Topic: Honda Abuse...

[HavocTurbo]

What I wanta know, is that headlight off an eighties Yamaha (Maxim), or is it a $12.00 shop light like the ones in my garage?

could be one of those Bug Zappers, keeps 'em off your forehead.

lmao

Rotfl

Quoted all of this for billy's sake...

Linked thread says it's off a VW.

[fuzzybutt]

What I wanta know, is that headlight off an eighties Yamaha (Maxim), or is it a $12.00 shop light like the ones in my garage?

in the thread on that other forum, he said it was off an old vw of some sort. it DOES look like those halogen shop lights like i use to cure paint though.
 i said it before that a motorcycle looking like that isnt my thing but maybe he WANTS to see how cheaply he can do it. it doesnt LOOK unsafe as it seems to have decent rubber and all. only real sketchy thing i spy is the trash bag gaiters. again i'd spend a few bucks to do a couple of things but really, theres not much i'd change. that thing would make an excellent bar hopper IMHO. the thread also said that when he had to use it as a commuter he put the original 4 into 1 back on

[billybobobrain]

What I wanta know, is that headlight off an eighties Yamaha (Maxim), or is it a $12.00 shop light like the ones in my garage?

could be one of those Bug Zappers, keeps 'em off your forehead.

lmao

Rotfl

Quoted all of this for billy's sake...

Linked thread says it's off a VW.

Thanks, Havoc!

[HavocTurbo]

What I wanta know, is that headlight off an eighties Yamaha (Maxim), or is it a $12.00 shop light like the ones in my garage?

could be one of those Bug Zappers, keeps 'em off your forehead.

lmao

Rotfl

Quoted all of this for billy's sake...

Linked thread says it's off a VW.

Thanks, Havoc!

No Problem!!!!

[DavePhipps]

I  love it!! It's a true rat bike. At least his is in better shape than my basket case

[j-conn]

i dig it!
my bike isnt to far off fram that one as is...
i am 100% about the rat bike. (and thats because i am 100% broke)
i did like the saddle'boxes'.

[Blasbo]

Back in the 80s I used to look at Sleazy Riders and Iron Hores and one or both had a rat bike of the month. It was meant to be derogatory but it there were some very "creative" bikes featured. Not creative like the cafes and bobbers but creative like this guy, doing it cheaply as possible. I admire his inventiveness. I hope it's safe too.
I don't care so much for the new style rat bike which to me seems like taking a decent looking bike and artificially aging it to look like Mad Max. But then I love the dings, nicks and patina of old wooden furniture, but I can't stand artificially aged furniture.
I've read several times on this forum; it doesn't matter what other people think, it's YOUR bike.
My $0.02.

[benly- ben]

its a scrapbook bike. any old parts lying around shove em on, whats with them exhausts?
Ben

[billybobobrain]

its a scrapbook bike. any old parts lying around shove em on, whats with them exhausts?
Ben

The key word? "SCRAP"

[benly- ben]

yes

[j-conn]

I don't care so much for the new style rat bike which to me seems like taking a decent looking bike and artificially aging it

agreed!

[tortelvis]

Nothing wrong with a rat bike, rode one for five years all over the UK. Bought an old XS1100 that had been through the mill, 13 previous owners, several crashes. All Brit bikers know the term "bodging" where you use whatever is at hand to keep the thing on the road. A true rat isn't built, it EVOLVES over the years. I never worried about dropping it or somebody wanting to steal it. I never felt like that about my other bikes! I had a mate that bought a brand new toy and was scared to let it out of his sight for five minutes in case it got nicked or vandalized. He would always sit by a window at the pub so he could keep an eye on it. Funny thing about an old bike; it becomes known as "so and so's bike". If you see it in the pub lot you know that the owner is inside. It took a couple of years and a few more modifications before it was known as MY bike! No doubt it is still knocking about somewhere and known as somebody else's ride.

[Caaveman82]

Nothing wrong with a rat bike, rode one for five years all over the UK. Bought an old XS1100 that had been through the mill, 13 previous owners, several crashes. All Brit bikers know the term "bodging" where you use whatever is at hand to keep the thing on the road. A true rat isn't built, it EVOLVES over the years. I never worried about dropping it or somebody wanting to steal it. I never felt like that about my other bikes! I had a mate that bought a brand new toy and was scared to let it out of his sight for five minutes in case it got nicked or vandalized. He would always sit by a window at the pub so he could keep an eye on it. Funny thing about an old bike; it becomes known as "so and so's bike". If you see it in the pub lot you know that the owner is inside. It took a couple of years and a few more modifications before it was known as MY bike! No doubt it is still knocking about somewhere and known as somebody else's ride.

Well that is true, my bike, well at least once I powder the frame and reassemble it, will be very unique. Bright green metallic and flat black on everything. People will know it as my bike, believe you me, yet... I don't have duct tape wrapped around the parts I need to hold together... just saying.

[siter81]

He rides it so ? Variety folks.

[Frankenkit]

Nothing wrong with a rat bike, rode one for five years all over the UK. Bought an old XS1100 that had been through the mill, 13 previous owners, several crashes. All Brit bikers know the term "bodging" where you use whatever is at hand to keep the thing on the road. A true rat isn't built, it EVOLVES over the years. I never worried about dropping it or somebody wanting to steal it. I never felt like that about my other bikes! I had a mate that bought a brand new toy and was scared to let it out of his sight for five minutes in case it got nicked or vandalized. He would always sit by a window at the pub so he could keep an eye on it. Funny thing about an old bike; it becomes known as "so and so's bike". If you see it in the pub lot you know that the owner is inside. It took a couple of years and a few more modifications before it was known as MY bike! No doubt it is still knocking about somewhere and known as somebody else's ride.

+1.  (I'm sorry, Martino, but I'm going to pick on you again) I really hate it when people take otherwise beautiful stock specimens and make them rat bikes.  Proper rat bikes are either 'parts bikes' that you bought a title for and made rideable or started stock and devolved over the years, with the owner having to 'make do'. 
Marti's bike is sexy and has great lines, but I cry a little when I remember what it used to look like.   (actually, mine looked sh!tty enough when I got it that maybe we shoulda' traded.)

oh also, apparently a lot of harley guys are buying their bikes painted a sort of satin, then b!tching when their knees/jackets rub polished smooth spots in them. [rant]Hello? That's called 'wear'.  it's the POINT of satin paint.  It makes it look like you RIDE, like holes in the knees of your jeans (and by your wallet, and if you're short, the the bottoms of your cuffs) [/rant]

[HavocTurbo]

Not to pick on Kit....

I know I'm guilty of buying a fairly nice looking bike and making it look artifically beaten to hell.

Except I don't destroy the good parts, I sell them to finance the crappy parts I'm going to put on the bike.

Rat bikes are like anything else... a sense of style. From chopper, cafe, bobber, digger, sled, it's all about what catches your eye and is pleasing to look at for you personally.

I'm not saying take a barn fresh 500mile cb750 and turn it into a rat.... but sell everything that you would trash to make the style and get crappy parts to begin with. Who knows.... you might end up with more money thatn you started.

[j-conn]

Who knows.... you might end up with more money thatn you started.

wouldnt that be nice! 

[CrescentSon]

This is a unique culture within the motorcycle community that I can respect.  A rat bike is a bike that against all odds is kept on the road.  In contrast a survival bike is one that is intentionally given a patina or grunged up "mad max" style for purely aesthetic gains, much like an art car.  Survival bikes and rat bikes are works of art, that are functional.  This is a far different mentality from one who buggers up a perfectly good bike, but you could argue that building a chopper, manx, bobber, or cafe is just as sacrilegious. As long as the guy keeps safety in mind and is having fun, I support him.

But in the long run, I do feel bad for a trashed out bike, but at least this one is loved...

[DarkRider]

Personally i would ride something like that. On the other hand i wouldnt take a nice bike and rip it apart to look like that. The CB650 im looking at right now would probably take on a look much like it but then again that thing has been beaten within an inch of its life. So a "rebuild" to look like that bike would probably be better for it then the slow death its enduring right now..

[Inkscars]

I personally would like to meet the fella that owns the thing. He's prolly so damned good looking he can ride anything.

Rawr

[HavocTurbo]

Woah there killer.

They make craigslist for that sort of attitude. 

[CrescentSon]

I personally would like to meet the fella that owns the thing. He's prolly so damned good looking he can ride anything.

Rawr

Is this gonna turn into a compensation issue...
That is more about the size of the engine than the look I would think, but I appreciate your enthusiasm!

Did i mention I have a teeny 400 Hawk basket case