Author Topic: Rat bike (Read 4454 times)

florence · « **on:** December 03, 2010, 03:07:48 AM »

Does everyone here ride tidy machines or are there some ratty ones out there?

Here's mine in all her natural beauty:

http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php?topic=2952.0

Tripps · « **Reply #1 on:** December 03, 2010, 03:31:28 AM »

Pics don't show in that thread, maybe only to members?

KingCustomCycles.com · « **Reply #2 on:** December 03, 2010, 03:47:37 AM »

No pics show, but I have no trouble imagining a rough old CB, I see them all the time and have a garage full.

Nortstudio · « **Reply #3 on:** December 03, 2010, 04:42:38 AM »

Mine is definitely pretty ratty, but I'm starting to get her into shape, bring her back from the dark side..

This is how she looked closer to when I got it. And this is her good side

Ouch · « **Reply #4 on:** December 03, 2010, 05:06:32 AM »

That is clean compared to some bikes out there....go check out ratbike.org if you want to see some CRAZY

rat bikes. Some stuff on that site shouldn't be legal to be alive....lol....

Tripps · « **Reply #5 on:** December 03, 2010, 05:15:16 AM »

Quote from: Nortstudio on December 03, 2010, 04:42:38 AM

Mine is definitely pretty ratty, but I'm starting to get her into shape, bring her back from the dark side..

This is how she looked closer to when I got it. And this is her good side

LOL, I have friends whose bikes look 10x worse, they think they're beautiful.

florence · « **Reply #6 on:** December 03, 2010, 05:44:29 AM »

Ok here we are:

florence · « **Reply #7 on:** December 03, 2010, 05:46:33 AM »

...and

Nortstudio · « **Reply #8 on:** December 03, 2010, 05:50:19 AM »

Quote from: Tripps on December 03, 2010, 05:15:16 AM

Quote from: Nortstudio on December 03, 2010, 04:42:38 AM
Mine is definitely pretty ratty, but I'm starting to get her into shape, bring her back from the dark side..

This is how she looked closer to when I got it. And this is her good side

LOL, I have friends whose bikes look 10x worse, they think they're beautiful.

Sorry, forgot to mention that I do in fact love it!!! I've seen worse as well, but I have definitely seen 30 year old's looking like they came off the floor. I've got some photos around of some of the "mods" the PO did - with gray goop all over the oil sensor, tail lights bent down with a hammer - you know, for that cafe look

The list goes on, but eventually she will be looking and humming just the way I want...or as close as I can get it.

florence · « **Reply #9 on:** December 03, 2010, 05:54:32 AM »

I think yours looks great.

wildcatmahone · « **Reply #10 on:** December 03, 2010, 06:10:13 AM »

Quote from: Nortstudio on December 03, 2010, 04:42:38 AM

Mine is definitely pretty ratty, but I'm starting to get her into shape, bring her back from the dark side..

This is how she looked closer to when I got it. And this is her good side

Hey I remember seeing that 550 all around North Brooklyn, MadMax Run 2008 or Detonation Show?

-Wildcat

tango911 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 03, 2010, 06:12:09 AM »

i specially like the kerker 4-1's Nort ha ha

Nortstudio · « **Reply #12 on:** December 03, 2010, 06:15:08 AM »

Funny, I keep describing my goal as some Mad Max type deal. Somewhere between a cafe, a stock, and a kitchen sink full of love

4-1 courtesy of forum member Tango. Couldn't do it without him!

Alan F. · « **Reply #13 on:** December 03, 2010, 06:29:19 AM »

Pics of the Kerker?

wildcatmahone · « **Reply #14 on:** December 03, 2010, 06:34:05 AM »

Ahh I see you must of bought that 550 from the person I remember. Congrats was a good choice, can't go wrong with a vintage Honda

wildcatmahone · « **Reply #15 on:** December 03, 2010, 06:41:39 AM »

Not good to show your address to the world might wanna blur it out...

tango911 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 03, 2010, 06:44:50 AM »

Quote from: Alan F. on December 03, 2010, 06:29:19 AM

Pics of the Kerker?

Not sure its a kerker, but my best guess.

Alan F. · « **Reply #17 on:** December 03, 2010, 06:48:50 AM »

Mac maybe? I'm not very 550 literate.

754 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 03, 2010, 08:04:04 AM »

Florence your is a bit ratty but not a full rat bike.. I call that look tired or well used..

The 750 I am riding is looking pretty tired, grungy.. just put universals on to ride in the snow..

Morris mag on the front looks pretty gnarly with a universal on it..

florence · « **Reply #19 on:** December 03, 2010, 08:12:04 AM »

754, I agree with you, I think the rat thing is often contrived; my bike has just worn out to look as it does. I don't ever intend to restore it as I don't particularly like restored bikes, it just gets used as a very practical and cheap to run machine.

Operator · « **Reply #20 on:** December 03, 2010, 11:42:05 AM »

Not a Honda but here is my 79 Yamaha XS400

We have had many adventures over the years, none of them involving wash bays. Ridden through 4 countries, stopped by police in 3 of them to question her level of roadworthiness, all the while never letting me down. Every spring she would get a fresh coat of flat black barbeque paint.
She is the only non-Honda I have ever owned and for these reasons I just never could let her go.
After being out of commission for 2 years, my lovely wife has recently taken a shine to her, so she has since received a good carb cleaning and valve adjustment, full tune up and this winter she will get the full treatment.....new front end with a disc brake, front fender, signal lights, some new rubber and a fresh coat of paint. I'll probably even pull the panic dents out of the gas tank sides.

All said, here is my rat.......and she rocks.....

Nortstudio · « **Reply #21 on:** December 03, 2010, 11:56:42 AM »

That's awesome!!!

swellguy · « **Reply #22 on:** December 03, 2010, 12:11:19 PM »

Did you tape off the fork tubes?

Operator · « **Reply #23 on:** December 06, 2010, 05:05:31 AM »

Yeah, the fork tubes were taped. Honestly I figured it would frig up the fork seal if I didn't. The other mod I forgot was the seat. I cut it out lower so that when my sons ride on the back they could see over my shoulder rather than leaning out to the side......

This was definitely not a contrived rat bike by any means. I had crashed the previous bike and my insurance company refused any payout so I bought this one for a few hundred bucks, put as little into it as possible and rode the guts out of it until I could afford an early 70's 750.

BTW, thanks Nort

Operator

BruceDeuce · « **Reply #24 on:** December 06, 2010, 05:48:12 AM »

Quote from: florence on December 03, 2010, 03:07:48 AM

Does everyone here ride tidy machines or are there some ratty ones out there?

Here's mine in all her natural beauty:

http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php?topic=2952.0

Florence are you looking to sell it anytime soon?

News:

Author Topic: Rat bike (Read 4454 times)

KingCustomCycles.com