A Low-Key Tie-Up For Bsa 2 Rickman
A LOW-KEY TIE-UP FOR BSA 2 RICKMAN
FACES IN THE BSA/Triumph camp have been understandably long, as the sales demand created by the effective new program of the American distributor was shot down late in the year by Mother England's inability to produce enough bikes to fill the seasonal "pipeline," as they call it. Birmingham Small Arms Co. Ltd. of England is in financial hot water, precipitated by labor troubles, supplier troubles, and tepid management.
Bikes are coming through, but meanwhile the healthy American company—Birmingham Small Arms Co., Inc.-has
eased the situation by entering into an exclusive agreement with the Rickmans to distribute complete Metisse dirt ma chines. This diversifies the BSA/Triumph line as never before.
This is quite an opportunity for Don and Derek Rickman, who have wanted to be full-fledged motorcycle manufacturers for the last decade.
A 1972 run of 5000 motorcycles, which will retain the Rickman name, is planned for export to America. These will include the 250-cc Montesa-enyined scrambler, a motocrosser with five-speed Zundapp 125-cc engine, and a lights on, muffled 125-cc Zundapp-powered enduro machine.
The Rickman plant will be increased in size, with 50 percent more floor space. Several phases of production will be automated to increase output and lower production costs. Pricing, say BSA Co., Inc. officials, will be competitive with other brands of specialized dirt machines having similar displacement.
To devote full time to production for the U.S.A., the Rickmans are ceasing production of their popular frame kits and other accessory items, although these could be resumed at a later time. Steens, the original distributor for the Rickman line, still has a large stock of Rickman items to sell, but cannot receive any more.
Shelved is the Rickman-Weslake 500 Twin, which is deemed competitive to Triumph's 500 Twin. Rickman's eight valve head for Triumph Twins also goes into limbo, because the American company doesn't feel that it would generate enough profit to handle. Once the Rickman production scheme is well underway, though, those specialty accessories could possibly find their way into BSA/Triumph parts catalogs.
Distribution of the first three Rickman models will be to "selected dealers" in the BSA and Triumph line, those who are deemed most capable of moving such machines off the floor. This translates as those dealers who are not heavily involved in dirt bike lines which would directly compete with the Rickman machines. BSA and Triumph dealers number 1300 in the U.S.
No prices have been announced yet, but you can be certain that it will be much easier to obtain one of those fabulous chassis. [Qj
