When I see a listing for an original Rickman, my ‘fake’ response comes to the front. Throw in a Steve McQueen reference and I just darn near call BS every time.
Not that the Rickman brothers didn’t build some great motorcycles over the years. Their dirt bike frames and components were legendary in the middle 60s. Steve McQueen did own at least one Rickman MKIII about which he said “This rig is the best handling bike I’ve ever owned” in a Popular Science article (1966).
The McQueen estate authorized a ‘limited edition’ (300) copy of the McQueen original (they are not Rickman. They are copies of).
The brothers Rickman started in 1959 with their Metisse (French translation: Mongrel or Mutt) and by the time the MK III came into being they were pretty famous motorcycles. Initially the Rickmans built frame kits specific to certain motor combinations, but soon started churning out whole motorcycles.
The MK III Triumph 750 combination made something near 60 HP with a dry weight of less than 300 LBS. A 5 speed transmission, wonderful suspension and geometry made this a very competitive dirt bike.
This particular 1969 Rickman Metisse MKIII (VIN # ED51615) is located in Paradise Valley, Arizona and is listed as a complete original bike. The listing contains a great deal of information about this bike, and I think it may be an original Rickman. The bike is currently on the starting bike of $5,000 with a Buy It Now price of $8,000
Sources:
Off Road
Wikipedia
Metisse Motorcycles
Cybermotorcycle
Motorcycles for Sale