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Rickman 8 Valve Triumph

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The now-defunct U.K.-Rickman motorcycles are probably best known for their chassis used on dirt-going two-wheelers but after establishing themselves in the 1960’s Scrambler-scene they embarked on their next series of projects: frames for road bikes/cafe racers. Because brothers: Derek and Don Rickman (of Rickman motorcycles) weren’t able to get the engines they wanted from major British-manufacturers they instead decided to sell frame kits for BSA’s, Triumph and Matchless double and single engines before eventually making frame kits to house Japanese power plants in the 1970’s.

These rare kits weren’t just implemented to alter the appearance of British machines, but they greatly improved performance through a handful of (then) ground-breaking designs. The use of front and rear disc brakes in addition to telescopic forks and OIF (oil in frame) frames which enabled these bikes to boast superior performance and weight advantages over manufacturer’s stock frames. Another really cool advancement the Rickman brothers were behind was an eight-valve Triumph cylinder-head which bumped up the horsepower on these U.K.-born racers by a whopping 25%.

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