TRICKY RICKY
If you stopped by the Realclassic stand over the weekend then you must have seen this big butch beast lurking alongside us. It was up for sale and attracted plenty of attention – and I do believe it went home with a new owner on the Sunday afternoon.
The story of Don and Derek Rickman and their marvellous Métisse machines has been oft told, and the majority of these mongrel motorcycles tend to be built as uncompromising café racers. They’re usually powered by twin-cylinder engines, too; like many a Triton, these hybrids started life in that era when Triumph’s motors seriously outclassed their chassis. So this one is more than a little different; it’s not the run of the mill Métisse… if indeed such a thing actually exists!
Unlike many Métisse machines which are optimised for clubmans racing with solo saddles, clip-ons and rearsets, this one offers an upright riding position with well-positioned footrests and high bars providing plenty of leverage. And while most owners of Beezumph triples opted to use Rob North’s special frame and running gear, the owner of this particular T150V decided to go with the Rickman set-up.
The result is a completely unique street scrambler which its owner has refined over the past 20 years. He originally bought the Trident some three decades ago and then upgraded it at the turn of the millennium, carrying out the majority of the work himself. The standard 740cc engine was boosted to 850 – usually achieved with Omega pistons running 10.5:1 compression – and almost every aspect of the motorcycle has been similarly enhanced, from the twin Grimeca disc brakes at the sharp end to the posh shocks at the back.
Increasing the engine capacity usefully lowered the triple’s accessible torque delivery, so that power now surges on stream at 2500rpm, some 1500 revs lower than with the standard 750. Nor have the upgrades over-stressed the T150 engine: ‘This is the most reliable British bike
I’ve ever known,’ revealed its owner. He frequently sat idling by the side of the road while his riding companions had to fix yet another fault on their twins…
Finding a machine like this which has been in long-term ownership means the next custodian benefits from years of gradual refinement. The T150’s builder had time and opportunity to finesse the fit and finish of even the smallest spare part. That’s why even the dinky indicators are a cut above the average custom component and the rear footrest hangers are unobtrusive but practical.
In fact, the whole motorcycle is a pleasing mix of practical precision and blingy brightwork. Just look under the headstock, where the gleaming, nickelplated downtubes snuggle up to the golden sheen of the stainless exhaust headers and contrast with the chrome steel shine of the fork stanchions. Cor!
A few years ago, bikes like this were fetching £15k so we think the new owner got a great deal at the advertised price of £9800. Definitely one of the special bikes at the show.