So what are the qualities of a rat bike?

jimbothe · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Sep 2006 Karma :

As above really, been offered a GT750 for next to nothing and knowing they are very reliable I thought I would have a go at ratting it. It isnt pretty by any means of the word....

Thought it would make a decent (even if boring) hack for work and something I can just use and abuse to save the nice bikes in the shite weather.

So what 'qualities', and I use the term loosely, does it require to be a certified rat?
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stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Ridden all the time. Function over form.

You don't rat a bike, it rats itself, you just ride it then fix it when it's broken using whatever is to hand.

stinkwheel
Winner, "best rat bike"
Rat and Survival Show 2004
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thx1138 · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Karma :

IMO they need to evolve, not be made overnight with a quick re-fit and a tin of black hamerite.

The qualities, are utlitarian funcitonality over looks, normally everything fixed as cheap as possible, with parts that come to hand, and where safe, other items can be adapted, when it needs fixing, but not deliberatly broken or removed without need in the first place.For example, an air horn stuck on the bike someplace when the horn breaks, to get it through the mot,

I've only owned one true rat bike, an MZ250etz, that I bodged, and neglected through one whole year, after picking it up 23rd hand, whilst I saved for a 750cc

But that's just my opinion, and others will differ. It's your bike - if you set about making it a rat bike straight - it's your rat bike. I'll not diss it.

Painting black is the usual colour though.

jimbothe · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Sep 2006 Karma :

Well thats cheered me up as it seems to be halfway there already from what you both say. It has been cheaply repaired where needed so far by the previous guy and half the panel work is matt black already Very Happy

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jimbothe · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Sep 2006 Karma :

stinkwheel I dont suppose you would post a picture or direct me to where one is of your beast?
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Born2bVile · Spanner Monkey Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

What Stinkwheel said............

Bit of rust showing? Use whatever paint is to hand, rather than trying to match it all.

Cable ties become half your tool kit. A hammer, screwdriver and knife complete it.

'Wash' and 'polish' disappear from your vocabulary.

You end up with more time and money to ride the thing Thumbs Up

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jimbothe · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Sep 2006 Karma :

So am I right in thinking the gt would be a good candidate for this? I automatically assumed it would be a good start on the reliability sense as they were a popular courier bike and the shaft drive would mean less maintanence....
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thx1138 · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Karma :

nobody, well hardly anyone, will contemplate stealing it, but you might end up with people reporting an abandoned motorbike from time to time. Very Happy

Ariel Badger · Super Spammer Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Karma :

Yanks build rat bikes and they look shit, they just weld crap on them.
Rust is not good, Paint over rust even give it a coat of curerust first. ride the bike everyday and it will turn rat but try and keep it as good as you can, clean salt off. tune the engine and keep it safe.
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colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

in theory, its function over form, and in theory its Ride All the Time, but actually rat bike afficionados, are just as prone too tarting up bikes as the annodised shiny things crew

basically, a rat bike is supposed to look different from a normal bike in that it has a bit of a mad max air to it

this sometimes involves vandalising perfectly functional bikes to create a particular look, removing working headlights and fitting something else which isnt really a headlight, etc

i prefer bikes that are just a bit scruffy and not cleaned very often to create that air of being in use as opposed to something that is more ornament than vehicle

tarty things be they shop bought or home made, are nice to look at but often they are really just for show

i do prefer the home made tartyness, to the "HOW MUCH !?!?!?" type decoration, but its still just another side of the same coin

to my mind, something is trying too hard to be a rat bike is almost as bad as something with too much annodised bits

it is possible to overdo things
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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

Paint it with rust,oil and dirt
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Lone-Wolf · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Jul 2004 Karma :

Wotcha.

Ah, the good old days Mr. Green

My old sidevalve BSA M21 ''Hairy outfit''
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craigs23 · Mr Muscle Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Karma :

My R6 is like a rat bike. Wink

I use it everyday and, relatively speaking to my usual routine, don't clean it. It's form is far better suited to its use than my rat-bike Hornet ever was.

jimbothe · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Sep 2006 Karma :

queen of string · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Karma :

That, lone wolf is a thing of beauty. I'd love a rat bike but teaman has a bike washing/polishing obsession and a bodge phobia so it's just not happening Sad

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virus · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Aug 2006 Karma :

something that ridden hard, and fixed when it needs to be as cheap as possible, also upgrading bits on the cheap, modified to suit purpose better and never showing it a bucket of soapy water Laughing

like my cg, converted to a trail bike, better suspension, lights, handguards, cut down indis etc

https://www.bikechatforums.com/download.php?id=55075

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.

Wafer_Thin_Ham · Super Spammer Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :

Heat proof black paint and lots of it. That is all.
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stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

There are many pictures, including one of my Jawa, in the various galleries on https://www.ratbike.org
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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.