race-Tech emulators and have built a pair of Rickman Montesa wheels. I can't wait to get the frame and kit so I can get into it.
I'll go a photo blog of the build once I gert rolling on it.

Most of it is in the front room, subframe seat, bodywork etc.  The frame is in the shed.  Will try and sort out some pics, probably tomorrow night as I am off to play squash and skittles tonight!  (boy do I know how to live it up!!!)

Grass tracker is at Dad's.

Hope to have it al in one place at the weekend for a collection the week after.

Will keep you posted.

Have new CERIANI rubber dust seal covers and decals for the forks if they are the type that has the integral cable guide and CERIANI in raised letters.  Can send some if required.

[Moto]

The very first bultaco metisse was a single down tube side port 200cc 4 speed,

Dave, can you post a picture of this bike for us ?

[albrid-3]

I will try, I had all the litreture on it years ago when all this rule make was going on, one the rickman bros was riding the bike in the magazine.

[MXOFFROADER]

Derek Rickman at the 1964 British GP, 5th overall.





Don Rickman at the 1962 British GP.

[cemotobull]

Think of the opportunities with that frame! I want one now!!!

[firko]

Definately sounds like the projects moving! As long as you have something to work on over the Xmas break, nothing worse than suppliers shutting down over xmas when you need bits!!

That'll never be a problem, I've got three bikes on the go besides this Metisse so I doubt I'll be sitting around watching the cricket.

[firko]

That single downtube Metisse Bultaco is interesting Dave, I wonder if they were ever a production item? Any clues Ben? It has some similarities to the Rickman Montesa frame.

Swedish World Champion Bill Nillson used a Petite Metisse frame to house his ESO unit motor for his 1964 world title defence. Unfortunately he broke his leg early in the season and the campaign ended.
                                                         
                                                         

[firko]

Another oval Maico powered Petite Metisse. This one's a 250.
                                                           
Here's a shorty history story on the American import Petite Metisses:


RICKMAN BULTACO 250:

Though the Rickmans had promised Bultaco not to export the machine outside of England, a "Black Market" quickly developed for this machine
                                                               
 

   

By Tom White

British brothers Don and Derek Rickman, as both Bultaco importers and top Grand Prix riders, helped forge the Spanish company’s growth in the early ’60s. In early 1963, Don Rickman became the only British finisher at the British 250 Grand Prix (he was third). Don’s triumph was achieved with a 196cc Bultaco engine tucked into a Rickman frame.
 
Don’s 1963 GP bike would evolve into the 1965 250cc Petite Metisse. Unlike their popular frame kits for Triumph and BSA engines, the Petite Metisses were complete bikes.
 
In order to get Bultaco to supply engines, the brothers had to agree to allow Bultaco to copy their frame design for production in 1966. That machine was called the Bultaco Pursang Metisse Mk1, a crude copy of the Rickman’s beautiful Petite Metisse.
 
Demand was strong for the Rickmans’ new Bultaco-powered motorcycle. Though the Rickmans had promised Bultaco not to export the machine outside of England, a “black market” quickly developed for this machine. American champion Bud Ekins and motorcycle dealer Charlie Hockie imported 24 Petite Metisses (by having the bikes shipped to the USA unassembled). The America-bound Petite Metisses, which translates from French as Small Mongrels, were unique in that they were painted British racing green instead of the Petite Metisses’ OEM yellow.
 
The Rickman brothers’ relationship with Bultaco came to an end soon after the Multaco Pursang Metisse was introduced. To fill the engine void, the Rickmans forged new relationships with Zundapp and Montesa. Though there was no limit on how many Zundapp 125 and Montesa 250 bikes the companies could sell, the Japanese entry into the sport in the early ’70s limited the demand for the expensive Metisses.
 




1965 RICKMAN BULTACO 250 FACTS
 
WHAT THEY COST
 Only five of the Petite Metisses that were imported into America are known to exist today. Expect to pay in excess of $20,000.
 
MODELS
 The approximately 70 English examples in yellow, and the 24 United States examples in British racing green, were all called Rickman Bultaco Petite Metisse.
 

WHAT TO LOOK FOR
 Since it was possible to buy a Rickman frame kit and stick a Bultaco engine in it, there is a specific method to identify the 24 original American Petite Metisses. A real Petite Metisse has a “B” serial number stamped on the steering head, non-folding footpegs, Greeves rear hub, Spanish front hub and 22.5-inch Betor fork tubes with silver-painted sliders.
 

PARTS SUPPLY
 Replica Rickman frames are currently being made by two companies in England, and other components can be found by calling the many small U.S. vintage suppliers. Make your first call to Bultaco West at (760) 815-3970.
 
For more info on classic bikes go to www.earlyyearsofmx.com
 

[albrid-3]

They may have mark, WOW, all these bikes are interesting, the burst of pre 65 racing, with all this enthusiasum is great for the Vmx pre 65.
I really like my Sherps S, its different, but a metisse frame looks interesting too.

[Moto]

Be careful of the "B" on the frame number. All Bultaco's have a "B" prefix on the frame number. B = Bastidor which is Spanish for frame.

[albrid-3]

Are rickman Bultaco metisse frames kits, are they still replicating them, are they available to buy.