CB125 Ratbike

[warped one]

I was thinking the other day, that when i pass my test and get something biggger and better, if i could turn my little old reliable Honda Cb125tde into a rat bike. I have no idea what to do, but it made me think after looking a Virus's CG.

Has anyone done it before?
Has anyone got any ideas?

Cheers

Warped
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amnesia - Never in the history of usernames has one been more accurate. Warped indeed. You sir are a fecking oddball.

[NickD]

You'll be needing this page.

https://www.ratbike.org/rat-tech.html
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I was only doing what it said on my licence officer....
Tear along the dotted line!

[virus]

you have put a smile on my face today

what do you want out of it?

trailbike?
chop?
general backup bike?
real head turner?


give a bit more info and we can suggest things to do to make it more fit for purpose/ easier maintenance.


Cheers
John
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own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

[warped one]

Well i'm open to suggestions, i like the look of the "butchered" ones where the tail end is shorter, and it just generally looks abused.

Just fire away with the suggestions?
And i must state i have no idea what a rat bike is or what you have to do that make sit a rat bike, but the one that virus has done does look quite nice for some reason
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amnesia - Never in the history of usernames has one been more accurate. Warped indeed. You sir are a fecking oddball.

[virus]

well ratbikes typicaly evolve, mines been evolving since i got it, i only had it standard for a while before i changed the bars because i couldnt get on with them, then i go into trail riding and it went from there.

methinks your looking for a ratfighter or a chop

where do you want the back end to go? up or down?

cheers
John
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own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

[matthab]

lol jons face just lit up

Every day i pulled into college Jons bike had somthing else taped to it lol
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2005 - 2006:Peugeot jet force 50 TDSI (sold)
2006 - Present: Yamaha YBR125 06 (extras:pilot sporty tyres and screen)

[warped one]

Well its already got a pair of straights on it after many a crash and the last theift atempt which left me to ride home with my left side out fronf at a 45 deg angle. And its already black so i think im ok there, me bro suggested a couple of ammo cans on the back which i could easily make, but i was thinking along the lines of a real short back so the back of the seat is right at the bak of my arse or something along the lines of that but one would cancell out the other, but it is becoming a serious though now. Al i need to do is pass my fucking theory test and get me a2 done then it can realy begin.

Warped
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amnesia - Never in the history of usernames has one been more accurate. Warped indeed. You sir are a fecking oddball.

[virus]

pretty easy to bolt a 30 cal tin on as a backrest for a solo conversion, and if you really want to (i.e. you cant be arsed to mount the numberplate next to the swingarm) then you could mount it onto the 30 cal tin, just needs some lighting work
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own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

[stinkwheel]

I had one .

It wasn't exactly mint but it was all there and in oiriginal condition. Then some wee bastard pinched it, threw away the sidepanels, smashed the headlight and keyed the tank

As I recall I decided the carbs were FAR too worn to be capable of being balanced so I got a 2-1 inlet manifold off a CD125 (or CM125) and made up a single carb using the best looking bits from both of the original ones.

In order for this to fit, I had to remove the airbox and the battery box. I fitted a pod filter on the end of the single carb and bungeed the battery to a little alloy 'shelf' I made lying horizontally across the frame just under the seat (it bolted directly to some of the original captive nuts for the airbox).

I had a rake about in the scrap metal bin at a local garage and pulled out an intact 2-1 splitter box and a length of 1 1/2" pipe with a curve on one end and a flare on the other. I got these welded together and fitted them as the exhaust with a removable baffle (held in place with a wing-nut).

Err. I fitted an old round headlight I had lying about and a set of handlebars off an MTX125. I painted the tank matt black with warped superman logos on the side. I fitted really cheap and nasty trials tyres. I replaced the grab rail with a HUGE sissy bar made out of twisted flat bar so I could "sit" my rucksack on the pillion seat and strap it to the sissy bar. I fitted an ammo box to one side for a toolbox.

Oddly, it ran smooth as a babies arse and carburetted perfectly on the single carb, pod filter and homemade exhaust.

It passed two MOTs in that form.

I have no pictures of it.

EDIT: I also re-covered the saddle by stretching an old, brown leather jacket from a charity shop across the foam and attaching it to the seat base using self-tappers.
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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.

[virus]

was waiting for your wisdom scott

btw, is the jawa still alive?
been browsing through the old RBZ pics today and saw it, in its R+S 04 setup.

Cheers
John
____________________
own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

[stinkwheel]

[mr.z]

Found out i'll be getting my cb125 back on tuesday yay!

Currently torn between flogging the cx and cb and haveing a 250/350 or just keeping the cb and useing the cx every so often. or the 125 and a 250.. :/

Liking the idea of the single carb though, really appealing that it needs no fiddling, also should it go tits up you have a spare carb ready to go!

Imo The trick to modifying it into something improved is just ride it for a while, decide what you think it could do with then get on with it, or just ride it till bits fall off, tape them back on or find other bits that are to hand to replace them with (be it from a bike, car, boat, tractor), or make them yourself. Both will end you up with something delightfully shitty looking. Theres lots of "rats" that are stock bikes in matt black.. in only special circumstances is this what i would constitute a rat (i.e. a completely stock shiny triumph, matt black = really upset triumph owners club said triumph has evolved more interesting stuff now)

Actually a far rattyer thing would be to use what you didn't use on your liveing room, or your garrage, or your roof.. wrap underlay up and gaffa tape it where your knackered seat was. Sky (or should that be the gutter) is the limmit.

Have plans for mine all thought out (that is if its kept)
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[virus]

[warped one]

Ok i've just had aplay in paint (don't have photoshop) so the picture is realy crude and you will have to excuse the retard on the tank thats me playing about, but the red parts are what im thinking of doing and the blue lines between the exhaust are what would be another idea. I could easily make the exhaust and ammo box at work with no problems and i could do the rewiring for the lights. I was also thinking of a couple of halogen lamps or something along those lines to go on the front. Please tell me if you think my idea is shite. Thankyou

So what ya think?
Any more ideas?

Cheers

Warped
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amnesia - Never in the history of usernames has one been more accurate. Warped indeed. You sir are a fecking oddball.

[Endless Nameless]

No advice, but karma given for being the worst paintchop since... well, it's probably just the worst one ever, to be honest



Should look good though
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A2 passed 22/07/08; restriction up 22/07/10 (just so I don't forget)
'79 Suzuki GS550E. Yes, that's a GS550, not a GS500.
Supersports "In a video editing competition I'd kick your sorry ass"

[virus]

blue line will be much better for the exhaust, will require less work and will mean you can still get the side pannel off for maintenance,

keep your eye out in show and tell, just uploading the pics of my cg as a single seater, with a marshall deeptone exhaust set as a high level.

very similar to your plan.
____________________
own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

[mr.z]

thoughts..

in a crash sort of situation how happy will you be with a big metal box right where your spine is? could be enough to make a bad crash in to something worse 0_o

twin lights, ime your just as well with one, adding another makes allot less difference than you think apart from spread of light and a decent one will cover enough anyway, plus its a 125 it'll be struggling to run two
Car lights are plenty full and cheap and work very well, nath on here has one on his 550 and is very pleased with it.

Johns blue line idea with the exhaust makes allot of sense too, all you'd need to do is get a 40degree angle in there and a bracket and something to make sure you don't burn your leg off..

good luck, keep us posted
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[stinkwheel]

[hellkat]

Did Urban Terrorist not have a 125 that he farted about with?
I think it was in BSH a couple of years ago.
Look him up on Myspace.

Or am I too far behind this thread already?

Jenny-come-lately
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Rowey]

I'm thinking of ratting my superdream, at the mo the paint is chipped, scratched and worn. Was thinking dark, army green panels and tank and matt black everything else, so far the wheels, frame and exhausts are. Want to chop the seat and get rid of the airbox and replace with a pair of pod filter, then chuck some canvas panniers over it.

I'm a bit weary though, been told that good working superdreams are becoming quite a collectors piece now, and a good paint job and clean up will make it worth a pretty penny in the coming years.

Might wait untill I can find/afford a dropped, cosmetically shit, 600/500 and chop that.
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ZX6R C6F.
Never argue with an idiot. They'll only bring you down to their level, and beat you with experience.

[Mudskipper]

[virus]

hellkat, it was an ar125 i believe, nice machine.

rowey, to be honest superdreams aren't that valuable, for example i know a breaker who has had 4 in his yard that haven't shifted since ive been going there. a superdream chop would be good, stay away from off-road style though, they're too big and beefy to carry it off.


mudskipper, PICS!!!!!!

Cheers
John
____________________
own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

[warped one]

I thinking of knocking up some tins for the back at work when i have time to (realy busy) but the exhaust will have to wait because that will have to wait for: A - Time at work. B - money to buy a new exhause if i fuck the current one up, during the conversion.

I asked me dad last night if i could do this (It was his bike before i got it) and he said well it already looks like one so why not, but i'm unsure if he was being sarcastic.

If i get the funds to it i will and the ideas that i want to do because if i do go a head i'm going to do it all in one go, say over a weekend or a week, when i have another bike after passing my test.

Cheers for the ideas they're really helping me,

Warped
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amnesia - Never in the history of usernames has one been more accurate. Warped indeed. You sir are a fecking oddball.

[mr.z]

not yet.. work begins tomorrow..
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[Mudskipper]