Steve McQueen Métisse Desert Racer UK 2010

Métisse Motorcycles is a British low-volume manufacturer of specialist

motorcycle A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising ...

s and

motorcycle frames A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising ...

based in Carswell near Faringdon,

Oxfordshire Oxfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the north west of South East England. It is a mainly rural county, with its largest settlement being the city of Oxford. The county is a centre of research and development, primarily ...

. Since 1982, Métisse has produced

motorcycle frame A motorcycle frame is a motorcycle's core structure. It supports the engine, provides a location for the steering and rear suspension, and supports the rider and any passenger or luggage. Also attached to the frame are the fuel tank and battery. A ...

kits for British bike

engine An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert one or more forms of energy into mechanical energy. Available energy sources include potential energy (e.g. energy of the Earth's gravitational field as exploited in hydroelectric power gen ...

s. Former owner Pat French bought the tooling originally used by the

Rickman Rickman is both a surname and a given name. As a surname, one origin is as the English version of the German surname Ryckman. Notable people with the name include: People with the surname Rickman: *Alan Rickman (1946–2016), English film, televi ...

brothers (who produced the first Mk1 Metisse in 1959) to produce lightweight, strong frames and rolling chassis for competitive motocross use.Metisse Motorcycles heritage
Retrieved 2014-08-22 Métisse has focused on using high quality plated steel for their distinctive frames. French produced Mk IV frames, then MkIII for retro-scrambles until the mid 1990s when demand waned. A partnership was formed with Gerry Lisi to continue manufacture until French's retirement. French died in 2007. Lisi continues to run Métisse at his Carswell premises where the motorcycle operation is something of a sideline to the main golf course business. Métisse now manufactures complete motorcycles, usually using bought-in cycle parts and engines, although the recent Mk5 is fitted with Métisse's own air and oil-cooled 360°

parallel twin A straight-twin engine, also known as an inline-twin, vertical-twin, or parallel-twin, is a two-cylinder piston engine whose cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft. Straight-twin engines are primarily used in motorcycles; ot ...

engine.

Steve McQueen Desert Racer

A limited edition of 300 complete motorcycles, the ''Steve McQueen Métisse Desert Racer'', is a replica of the motorcycle raced by actor

Steve McQueen Terrence Stephen McQueen (March 24, 1930November 7, 1980) was an American actor. His antihero persona, emphasized during the height of the counterculture of the 1960s, made him a top box-office draw for his films of the late 1950s, 1960s, and 1 ...

in 1966 and 1967. The Desert Racer uses a fully reconditioned original Meriden Triumph unit construction 650 cc 6T engine. McQueen's actual bike had a Métisse frame and was built by his friend, the actor and stuntman Bud Ekins.

Métisse Hammer Mk3

Similar to the Desert Racer, the Hammer is a version of the Métisse Mk3 Scrambler that was the iconic motorcycle used by Ilya Kuryakin in the TV series " The Man from U.N.C.L.E.".

Métisse Mk5

The firm's most complete product is the Métisse Mk5, a bespoke retro-styled roadster. The Mk5 has not only a Métisse frame, but a new "Adelaide" 8-valve air-&-oil-cooled 5-speed 360°

engine designed and manufactured in-house by Métisse. The Mk5 is a hand-crafted motorcycle and the riding position is adjusted to the customer's dimensions. The firm provides the buyer with a portfolio with images of the bike during its build, along with documentation of its particular specification. The Mk5 is available either as a "Café Racer" (with or without a nose fairing) or as a "Street Scrambler". The bike has a 4130

chrome-moly 41xx steel is a family of SAE steel grades, as specified by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Alloying elements include chromium and molybdenum, and as a result these materials are often informally referred to as chromoly steel (common va ...

cradle frame with 41mm non-adjustable Ceriani forks and twin

Öhlins Öhlins or Öhlins Racing AB, is a Swedish company that develops suspension systems for the automotive, motorcycle, mountain bike and motorsport industries. Approximately 97% of all production is exported and Öhlins has distribution in over 50 ...

rear shocks. The engine produces claimed and claimed of torque with a top speed of . Front brakes are twin 320 mm discs with Brembo caliper, while the rear is a single 220 mm disc, also with a Brembo calliper. The 2010 prototype, with a dry weight of 180kg was styled as a "Street Scrambler", is now in production. AMC report, September 20

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References

External links

Métisse
official site {{DEFAULTSORT:Metisse Motorcycles Motorcycle manufacturers of the United Kingdom Motorcycles powered by straight-twin engines Companies based in Oxfordshire Dirt biking Motorcycle racing