Triumph Metisse MKIII

Is this the ultimate British street scrambler?

RICKMAN METISSES for sale aren’t exactly thick on the ground. Road-legal machines registered as historic vehicles and with functioning equipment like lights and speedo are even less so. Usually, you have to build your own, but this high-spec example for sale at Gloucestershire’s We Sell Classic Bikes could save you the bother. The Rickman MKIII chassis is fitted with a totally rebuilt, fivespeed T140 engine (converted to right-foot change), with new, genuine barrels and (standard bore) pistons, new bearings throughout and a single-carb head conversion with a new Amal. The bike has Boyer power box electronic ignition and the spec includes a Suzuki tls front brake, alloy rims and stainless steel spokes, Ceriani forks with alloy yokes and alloy tank.

The MKIII Rickman chassis is the definitive Metisse. Launched in 1962, the Rickman-crafted, oilbearing frame is a thing of beauty, as well as being a supremely competent chassis. The distinctive, Doug Mitchenall-designed glassfibre bodywork complements the nickel-plated frame and with whatever engine fitted, the whole is more than the sum of its parts.

Even if you never plan to venture out onto the dirt, this machine looks like a whole lot of fun. With that punchy, 750cc Bonneville engine nestling in the taut Rickman frame, it should make an excellent bike for back-road blasts. And it’ll be more than up to the odd excursion on a greenlane. wesellclassicbikes.co.uk