The Rickman Metisse is, by its name, a mongrel of sorts. You get a great frame and then install any of a variety of engines which results in a very nice looking and extremely capable motorcycle. I noticed this one for sale with a 1200 Sportster engine installed and it is a beautiful example of what can be done with a Rickman frame as a starting point.
Back in 1984,the frame builder Pat French, of M.R.D., came to an agreement with the Rickman Brothers to build exact copies of the famous Metisse street and competition frames. Over the next 16 years, he produced about 1000 of those frames. During that time, in 1997, he produced 12 of these Harley Davidson Rickman Metisse combinations.
The chrome moly oil bearing frame holds a moderately massaged Sportster 1200 with Andrews cams and Mikuni carb. An inverted front fork holds the wheel with twin disc brakes and 6 piston calipers. The finished bike weighs 396 pounds compared to over 500 pounds for a stock Sportster. Dropping that much weight and improving suspension has got to mean a huge performance increase. It's just a very nicely done bike overall and shows one possible result when you start with V-twin power and decide to wrap an improved frame around it.
Along with the Street Tracker by Mert Lawwill, the Storz XR1200 and the many Buell variations, this bike shows another possibility of how the Harley Sportster 1200 engine can be a good base for a street bike with loads of usable torque. I like it.
Link: Harley Davidson Rickman Metisse - listing has ended
The Kneeslider: Mert Lawwill's Street Tracker
The Kneeslider: Storz XR1200
Also check our Rickman Motorcycles for sale listings.
todd says
I wonder if it really is worth 3 times more than a stock sportster? I mean, who buys a harley expecting performance?
If you consider a stock $2999 Kawasaki Ninja 250 has 10.13 LB/HP and a XL1200 Sportster has 11.38 LB/HP I guess adding all that money MIGHT make it faster than the Ninja 250 finally.
Why not just buy a Triumph?
-todd
Jesper says
If you want something different and not to mention the influence on what components the bike is made of, it makes sense.
Buying a bike like this for performance, would be a strange choice indeed. But I don’t believe that’s the point.
Having something the other kids don’t have, has always emptied the pockets of man.
bruce r mead says
i NEED A TANK STRAP FOR A 1974 CR 750 RICKMAN. CAN YOU HELP ? bruce