HAMPSHIRE CONSTABULARY BEAT BIKE, RICKMAN 125CC, MOT 70L, IN RESTORATION, Preservation ANd SERVICE.

Built by Rickman Brothers of New Milton, Hampshire. Rickman frame & bodywork & fitted with a Zundapp 125cc, 2-stroke single cylinder engine. When the Velocette LE went out of production, Police forces across the UK needed to find an alternative patrol bike. Hampshire Constabulary opted for the BSA 250 Goldstar but soon after the first batch of 35 were delivered, BSA closed its doors forever. 

Having been criticised for buying foreign police cars, Hampshire ordered an initial batch of 56 of these bikes from Rickman who, by this time, were the only remaining British builder of lightweight motorcycles.

These motorcycles were mainly used in rural areas & were not popular with those who rode them, because when compared to the Velocette they were noisy, smelly & left a smoke trail behind them

It is not known where this particular machine was stationed.

As far as is known this is the only known    surviving example still in police trim and is in a totally unrestored condition.