Please Note: the owner of this machine is Roger Riddell – he started racing in the California desert in the 1960s, running the Baja 500 and 1000 a combined nine times. he became good friends and riding buddies with Steve McQueen during the production of On Any Sunday and for years after – he also partnered on multiple films with Bruce Brown for marketing distribution and production. Roger was the producer of On Any Sunday 2 and The Endless Summer 2. He was mentioned multiple times in a Sports Illustrated article focused on Steve McQueen’s passion for dirt biking: “His companions on those fast, racking transits of the wasteland often include the best of the desert-riding breed: Bud Ekins or Roger Riddell, Mert Lawwill or Malcolm Smith.”
He was inducted into the Hot Shoe Hall of Fame in 2020
Per Charles Fleming (former staff writer and automobile/motorcycle reviewer for the LA Times), the bike that Steve McQueen rode in the iconic shot of him doing a wheelie on a Husky was Roger’s bike:
Unfortunately, Roger recently passed away and the bike is being sold by his son.
Founded in England in 1959 by Derek and Don Rickman, Metisse Motorcycles quickly developed a name for off-road excellence with their custom frame designs for British engines that led to wins in the Moto Cross des Nations as well as 250cc and 500cc GP motocross championships. Their success soon expanded into road racing as well, but they were best known in the US for desert racing prowess thanks to vocal support from legends like Bud Ekins and Steve McQueen. In fact, it was McQueen himself in 1966 who called Metisse’s Mk3 off-road frame “the best handling bike I’ve ever owned!”
Powerplants for this iconic bronze-welded frame were typically supplied by British singles of the era, and one of the best was the 500cc single pulled from the Matchless G80CS (Competition Suspension). Matchless themselves had a successful off-roading machine thanks to the stout motor and an even stouter frame – as noted in this profile on Web Bike World, “it was always rumoured that Matchless kept adding 3lbs of metal to the frame where it had broken in competition – until it stopped breaking.” In fact, the Matchless weighed about 380 pounds (wet), while Rickman’s offering with the same motor was down to just 314 (dry).
Said engine was good for 28 horsepower and it proved to be an excellent pairing for the world-class frame and upgraded suspension, brakes, and…pretty much everything else provided in the Rickman build. In a 1964 review of a Metisse/Matchless pairing, Cycle World said “We have ridden few machines that could equal the Metisse’s ability to bomb through the roughest country” and “in light of what you would be riding, we can’t think of many better ways to spend money.”
This example is VIN: R4247. Engine number: G80CS-4714. The seller inherited this bike from his father.
This bike does not have an odometer, true mileage is unknown.
The bike won the Motorcycle Competition 1950-1968 award at the 2012 Dana Point Concours d’ Elegance.
It was also on display at the 2017 Quail Motorcycle Gathering, as noted in this “Top 10 Bikes” article on Ultimate Motorcycling.
Maintenance:
In preparation for the listing, the seller had us perform a safety inspection, we cleaned the carb, cleaned/adjusted the chain, replaced the tires and air filter, and detailed the bike. Our service department notes the following on their condition report:
Gas Tank Internal Condition: Ok
Engine Oil Level: Ok
Engine Oil Quality: Ok
2T Oil Level: N/A
Coolant Level: N/A, Air Cooled
Coolant Quality: N/A
Front Hydraulic Fluid Level: N/A, Cable
Front Hydraulic Fluid Quality: N/A
Rear Hydraulic Fluid Level: N/A, Drum
Rear Hydraulic Fluid Quality: N/A
Clutch Hydraulic Fluid Level: N/A, Cable
Clutch Hydraulic Fluid Quality: N/A
Final Drive Condition: Ok
Headlight High Beam: N/A
Headlight Low Beam: N/A
Passing Light: N/A
Parking Light: N/A
Turn Signals: N/A
Tail Light: N/A
Brake Light (Front Switch): N/A
Brake Light (Rear Switch): N/A
Plate Light: N/A
Horn: N/A
Kill Switch: N/A
Brake Pad % Remaining Front: Drum
Brake Pad % Remaining Rear: Drum
Forks: Ok
Shock/s: Ok
Tire Date Code Front: 06/22
Tire Date Code Rear: 18/22
Tire % Remaining Front: 100%
Tire % Remaining Rear: 100%
Tire Press. Front: 20 PSI
Tire Press. Rear: 25 PSI
Battery Standing Voltage: No battery used
Charging Voltage @ 4k RPM: Ok
Running Condition: Ok, runs on bench
Test Ride Completed: None taken
Test Ride Distance: N/A
Tires Installed:
-Front: 90/100-21
-Rear: 110/100-18
Notes:
**DIRT BIKE- No headlights, horn, signals, brake or tail light**
-Chain has very light rust
-Oil leak from head gasket
RECOMMENDED REPAIRS:
-Diag and repair head gasket leak
Modifications:
This bike has been fully restored. Please note that from the factory, it features the shift lever on the right and the foot brake on the left.
The exhaust appears to be custom.
Magura-branded leather lever boots.
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Michelin Starcross 6 tires with date codes of 0622 and 1822.
This bike does not use keys to operate, none are included.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album in the “Photos” tab for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Currently located in Panorama City, California, (please make an appointment for an inspection) this Rickman is offered on a Bill of Sale only. Have any Rickman Metisse stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
