Posts
2166
Joined
2/19/2018
Location
Washington, PA
US
Edited Date/Time
1/19/2020 5:49am
I know this should be in old school but figured I’d get more eyes on my post here. I finally bought a 1971 Rickman Montesa 250 today and would like any info in general on the bike, brand, etc you Moto bros can provide on them. 
Some cool info in here
The Shop
You purchased a kit and added your own engine, suspension, wheels etc... the 2 stroke kits for Bultacos etc came later on. The emergence of race ready complete bikes, CZs, Maicos and Husky’s and then the Japanese bikes etc meant the end of the frame kit bike era to a certain extent although some manufacturers like Eric Cheney and ATK with their XR kits and to this day some Quad and all sidecarcross bikes are still kit bikes... that’s a nice find, there are a plenty of people in the U.K keeping the Rickman name alive and you won’t struggle sourcing chassis and bodywork parts.
Pit Row
1st off, that's a fiberglass tank.
Do not put anything in it, gas wise, that has ethanol in it. Alcohol will eat the fiberglass. A day riding with ethanol in it, you will start to see fiberglass particles in the fuel.
2nd, it was like the Montesa Cappra motors were the most popular engines Rickman used in the 250s.
3rd. To pull the countershaft sprocket is a job.
It's a tapered shaft. With 90lbx of torque on it. No splines. You need a puller.
The countershaft sprockets are not easy to find. eBay is your friend. You can try Southwest Montesa. But the guy that ran that was real sick the last time I heard.
4th. That motor, I dunno is kinda weird. The waffle head and cylinder, that was new in 1974. The bottom end is def pre 73.
5th. Be careful with ground clearance. That down swept pipe gives it close to 30hp. But, you dent or smash it up ot a real chore fixing. A new pipe, around 400 bucks. Talking about the pipe, it connects to the cylinder with a big ass threaded collar. Real easy to cross thread. Use a spanner wrench. Untold guys messed them up using a hammer and slotted screwdriver. Def safety wire it. Drill a small hole in a fin close to it and take the wire to it.
6th. That frame is a piece of art. Nickel plated chrome moly steel. Clean it up, it's just beautiful.
Great find, good handleing, with imo the strongest pulling, best shifting, and simplest engine of its time.
No stinking power valve, no reeds.
Ya, run it, but realize what u have guy.u need any help pm me.
Post a reply to: Any Info on rickman motorcycles