Rickman

[larry s. k.]

Hi  I don’t see  any form for Rickman , 

I have a couple  project bikes  a   Rickman 250 vr 73 montesa , Rickman hodaka  100

 hodaka I purchased from motorcycle salvage yard in Michigan  ,,,frame , mainly , had it shipped , just got lucky was looking at frame tag stamped H    Most small Rickman are Zundapp  stamped z ,purchased most mislanious on ebay , wheels forks . We’re off a super rat  1972 , , it runs  with hodaka 100   Purchased on ebay  , runs and shifts , its early year  6/ 71 . Small tag left side  intact  with model number  , the whole project cost 1500. Usd  so far , might find a better performance engine  ,  it’s stock engine   100  hodaka with super rat parts , ,there really high geared for a little 100 ,my montesa did run , upon coupl  hours after purchase , found trans , shaft  broken , required , engine  split case ,  it’s project , it was all there upon purchase , really , was stored East Washington state , in barn like 20 30 years , two bro’s ,  then to son , and sold it me delivered ,  I could not believe the compression power coming out old engine , I sure it was pickled cylinder ,, did have  rust  in tank wheels , mislanious parts , it’s all torn down and boxed up , when I get to it  have purchased lots parts , from dealer  in Oregon ,  I do Bultaco’s , and rebuilding a few engines  , now  ,,',,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,these bikes are not  for sale. So  ,  Just looking few  Rickman  dirt bikers ,on  trials form don’t have any pictures , av  my other computer toasted ,  with pictures , ,  cheers,,,,, and  Happy hodaka day  pictures are on about me 

Edited August 9, 2020 by larry s. k.
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[larry s. k.]

[larry s. k.]

More pictures of bikes are on about me 

Edited August 9, 2020 by larry s. k.
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[feetupfun]

7 hours ago, larry s. k. said:

Hi  I don’t see  any form for Rickman , 

I have a couple  project bikes  a   Rickman 250 vr 73 montesa , Rickman hodaka  100

 hodaka I purchased from motorcycle salvage yard in Michigan  ,,,frame , mainly , had it shipped , just got lucky was looking at frame tag stamped H    Most small Rickman are Zundapp  stamped z ,purchased most mislanious on ebay , wheels forks . We’re off a super rat  1972 , , it runs  with hodaka 100   Purchased on ebay  , runs and shifts , its early year  6/ 71 . Small tag left side  intact  with model number  , the whole project cost 1500. Usd  so far , might find a better performance engine  ,  it’s stock engine   100  hodaka with super rat parts , ,there really high geared for a little 100 ,my montesa did run , upon coupl  hours after purchase , found trans , shaft  broken , required , engine  split case ,  it’s project , it was all there upon purchase , really , was stored East Washington state , in barn like 20 30 years , two bro’s ,  then to son , and sold it me delivered ,  I could not believe the compression power coming out old engine , I sure it was pickled cylinder ,, did have  rust  in tank wheels , mislanious parts , it’s all torn down and boxed up , when I get to it  have purchased lots parts , from dealer  in Oregon ,  I do Bultaco’s , and rebuilding a few engines  , now  ,,',,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,these bikes are not  for sale. So  ,  Just looking few  Rickman  dirt bikers ,on  trials form don’t have any pictures , av  my other computer toasted ,  with pictures , ,  cheers,,,,, and  Happy hodaka day  pictures are on about me 

Larry I'm going to have a go at re-writing what I think you have written to see if I have understood your posting.

"I can't find a Rickman forum.

I've got Rickman Montesa and Rickman Hodaka project bikes.

I bought the Rickman Hodaka frame from a wrecker in Michigan. Most small Rickmans are for Zundapp engines. The frame has a H stamp. I found parts to complete it on ebay. The 100cc motor runs and shifts. The forks and wheels are from super rat 125. Either the motor or the frame is 6/71 which was on a small tag on the left side. The whole project has cost $US1500 so far. The motor is either stock with some Super rat parts or I might try and use some super rat parts or I might look for a better performing Hodaka engine. The gearing on it is very high.

The Montesa did run but a few hours after I bought it, I found it had a broken gearbox shaft which needed the cases split and parts to fix it. The motor is the same as what came in a 1973 250 Cappra VR. It was stored in a barn in East Washington State for 20 to 30 years, was ridden by two brothers then a son. It was delivered to me. I could not believe how high the compression or the power was for an old engine. I am sure it has a pickled cylinder. It has rust in the tank and wheels. It's been pulled apart and stored in boxes. I have bought parts to fix it from a dealer in Oregon for when I can get to it.

I've rebuilt some Bultaco motors.

These Rickmans are not for sale.

I like seeing photos of Rickmans but there are not many photos on the trials forum. I lost my Rickman photos when my other PC died.

There are pictures of me at "Happy Hodaka Day"."

[larry s. k.]

 Ya , thanks fo re Wright , Sounds like a better description , of  ,  do have pictures  of few bikes on  ,, about me  ,, My sight ,,,,  Rickmans , yz  Honda’s  I cannot post them on main sight , , don’t have any problems , with bikes ,  ,Just wanted  you all look at bikes  , 

[section swept]

48 minutes ago, larry s. k. said:

 Ya , thanks fo re Wright , Sounds like a better description , of  ,  do have pictures  of few bikes on  ,, about me  ,, My sight ,,,,  Rickmans , yz  Honda’s  I cannot post them on main sight , , don’t have any problems , with bikes ,  ,Just wanted  you all look at bikes  , 

Most probably the reason for so few ‘Rickmans’ appearing on Trials Central is that not many if indeed any were really trials orientated, more trail and fire road use, chasing a market that didn’t take off. Whatever Rickman built frame wise would have been sound engineering but the steering head angles would be less steep than a real trials iron.

Edited August 9, 2020 by section swept

[pjw123]

Rickmans mostly "scramblers", No trials models to the best of my knowledge.  Metisse  most common, usually fitted with big British twin or single engines. "Petite" was smaller version, using  Montesa, Zundapp Husqvarna, & other engines. Spares & things reasonably well catered for in Blighty by a few differing outfits.    

[section swept]

2 hours ago, pjw123 said:

Rickmans mostly "scramblers", No trials models to the best of my knowledge.  Metisse  most common, usually fitted with big British twin or single engines. "Petite" was smaller version, using  Montesa, Zundapp Husqvarna, & other engines. Spares & things reasonably well catered for in Blighty by a few differing outfits.    

Who doesn’t want a Steve McQueene Metisse desert sled or even Henry Coles copy!

[larry s. k.]

Ya trials , trails,  there dirt bikes  , I just  x moto racer  ,  I like classic bikes . Don’t really like standing  all day  on bike . Like the speed , and  motocross  , Rickman was expensive  bike  now even more , there still in business ,, special order ,I don’t think there perfect by far , don’t like gas tank , , or brake cable ,  think they should put more Yamaha , Honda engines , on small bikes  . Ya fixing montesa engine , what a exp. pain . Thanks for  good times  cheers

 

[pmk]

Rickman Yamaha with RT2 360cc installed when built new in 1971.  Getting there but more to go until finished.

 

[larry s. k.]

Very nice ,  

can you post the vin tag ,  , was it a special order 

[scot taco]

On 8/27/2020 at 2:45 AM, pmk said:

Rickman Yamaha with RT2 360cc installed when built new in 1971.  Getting there but more to go until finished.

 

Looking good ! That is a really cool and I would think rare bike. I use to race AHRMA events against some Yamaha mx250s and they were fast. I can only imagine how a 360 will be and now its in a good handling chassis. Please post a pic when you have it finished.

[larry s. k.]

Hi would like to see more pictures of Yamaha , like engine mount ,  I’d tag   , one of other Rickman Yamaha 360  owner,, he quoted on his site there was 32 yamaha  360 mf , , but ,,, his 1972 , had a vin number into thousands  , there is a book  Found on site , listed for sale quoted ,it has all the Rickman mf ,, originals ,, does it ,, have all special order frames , mf without engine wheels installed  , just like 

here still selling today , I purchased new old stock frame montesa 250 frame from cycleservant Oregon , few years ago , a spare ,project , found a site selling selling Rickman kits frame tank plastic , new , think it was connected to new owners of Rickman store in England , there frames plastic tanks seats , listed on ebay , all the time 

Edited August 28, 2020 by larry s. k.

[pmk]

Rickman Yamahas, all but 1 were for the USA market.  Yes, per the book, only 32 chassis were made.  There is questions regarding if the first 11 were complete bikes or not.  Everything thereafter was a kit per say.  The buyer supplied the engine at a minimum.  They could also supply wheels and forks, kind of depended upon what they wanted.  It was not a special order, simply a Rickman purchased through Steens that the original owner completed.  They were intended to be DT250 powered mx bikes.  Mine was purpose built as a woods enduro racer in 1971 by the original owner.  Bike has never been on a mx track.  He purchased a RT2 360 crate engine which remains in it after a lot of work on it.

Yes the actual serial number is in the thousands, but the method used by Rickman counted every frame built regardless of frame type or engine type.

No plans to ride it off road.  After enjoying modern bikes this would be misery to ride off road.  Plan is a street tagged period correct cool enduro motorcycle.

I have been corresponding with another owner that is almost done with his.  We have worked together trying to locate the remaining survivors of the 32 made.  We know of 6, I believe it is, so yes, somewhat rare and needed to be saved.

FWIW, the original owner made changes, such as the rear axle having a sliding adjuster setup, and running a Yamaha rear wheel assembly.  I opted to continue the Yamaha theme, and remain period correct, getting the proper Yamaha front wheel, and went with Yamaha rear shocks since the oem Gas Girlings are not rebuildable.  Crazy as it sounds, even purchased a vintage license plate for it.  Correct state, correct county, correct designator for a motorcycle, and correct year.  Pretty certain the DMV will allow me to use the vintage tag as a legal current registered vehicle.  So many small details to stay period correct.

Hopefully it will be done soon, and yes, I will post a photo.  

Edited August 29, 2020 by pmk

[larry s. k.]

Rickman 250 vr73 original installed other tank ,to get running , it ran after  20 plus years storage   ho used another carb , it was blowing 

oil out left case vent , , I disabled engine rest bike stored foam boxes  engine had trans shaft broken slowely reassembly  ,,

my Rickman hodaka  I purchased from bike salvage co. Chicago area ..it runs I built it from frame up ,some super rat wheels forks  fit right on ,it really hi geared 

Edited September 1, 2020 by larry s. k.
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