Topic: 1974 Rickman-Honda 750 CR replica/tribute

[kosmjon]

In 1974 my Dad bought a Rickman Honda CR kit and along with a CB750 donor bike and his mad custom painting skills, created this:



43 years later I am going to try and build a replica/tribute to his cafe racer starting with this 1977 CB750K:


I know there will be lot of challenges and it will be expensive, but I also think it will be a lot of fun.  I am not going to go crazy and try to duplicate everything, but I want it to look like a real Rickman-Honda CR from 5+ feet or so.

My general plans include:

• replacing chunks of the frame where they are noticeably not the same as a the Rickman CR frame
• Buying tank, seat-pan, fenders from airtech-streamlining.com
• using 18-inch Borrani rims from http://www.buchananspokes.com/categories/rims_borrani.asp
• using Dunlop K81/T100 4.10 front and 4.25 rear tires
• trying my best to match the pearl white + multiple candy colored paint job including graphics
• retro-fitting early CB750 oil tank and side covers

I have a duplicate of the Rickman CR Assembly/Parts manual on the way and am finding lots of good links to reproduction wind-screens and Lockheed-style brake parts. I still have a bit of research to do and I have to sell a couple of completed projects to help fund this one.  Wish me luck!

[greenjeans]

That's the best thing I've seen all day.   Looks like a helluva fun project.

[slikwilli420]

Good luck my friend. The parts are out there depending on how deep you want to get into replicating the whole thing. Airtech makes good stuff, but dont forget to check here:

http://classic-motorcycle-fiberglass.com/stock.htm

As for Lockheed brakes, if you are ok with new production pieces, the best place to get them is Andover Norton in the UK. Great bunch of enthusiasts that have more AP racing stuff than any other vendor I have found.

A couple different ways you can go with the front end. You could adapt the AP brakes to something like GL forks, or go more trick and find either a vintage or new Ceriani front end, or build a set of Norvil forks for those calipers, found here:

http://www.norvilmotorcycle.co.uk/forks.htm
http://www.norvilmotorcycle.co.uk/063547L.htm

I would not try to replicate the swing arm since they really sucked to adjust, but rather go with Seeley or Dresda styled units instead.

I have the majority of parts from the Rickman kit and will be building up something special in the future, so good luck to you on a great project!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Good luck with the project. 

[palepainter]

Welcome.  Those of us around in the paint industry, know who your Dad is.  I am sure your project will be slick as well.

Following,
Mike

[Zunspec]

Your Dad certainly put together a very good example of the Rickman sports chassis, one of the nicest I have seen  . 

If I may propose another route for your tribute, why not source a proper Rickman frame.  I believe they are still being made to order in the UK, although not by the Rickman brothers.  Originals also appear for sale now and then and its probably more cost effective to buy an already finished machine, although nowhere near as much fun  .

Cheers  Geoff

[slikwilli420]

Your Dad certainly put together a very good example of the Rickman sports chassis, one of the nicest I have seen  . 

If I may propose another route for your tribute, why not source a proper Rickman frame.  I believe they are still being made to order in the UK, although not by the Rickman brothers.  Originals also appear for sale now and then and its probably more cost effective to buy an already finished machine, although nowhere near as much fun  .

Cheers  Geoff

Geoff, do you have the information for the new Rickman frames? I was only aware of offroad frames and parts being made, nothing for the CR.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Interesting (not that I'd buy one) but I wonder what the price is for a reproduction frame.

[kosmjon]

Wow! Great response to this crazy project so far.  Thanks everyone for props to my Dad and the welcome and encouragement to me.  I in no way have anywhere near his paint and fabrication skills which I why I wanted to take it on for all the knowledge I'd gain from the mistakes I'll be making.  Also to see the look on his face if (when!) I am successful. 

And by the way, if you know him, don't tell him as I want it to be a surprize.  Luckily he rarely touches a computer.  I on the other hand, am I software architect and just customize bikes as a hobby.

Thanks slikwilli420 for the links and ideas! And thanks Zunspec for props and idea about using a new frame.  I'm very much interested in hearing about these as well.  I also have only see companies that are making Metisse-style dirt-bike frame and have not yet found anything about new CR frames.

[Don R]

http://www.framecrafters.net/

[754]

Is Pops The house of Kolor guy. You must be from the midwest..
 Do you know Cazy John with the hot 750+ honda , had a XLCR later on..
Them bikes were striped by Dave Bell..

[Zunspec]

Hello kosmjon,

There several outfits in the UK that make replica race frames. mostly bronze welded and are pieces of art.  I will do some digging for who might produce a Rickman road frame.  I know the off road frames are still made and I thought they also did the road ones too.

Give me a few days and I will get back to you.

Cheers  Geoff

[754]

The offroad ones were used in a James Bond movie.

[Zunspec]

Here is a ready built one, quite a fruity price though 

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C779180

Cheers  Geoff

[Stev-o]

Subscribed...

[Zunspec]

Hi kosmjon,

I called the current Rickman name holders about a CR frame.  Unfortunately they require a minimum of 5 frames to make tooling up for production an economic proposition.  They can supply the off-road framed almost from stock, but that is not what you are after.

I also made contact with Terry Weedy of Avery Products.  I had a very nice chat with Terry who says he can supply a frame kit + alloy tank etc. (vice a glass-fibre cover for a steel undertank).  He actually has agents on both the US East and West coasts but suggested direct contact with himself in the first instance to discuss your specific requirements.

His contact web page is:
http://www.terryweedy.com/wheres-terry.html

I could not get through to Metisse Motorcycles but will keep trying:
http://www.metisse-motorcycles.com/

There are other specialist frame builders in the UK so I will contact them also to see if the Rickman CR frame is in their remit.

Cheers  Geoff

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Ah heck, just buy 5 and sell them! 

[Bootsey]

That's one hell of a cool 750 your Dad built - look forward to seeing your creation.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

+1
Digging your pop's bike!!

[kosmjon]

http://www.framecrafters.net/

Thanks for the link.  Looks like the make some beautiful frames.  I have more time and $$ or sense so I am still leaning toward modifying the frame to be a look-alike, but that is subject to change.

[kosmjon]

Is Pops The house of Kolor guy. You must be from the midwest..  Do you know Cazy John with the hot 750+ honda , had a XLCR later on.. Them bikes were striped by Dave Bell..

Well, I am originally from Minneapolis, MN and just spent last week there visiting family and I do happen to have an original Dave Bell drawing:

if any of that gives you a hint...

[kosmjon]

Here is a ready built one, quite a fruity price though  http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C779180 Cheers  Geoff

It would be a lot easier to start from this, but at ~16K it is not an option.  Wife would go ballistic. But can't complain too much, she's the reason I have a dedicated workshop back of the house.

[kosmjon]

Hi kosmjon, I called the current Rickman name holders about a CR frame.  Unfortunately they require a minimum of 5 frames to make tooling up for production an economic proposition.  They can supply the off-road framed almost from stock, but that is not what you are after.

I also made contact with Terry Weedy of Avery Products.  I had a very nice chat with Terry who says he can supply a frame kit + alloy tank etc. (vice a glass-fibre cover for a steel undertank).  He actually has agents on both the US East and West coasts but suggested direct contact with himself in the first instance to discuss your specific requirements.

His contact web page is: http://www.terryweedy.com/wheres-terry.html

I could not get through to Metisse Motorcycles but will keep trying: http://www.metisse-motorcycles.com/

There are other specialist frame builders in the UK so I will contact them also to see if the Rickman CR frame is in their remit.Cheers  Geoff

Very much appreciate your legwork on this. Currently I am working on the assumption that to buy a frame would consume the entire 3-4K budget I have tentatively set for the whole project.  But any additional info you come across is most welcome. Thank you!

[kosmjon]

Thank you CB750 Cafe Racer Fan and Bootsey.  My Dad does indeed build amazing hot-rods and bikes.  I got the chance to spend a day at his shop last week and help sand some cycle parts for his next project which was a lot of fun.

[kosmjon]

Out of the blue while I was up there visiting last week Dad gave me this:

Is the secret out? I think he just came across it and knew I might be able to use it.  The engine of my '77 has >30K and had a broken ring.  I do not plan on hopping it up much.  I am thinking just an slight overbore and replacing conn-rod and crank bearing shells as needed to freshen it up.  And this manual will come in quite handy. Perhaps it is the very one he bought back in '74 for his Rickman project...