Dream machine
Many people have asked me “Why one of these?” Surely, you only have to look at it to understand.
I fell in love with the Rickman Metisse look and story when my dad came home from display flying at an airshow; he had randomly bought a Metisse over the weekend. I later learned all about it and ultimately understood why he snapped it up. I’ve always loved classic bikes (especially scramblers) and this was the ultimate historic scrambler.
Dad’s bike turned out to be a 1962 Petite Metisse, with a Triumph 500cc engine. I went with him to collect it the following weekend and was instantly bombing around the airfield at Bicester Heritage – no helmet, strappy top and sunglasses. I had never felt anything like it – its lovely handling was empowering.
Over the next year I rode it on and off road and it became my ‘dream bike.’ At the time I had a yellow 1977 Honda CB400 Super Four which I loved, but nothing beat the sound, the look and the lightness of dad’s Rickman.
After a relationship breakup, I decided to sell my Honda – a spur of the moment decision, thinking let’s just see what it goes for. It sold in a week for £2500 more than I paid for
