Rare, vintage 1971 Rickman motorcycle set to sell for cheap

How could this sold-new-in-Canada pristine one-owner Interceptor be fetching some low bids on Bring a Trailer?

Unlike some of my colleagues constantly stuck in some fugue past, I do not, as a rule, visit Bring a Trailer (BaT) with the regularity of an addict looking for a fix. Bored-silly do I have to be, in fact, to wade through pictures of motorcycles that, frankly, I didn't much like when new.

But I do like me a mystery. Or, more accurately, a surprise. Surprised here, specifically, by the fact I was around when Rickman motorcycles were "the" thing, and I didn't know about it. Oh, and then this BaT listing has to add a little Canadiana into the mix — okay, fine, you have my attention.

For one thing, this ’71 Rickman being auctioned was sold new in Winnipeg, which I, having been across the country on a motorcycle, don't remember as a hotbed of bikers.

As for the "mystery" part, I thought I knew well the enigma that was Rickman motorcycles, frame-builders to the gods — who could very well have been the inspiration for world-famous Bimota, they of the long-lauded Tesi. I also thought myself familiar with Enfield. No, not those little single-cylinder tiddlers the hipsters seem to so love, but the big twin-cylinder Interceptors that were oil-leak-free competitors to Triumph and BSA 650s back when Britain ruled the sport-bike segment.

What I didn't know is that Rickman built some of its unmistakable "Metisse" frame-and-bodywork kits for the Interceptor. And since I didn't know that, I certainly didn't know that Canada turned out to be the only significant export market for the Rickman-Interceptors, the Great White Frozen North the recipient of 26 of the trademark orange-liveried twins out of the 138 that Derek and Don Rickman produced. Or so says the seller on BaT.

One thing that makes this particular 1971 Rickman Interceptor unique is that it is being sold by the original owner, which means it is also accompanied by the original bill of sale and import paperwork supplied by Manitoba's Chariot Cycle way back in 1974. For the truly committed collector, such authenticity is probably worth as much as the motorcycle.

Making it all the more enticing, the seller says the bike has but 14,000 miles on it, all of that — including a three-day, 2,400-mile trip to the east coast — collected before 1980. After that, the owner says, the bike was stored at 66F to 68F in a humidity-controlled garage and never exposed to sunlight, no doubt why most of the rubber bits remain original. Indeed, only the kickstart lever's rubber and some of the brake-line coverings have needed replacement despite being more than 50 years old. He says that even the tires, last changed in 1979, still feel soft and gummy.

That said, when it was pulled out of mothballs — to be ridden once again, says the owner, until his wife told him he had to get rid of at least some of his motorcycles — the 736-cc overhead-valve parallel-twin did get new rings, bearings, and valve guides. The 30-millimetre Amal Mark 1 concentric carbs have also had a make-over. Along with the engine work, the brake calipers — rare-as-hen's-teeth single-piston Lockheeds — have also been rebuilt, and the inside of the gas tank was cleaned and sealed.

Still, the owner notes that there are a few flaws. There are a few cracks in the front fender, for instance, and the base of the seat has had a hole cut into it, presumably to get access to the battery without having to unbolt the entire two-up seat unit. Other than that and a small dent in the rear rim, this 52-year-old Rickman is as pristine as such rarities get.

Which creates yet another mystery. The current bid — with just under 24 hours to go as I write this — stands at a seemingly incomprehensibly-low USD$7,500. How can something so pristine and rare be commanding so little adoration, especially in these times when anything "retro" seems to sell for stupid money? If you’re intrigued — or looking for a bargain — know that bidding for this ultra-rare Rickman ends Monday, June 5 at 2:40 PM EST.

Canada's leading automotive journalists with over 20+ years of experience in covering the industry

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.

5 Affordable EVs

Small trucks

Popular Crossover SUVs

Practical 3-row SUVs

Minivans for the whole family

Compact Cars

Luxury SUVs

Affordable AWD SUVs

Lorraine Sommerfeld discusses service staffing, right to repair, and battery replacement with Centennial College EV instructor Chris Muir

If you own an older sunroof-equipped Cooper or Clubman and live in a region where they're heavy on the road salt, your vehicle may be affected

If you can't afford it, Harley-Davidson also has a retro-styled Electra Glide Highway King that looks the business

The Italian marque built this bike with rallying in mind, sure, but its incredible versatility makes it an absolute stand-out

Coquitlam RCMP seek woman seen damaging vehicles on dealer lots several times over 4 months

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of Driving.ca's Blind-Spot Monitor will soon be in your inbox.

We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again