The Rickman brothers had an interesting history, and even though these motocross (MX) bikes aren’t seen too often, they aren’t priced into the stratosphere as everything else seems to be these days. This nice-looking 1972 Rickman Montesa 250 is listed here on eBay in one of my favorite cities in America, mainly for two of its famous former residents (Buck Owens and Merle Haggard): Bakersfield, California. The seller is asking $6,300, or you can make an offer.
Are egg prices down yet? I guess that was mostly bird flu-related, so it is what it is. Vehicle prices, on the other hand, we all know that they’ve been going up and up and up the last few years, but everything else is up, too. Not so with this Montesa-engined Rickman-framed motocross bike. As I had the eBay link open, I got an offer from the seller that they’ll take $4,800 for this example. That’s my kind of discount! MX = motocross, in case any of you were wondering what that meant.
In researching this motorcycle, I ran across one on the recently closed National Motorcycle Museum website, and it is the exact same bike. Speaking of that museum, it is so tragic that it closed almost two years ago. Have any of you been there? I could have lived there, I went so many times, it was always worth a little side trip if I was even remotely in the vicinity. This example isn’t as perfect as it seems in the overall photos, but the seller has included a few photos showing the nicks and scratches on the right side of the gas tank.
I wrote about a Rickman Montesa 250 a few months ago here on Barn Finds, and it was the first one we’ve seen. This one is much nicer than that rough example. The Rickman brothers made a name for themselves in motorcycle racing and came up with the idea to build a motocross-specific frame that other manufacturers could drop an engine into, and your kit of parts would create a winning motocross bike. It worked, at least initially, and using Spanish-built Montesa engines seemed to be the sweet spot. By this time, however, Japanese bikes were flooding into the country and were seen as being more reliable. Does that sound familiar?
This is the classic Montesa 247-cc two-stroke single with 32 horsepower. Backed by a nice five-speed manual, these were winning bikes and would surely draw a crowd at any vintage motorcycle show or ride. The seller says it runs strong and the panels and tank are “excellent”, although there’s a big scratch next to the right side badge on the tank and others, so it isn’t perfect. Have any of you owned or ridden a Rickman MX bike?
Never ridden one but wouldn’t turn down a chance to kick over this beauty SG.
32hp it’s going to move out really nicely too 🏁 😎
Nice, although, my aching back,( pulling back brace a bit tighter),,I’ve heard of Rickman, I think for their flat track success, never associated them with Spain, I thought strictly a British make. Having had a Bultaco, I can clearly see the likenesses. Right kick, right shift, left back brake will confuse the most seasoned Asian bike riders. Limey riders, no problem. These weren’t for wimps, and motocross is one of the most physically demanding sports. We see these riders on TV lap after grueling lap, not thinking how tough that is. Well, I know. Lot of money here for basically a play bike, and you’d be a laughing stock at any race today. I just don’t see $5 grand worth of value here, sorry.
Good stuff, Scotty. Montesa’s were the nemesis to those of us racing Bultaco’s until the Japanese engineers got it right..
A 68 yr old friend competitively races in vintage enduro/“hare and hound” events on his Rickman Hodaka. “What the Rickman Brothers and successors did in frame improvement is incredible!” my friend said, having collected some and raced them.
Good times.
The Rickman brothers (Don and Derek) were British motocross racers, and never built flat track frames, although they did offer street bikes at various times. Their first “Matisse” as the bikes were known, used a Bultaco engine, so they obviously liked Spanish power plants, but also produced a Hodaka powered version. The frames used the best available suspension components, and handled superbly.
They were also famous for their desert racers using various British engines from Triumph and BSA. As they were hand made specials, they were quite pricey. The Rickman name is still in use, a few years ago they cashed in on the enduring Steve McQueen legacy and built a handful of Triumph twin powered commemorative McQueen editions.
Apparently now you have to be a member to give a thumbs up, next thing you will have to be a member to leave a comment.
The thumbs up doesn’t work for me either, Wademo.
You don’t have to be a member to leave a thumbs up here, you just have to be lucky. Not sure why this feature continues to be like this. I know it worked fine up until around the time we changed presidents . .
Actually owned one of these! Absolutely bullet proof !
One day while riding with a group of kids on Honda 125’s,
we took off racing up a dirt road and I left them in my dust! Got to a flat long straight stretch, opened her up and seized her ! sitting there waiting for the group to catch up, she cooled off and fired her back up with one kick!
Like I said BULLET PROOF.
Regret selling it in 2002 though, or should I say gave it away for $250 :(
Last year I priced a new Rickman rolling chassis for a 68 Triumph 650 Tiger engine for $5,00.00 plus shipping from England! OUCH! Hind sight !