What The Hell Have I Got Here?

Discussion in 'Vintage Classics' started by David Osinga, Nov 1, 2020.

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  1. David Osinga

    David Osinga New Member

    Nov 1, 2020
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    Herr’s the dealeo, my ole buddy died and left a a garage full of mostly vintage biles.

    this Triumph has me Stumped???

    I can’t find a bike like it no matter how I massage the search criteria, and I can’t find a Vintage Triumph Website that specializes in Triumphs history of Dirt Bikes.

    I can’t find a VIN on the frame Head Tube... but I havent taken off the side panels to do a deeper dive.

    Its a Twin; engine block is stamped #DRF100129

    Its beautifully Fabb’d bare metal OIF Frame, the welds are something to write home about, It has an awesome
    pipe, an Alum Swing-arm (tear shock geometry looks like late 70’s laid forward), unbranded Alum tank and side panels. I’m not that familiar with British bikes, but I’ve never seen a rear drum and sprocket Assy like that on a dirt bikei? It has a nice fitting after market seat, and aftermarket plastic fenders. ...

    Not seized (my buddy was a collector, not a hoarder, he didn’t keep junk in his shop), 15 rare vintage bikes in his collection including; Triumph’s, Enfield’s, Bultaco’s, Honda’s, Yamaha’s, and one Suzuki (the most notoriously dangerous 2 Stroke eve made) 75 TM 400 .

    Of course I haven’t tried to start it, its probably been sitting 25 Yrs, It would need to be prepped by someone who knows Triumph’s first!

    It doesn’t look like any stock images of Production Triumphs I can pull up in a web search, I’m wondering if its built Bike not OEM?

    What the hell have I got here, and whats its ballpark collectors value?

    Thx, David

    55DE4A94-32D6-4AB6-B968-B50A68D078EB.jpeg

    96F0EA50-7D4B-45C6-A241-6BB9AF880A34.jpeg

    415D8675-C81E-4D32-B6CB-2250E66D4C57.jpeg

    9BC5ADD8-998A-4000-AB92-CCD87F4664A0.jpeg
     
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  2. MARKYMARKTHREE

    MARKYMARKTHREE Senior Member

    Feb 11, 2020
    484
    213
    SOMERSET
    Oil in frame, quality welding like a line of laid down pennies and is it nickle plated ? All of which say it could be a Rickman frame although the headstock doesn't look right for a Rickman.
    Looks a bit of a mongrel but would be an interesting bike to scramble.
    I like it. :cool:
     
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  3. Tigcraft

    Tigcraft Unheard of Member

    Mar 29, 2014
    2,565
    800
    Holmfirth West Yorkshire
    Looks nicely made and I too have no idea
     
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  4. Adie P

    Adie P Crème de la Crème

    Jul 7, 2018
    3,620
    1,000
    MID DEVON
    Rickman Metisse frame, I think. Chain adjustment via swinging arm spindle. Tiny brakes and huge rear sprocket suggest a 'pro.' scrambler though the frames were sold as kits so it could as easily have been home built. Nice find!

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
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  5. Don the Don

    Don the Don Bigger Than The Average Bear

    Nov 5, 2019
    2,947
    800
    MORAY UK
    Hi and welcome, No idea on the machine except it's a good looking bike "nice find"
     
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  6. Pegscraper

    Pegscraper Elite Member

    Jun 12, 2020
    2,933
    800
    Yorkshire
    Sorry, I've no idea what it is either but it's tickled my fancy.
    Welcome by the way.
     
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  7. Lou160487

    Lou160487 Senior Member

    Jun 16, 2020
    305
    163
    Florida U.S.A
    A very pretty little mongrel. If it were mine I'd ride it and keep it forever.
     
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  8. David Osinga

    David Osinga New Member

    Nov 1, 2020
    18
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    94901
    Yep, its plated... nickel sounds about right... its not chrome!

    Thx for the leads! Your the Boss!
     
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  9. David Osinga

    David Osinga New Member

    Nov 1, 2020
    18
    3
    94901
    Thx for the references...

    that makes sense based on what I’m looking at...

    i’tried to look up the Ser # on the Eng case via links I could find on the web, but no luck on the first three letters “DRF” but couldn’t find anything...

    Any ideas on Eng Identification?

     
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  10. curly

    curly Noble Member

    Jul 3, 2016
    758
    443
    Burton Upon Trent
    And me, and I wouldn't change a thing either, just lovely.
     
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  11. Callumity

    Callumity Elite Member

    Feb 25, 2017
    3,358
    800
    Nr Biggar
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  12. Rocker

    Rocker Elite Member

    May 1, 2016
    1,662
    800
    Suffolk
    No ideas on the engine they don't seem to be a format Triumph used as for the frame it could be a Wasp but should have a number on it
     
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  13. joe mc donald

    Dec 26, 2014
    13,874
    1,000
    slough / burnham
    David Osinga
    Welcome to the family. Yes you have a metisse frame and a special someone has had done up. Do try to find out some more history on it. The engine looks like a 650 It is quite a nice looking machine. Don't know if your Zip code works like our post codes but i would take it of your posts as the wrong type might be watching. Sometimes the frame was supplied without numbers so they could be stamped up to suit an engine.
    Joe.
     
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  14. Adie P

    Adie P Crème de la Crème

    Jul 7, 2018
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    The engine number on there doesn't look like the factory original and, clearly, isn't the 'usual' DU12345 that you might expect to see on a '60's unit construction 650 ..... which this appears to be. Normally the engine number on factory produced machines would be on a raised, TRIUMPH engraved 'panel' on the crankcase where the number is on this bike.

    You'll need to start diving down a lot of internet rabbit holes if you're going to get any information on the engine number you've got but I, personally, have to wonder if DRF too easily translates to "Desert Racer, Factory"? Unlikely for sure. Perhaps, more likely some individual using that as a simplistic mnemonic!

    I'm sure many of us would be interested in what you find and how your investigations work out.
     
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  15. Tiglet

    Tiglet Vintage Member

    Mar 28, 2016
    4,433
    1,000
    Cheshire
    I like Adie’s thought on the DRF engine number or could it be as the Rickman brothers Christian names were Don and Derek that is were the D comes from so Don/Derek Rickman Factory :worried:
     
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  16. Callumity

    Callumity Elite Member

    Feb 25, 2017
    3,358
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    Mnemonic? Pronounced derf (rhymes with turf)?!!
     
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  17. Adie P

    Adie P Crème de la Crème

    Jul 7, 2018
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    An equally likely explanation or attribution and one I hadn't 'connected'.

    Don't Ride Far? Mnemonics were simple 'memory aids' when I went ta skool. :D
     
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  18. darkman

    darkman Crème de la Crème

    Oct 26, 2015
    7,544
    1,000
    Southcoast of the UK Earth
    Dinosaur Racing Frame.
     
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  19. David Osinga

    David Osinga New Member

    Nov 1, 2020
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    Thx for the Link... It just keeps getting more interesting! Like a cold case mystery to investigate leads, my own who-done-it!
     
  20. David Osinga

    David Osinga New Member

    Nov 1, 2020
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    94901
    Thx,

    I know the seat is branded “Dinosaur Racing” (and its a nice well made set that looks like it was manufactured for the bike as it sits), but after massaging my serch terms in every conceivable way, I can get a hit on Dinosaur Racing as a manufacturer of anything???

    Do you have a lead or a link to help me run that down?

    Thx, David
     
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