McQueen Desert Racer replica built to order

[Bob]

Oxfordshire manufacturer Metisse is building a limited-edition replica of Steve McQueen’s Desert Racer. McQueen customised the off-road machine and rode it competitively in the mid-1960s.

The bike – of which only 300 will be made by a four-man team, branded with the actor’s signature – will cost £12,999

Metisse owner, Gerry Lisi, said: "It was mostly a competition bike, used in motor-cross racing and trials. It is a bike from the sixties and Steve McQueen was particularly fond of it. He said it was 'The best-handling bike I've ever owned and the power, it's like supersonic'."

For more information: http://www.metisse-motorcycles.com/

[banditrider]

Quite neat. Can't see them having much trouble selling all 300. Also can't see many of them getting dirty...

[Motu]

''This rig is the best handling bike I've ever owned'' - 30 years later and that's still what I think too.I've ridden a lot of bikes in those 30 years,and I still can't find one that handles like my Rickman Metisse did.Interesting that McQueen liked the BSA steering head,mine had the BSA yokes too.If I had that much money gathering dust I'd buy one today....and it would get dirty,no question about that!

[TLDV8]

As nice as any Metisse is i seem to recall Steve McQueen had more success and fame on his 1970 Husqvarna MH 400.

<img src=http://home.ama-cycle.org/membersonly/museum/images/b120/Husky400_600.jpg>

[Ocean1]

I still can't find one that handles like my Rickman Metisse did.

Got spec's for the frame geometry Motu? With them I could model a frame and tweak it to suit whatever OE engine and suspension parts you like.

Not the same, to be sure, but it'd at least be financially realistic...

[Motu]

It was nothing special on paper,you could replicate it it with figures and formulas,and miss the mark by a huge margin.I think the rake was just the standard 27 or so degrees of the day...I measured the trail at around 3.5 inches,and the wheel base was 58 inches.And I've always found bikes with those numbers handled very very well.Another thing was you could put a single line through the rear wheel centreline,the swingarm pivot,the gearbox sprocket,the crankshaft centreline and the front axle.

Looking at the photo of McQueen with his Metisse,he might have a 19in front wheel on there which was what most dessert races had in those days.A 21in wheel was something only those silly British people did.

McQueen may have had more success on the Husky,but never more fame - he will always be remembered on Triumphs.

<img src='http://www.johnsonmotorsinc.com/speedshop/images/cover-1.jpg'>

[TLDV8]

McQueen may have had more success on the Husky,but never more fame - he will always be remembered on Triumphs.

A lot will also remember him from On Any Sunday and Baja.
Depends what your interest base is i guess.
Sorry, i can't get to excited regarding a NZ$ 33,371.60 "replica" with a bogus signature,300, good luck with that.

Maybe Ford will do a Steve McQueen Mustang too.


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or

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One other reason might be a lot of the Triumph related history was stills only.
Media was coming into its own in the late 1960's with millions of viewers.
(The mid 1960's on was also the beginning of the Two Stroke revolution,i am lucky enough to have two 1968 MF Husqvarna's
and a decent start on a 70 MH400)

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[Ocean1]

Another thing was you could put a single line through the rear wheel centreline,the swingarm pivot,the gearbox sprocket,the crankshaft centreline and the front axle.

Could say the same about a lot of bikes that age. Be interested in what the axle weight ratios were.

One problem trying to replicate the general handling but using a modern doner bike for suspension would be shortening up fork travel. Also, would you use re-pitched single shock rear or look for some quality twin shocks?

How would a loosely Metisse-spec'd bike work with a DR650 engine you reckon? Big KTM or Husky 510 be nice, but overkill. And radiators are a pain.

[Motu]

Could say the same about a lot of bikes that age. .

Like I said,you could replicate to the nth degree...and end up with nothing like the Rickman Metisse at all.Those bikes were built by seat of the pants engineering - if you applied the same approach to your replica,I think you might get closer.Axle loadings? - I suspect you will find more weight on the front axle,and a more balanced weight distribution with a lower centre of gravity than any dirt bike made in the last 25 years.The Rickman Metisse was renowned as a sliding bike,totally stable in a horrendous slide on a rough surface.

I saw all the movies in the day,and read all the magazines....and in later years read all the biographies - Triumph figures far more than Husky as a McQueen machine.But you own one,so I suspect there may be a little bias there.....same as my previous ownership of a Rickman clouds my thinking.

[nudemetalz]

Beautiful looking machine. I'd have one just to put in my lounge and stare at :)