Making a rat bike

[FreshAL]

I used to have knackered XL500, badly sprayed matt black. Brutally dangerous to start, no brakes and bounced about so much that anything over 60mph was near suicidal. Possibly the most fun bike I've ever ridden though, I was laughing in my helmet most of the time I was riding it.

I really fancy another rat bike. I've got no money at all at the moment, so this is only day dreaming whilst I'm bored at work.

• It's gotta be cheap to buy
• Cheap to run - no 1000cc sports bikess
• Nothing newer than 80's/early 90's

It'd be used day to day as a commuter, and slowly evolve into a rat.

If you were going to make a rat, what bike would you start with?

[beatnck]

maybe a honda cb400 4?
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no silly comment here!!

[Blau Zedong]

Good luck finding a cheap 400/4..cult classic these days.
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18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

[bonehead]

I waiting for the day my bandit goes down the road, So I can rat it.
I like the intentional Rats/survival, not much of a fan of the courier style rats.
Ratbike.org (I think) has some great bikes on there.
https://www.ratbike.org/photos/show06/drdeath1.jpg

[map]

[mr.z]

bonehead- That bikes actually up for sale on ebay (again)

map- the one bonehead posted afaik used to be a gt 550

I'd probably get something like a gl1100 or a pan European, have all the farings off, add a sidecar, have car wheels on the front and back and leading link suspension.. ideally i'd like a diesel fiesta engine in a bmw frame or something, ural side-car and uber high ground clearance, or something in that area.

Basicly my idea of a great rat is something that requires minimum attention, can be fixed with a sitck and a rock, creates dismay and confusion to all those who gaze upon it, and something you could ride from Oslo to Timbuktu with only small amounts of maintainance, and carry ridiculous amounts of stuff easily, loud is also a good thing..
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[TheShaggyDA]

[G]

Looking for a bike to rat is against what I see as the ethos of them (though many see them more as just customised bikes) - just find a cheap bike that works and let it evolve from there .

[Trixie]

[mr.z]

[stinkwheel]

Well, looks like reubens GPZ is well on the way there. You could do worse.

In fact you could do much worse because when I finally find myself a speedbarge at the right place, my even older and more minging GPZ500 will be up for grabs.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

Mine's better than Stinkwheels, buy mine!

Good side pic added, really should clean it otherwise it's a nice bike.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=109818

[bonehead]

[krebsy]

Rat bikes shouldn't be "made", they should just "Evolve" over time...

K.
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What's my New Year's resolution?

1280 x 1024.

[mr.z]

[dandit]

you could allways buy my cbr600 theres not much of it but it goes just about stops ( realy should fix front brake ) £400 take it away mot and taxed
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WHAT DO YOU MEAN 100 MPH THATS IMPOSSIBLE I STILL HAD 3 GEARS TO GO OFFICER. Currently riding a naked cbr 600 and driving a 52 plate 2litre tdci mondeo

[Kal]

Vote for the CX500 - if you get someone elses year round commuter it should run really well and already be halfway there
The CX has a club which is not a bad support network.

Alternatively CB250n/CB40n. Someone somewhere will have a preratted one just sitting in their garage waiting to be kicked back into life...
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[Project9928]

I have a VFR750 which has broken fairings which will probably end up getting ratted. Needs a load of work though.

[dandit]

whats wrong with a nice cheap cbr i have seen a few around lately and they dam quick to
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WHAT DO YOU MEAN 100 MPH THATS IMPOSSIBLE I STILL HAD 3 GEARS TO GO OFFICER. Currently riding a naked cbr 600 and driving a 52 plate 2litre tdci mondeo

[stinkwheel]

[mr.z]

Nothing says rat like a disgusting eye hurty paint job

Must say I'm intrigued, what's replacing it?
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[stinkwheel]

A shiny red VFR750. I'm picking it up on Saturday. It is very fast and very red
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[mr.z]

Ace gear driven cams no? love the sound of them (is that weird?) Is that what your going to be taking in may?

Good while to not wash it mind..
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[Kal]