1975 Rickman CR Z1 Kawasaki
Miles: 27,722
Clean Title
$7,500
SELLER
Nice Orginal Rickman, Fiberglass tank, Fenders, tail section all in Excelent condition. Original Paint, Kawasaki Green Color, looks yellow in pictures. Almost NOS.
Nickel Plated frame number #4782-M Kawasaki Z1 900 Motor # Z1E 21688. Original Rickman suspension and lockheed Brakes.
Needs a good cleaning. The two fuel lines need replaced,Front and rear master cylinder need rebuilt. New Good year racing slicks.
Been in storage for years. Runs Good. Carbs were cleaned and oil changed. Has Rare optional Swing arm and original set of chain adjuster shims.
Text for more info or pictures. Honda,Yamaha Japan suzuki sportbike type of motorcycle. $7500
RSBFS
Okay, it’s a project. But it’s a Rickman. And we love it when small shops with big minds take over. As Mike reported on RSBFS back in 2023, “In the 1970s and 1980s the Japanese motorcycle manufacturers made huge strides in terms of technology, performance and reliability. The engines were more powerful than ever. Gearboxes had evolved from 4 to 5-speed units with crisp action. But somehow the chassis side of the business languished; the frame tech of the Big Four was way behind the power curve – quite literally. Enter smaller boutique builders looking to add substance to the rest of the package by way of wrapping all of the goodness in a custom built frame.”
Talk about a piece of history! Who is up for a project? Let the negotiations begin!
Good luck to the buyer and seller!
Rickman frames are from a time before I got into sportbikes but from what I understand Rickman supplied the frame and the rest got built kind of like as a kit . The idea was similar to what Bimota did back in the day except you had to do more of the work yourself (or pay someone to do it for you).
Bit of history- companies like Rickman were in business to supply better frames than what the bikes came with because back in the late 70’s/early 80’s companies like Kawasaki motorcycle division were more focused on the engine mechanicals and electrics mostly and frame engineering wasn’t as high a priority item. Now of course the frame is a design point due to it being a structural component of the bike (and even a gas tank for some!). Rickman is from a time when the frame was just something that housed the components.
Interesting, I always thought at the time they looked like kit bikes. I also thought how could you take a beautiful Z and make it so ugly.
These are marvellous weapons and the frame can accept any of the big Jap four cylinder motors-by 70s standards these handle steer and stop really well and at this price are a bargain compared to Ducatis et al from the period.Their rarity and nickel plated frames alone make them stand out as properly engineered classics. Rickman brothers knew what they were doing.