So, here is some information about my Rickman.
It started life as an originally for the German market fabricated Rickman in 1975 and was about 20 years at the first owner around Munich.
Then a friend bought it and tried to transform it into a racer, but he failed badly. He sold all the rare Rickman original parts or threw them away, cut the frame end, cut the center stand brackets, ruined the engine by cutting the crankshafts end but NOT closing the oil channel, ruined the carbs etc. etc.
Then he stored the poor rest of the mayhem for ten years in his basement, where his son used it as an object for training his pea shooting skills. He ruined the tank with about 20 small dents.
In 2009 I sold my Rickman Weslake to this friend and got the Rickman Honda as a present on top. I always wanted to own such a beautiful chassis with a solid Japanese engine!
I stripped the bike completely and tried to put it back to road, give it a 3rd life as a café-racer.
My work was:
Repair Engine, "best of" two engines, one with a stuck piston, one with a worn crankshaft.
Fit F2 engine into chassis for older engines (chain line, different driveshaft width).
Overhauled F2 head, new valves & guides, slightly ported, sealed inner oil returns, Helicoiled all around.
cylinder bank rehoned, new rings (rest was still good)
Overhauled CR29 carbs.
new machined chain adjusters, complete set
new electrical wires, adapt Motogadget, ignition, Suzuki switches, door bell into clip-on etc.
Lockheed brake system complete overhaul.
Chassis all bearings new.
Adapt new (used) footrests, reverse shifting (all my race bikes have it, so my only street bike has to have it too)
Lots of work on these llittle things as brackets for headlight, speedo, rear fender etc. etc....
The specs are:
Rickman frame, German Reg. 1975
Betor fork
Rickman wheel centers
Borrani rims
Lockheed Brakes
F2 head fitted to a K7 block, sealed oil returns in cylinder head
Keihin CR29 carbs with single filters
Electronic aftermarket rectifier
Boyer ignition
Norton Wide Line tank with modified tunnel
Norton Wide Line seat
Honda CL headlight
Wipac rearlight
Shortened Triumph Bonnie fender
Suzuki 2 stroke switches (nice and aluminium)
Starting knob is a door bell fitted into the left clip-on
Motogadget speedo
Koni rear shocks
Marving 4-1 exhaust
Road legal in Germany.
All of the parts fitted to the bike were already in my shed and were used.
As expensive parts I only needed to buy the speedo, ignition system, 2 broken engines to build 1 working and the NOS ignition cover.
My intention was to not create a special look or a custom bike. I wanted to build a quite original café with authentic parts of this era. No bling bling, just a used motorcycle, looking cool and working well. I did not want to spend time or money on painting or polishing. This bike has been used for about 75.000km, of course there are scratches and dents!
I managed to do all the jobs on my own, as I worked as a mechanic at Honda for 8 years. I still may use all the machines at my former repair shop, even the valve cutting machine or the hone machine.
Now I´m working for BMW Motorcycle, I engineered the bodywork for the new R nineT.
I added some detail pics. Hope you like it.
Thanks again for the nomination! The other nominated bikes are at a very high level, perfect paint, lots of money and time spent! This is really a major honor for me!
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