Rat Style Bikes

[Ribenapigeon]

Is anything authentic these days? Does anyone care?. I think the whole need for authenticity is a bit out dated. There's a younger generation who've been brought up in such an artificial and virtual world that everything is essentially just a toy. They may even be right and the authenticity of anything is ultimately questionable. The kids know it's all just...... "fake news". Dig it?

[Motorhate]

I had two old rat bikes. Both were in a bad way when I got them so I just rattle canned both of them with Hammerite and off I went. The FZ750 was troublesome at times (mostly electrical) but when it went, it was rather quick. The CB500 was one of the most reliable bikes I've ever had and was a great commuter. Both were ridden all year round, never cleaned and great fun to ride..
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Current - Harley Davidson FXDB Street Bob | Harley Davidson FLTR Road Glide | Harley Davidson Road King
GONE - Honda CB500 Ratbike | Yamaha FZ750 | Yamaha XVS1100 | Kawasaki VN2000 | Kawasaki ER-6 F | Harley Davidson XL883L Sportster

[thx1138]

[Atomic Punk]

I've had a few rat bikes. They were bought out of necessity as I was a dispatch rider at the time. Those bikes with the top boxes strapped to the seat are most definitely dispatch bikes.
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I may have lost my way but I'm way ahead of schedule.

[ThatDippyTwat]

The bike I bought today is a candidate for ratting... it's fucking horrid. Lots of corrosion inhibitor tomorrow, then out with the rattlecan black methinks.
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'98 VFR800 (touring) - '12 VFR800 Crosrunner (Commuting) - '01 KDX220 (Big Green Antisocial Machine)

[UnspeedySam]

[ThatDippyTwat]

[yen_powell]

[ThatDippyTwat]

It would explain a lot... but no, apparently, they're meant to look like that.

I don't think anyone would be upset if it got ratted.
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'98 VFR800 (touring) - '12 VFR800 Crosrunner (Commuting) - '01 KDX220 (Big Green Antisocial Machine)

[UnspeedySam]

[ThatDippyTwat]

[UnspeedySam]

[lilredmachine]

Various different types of rat. Track rats, neglect rats etc.

Anything intentional is scene.

My Bandit is a track rat, there is no attempt to maintain cosmetic condition and it's built to be as cheap and effective as possible.

There are dents in the wastegate cap as it holds so much spring load in the cap to make boost that it can only be removed by using 2 welding clamps that cut into the aluminium.

The fairings have been hacked about to take clip-ons which simply don't fit on a standard Bandit. There are gouges and semi-cuts on the fairing from where I was making marks to cut the plastics to fit them.

The underside is covered in rubber and drag prep glue from numerous deceased tyres and straightline events, to the point the rear lights can barely be seen.

The exhaust is squared off on the bottom from scratching at the weekends, the air filter on the turbo is equally squared off.

The exhaust side is covered in soot and oil from the over rich exhaust and 'that'll do' catch can.

The entirely necessary underbrace of the swingarm is dented from hitting rocks and speed bumps that get in the way on the commute to work... In the pouring rain.

The bike in OP is a scene bike. Nothing looks like that unless it is MADE to look like that. Same as VW scene kids deliberately ruining the paint of a perfectly good motor to make it rusty.

My SV650 is a rat. Front end was fucked so got a FZ1000s front end I had lying around. Bodywork no longer had mounts so was binned. Motor smokes like a train over 5k as the rings are shot, ignored. Subframe was bent so cut it off. Numberplate is the rear mudguard/loom protecter. Tank looks like the surface of the moon...

https://s4.postimg.org/76cg4vw4d/20160920_185254.jpg

She's good.
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Bikes: too many, too much for one man to maintain anyway.

[lingeringstin...]

Yep, my tank is just bare metal with countless spillages of various mixes of fuels and oils, and it just doesn't rust. It's turned a sort dark brown colour but the usual rust rot has just never set in. The high lead content of that old style bike tank metal doesn't rust nearly as bad as something like a 1980's Kawasaki. I had a disintegrating GT550 that once that literally srpung a fuel leak from the rust behind the tank badge as I was riding it one day. They were known for it. But this old school Bantam tank from the 50's has never done that. There's a few small flecks of red paint still on the tank in a couple of places but it was basically already like it is now when I had it given to me about 25 years ago. I doubt it's had any paint on it since the 1960's.

[ThatDippyTwat]

Oops, I slipped while holding a rattle can. Metric fucktons of corrosion inhibitor applied, then matt blacked over. Wheels next, when I can be arsed taking them off.

https://i.imgur.com/qZ8fQma.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/lRdGEv2.jpg
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'98 VFR800 (touring) - '12 VFR800 Crosrunner (Commuting) - '01 KDX220 (Big Green Antisocial Machine)

[UnspeedySam]

I like it better now.

Still needs those stupid bars replaced though...and the seat made higher...
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Riding: Does an Audi estate count?
Fixing: Honda VFR750 RC36 '94 and MZ ETZ 251 '90
Gone: ZZR600 '00, TRX850 '97, RXS100 '93, JS125-6B '07, BMW R1100RS '93, Kawasaki ZX-6R-J2 '01,Honda Bros NT400 NC25 '88

[ThatDippyTwat]

Renthals, or renthal-a-likes, are going on it.
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'98 VFR800 (touring) - '12 VFR800 Crosrunner (Commuting) - '01 KDX220 (Big Green Antisocial Machine)

[UnspeedySam]

[Tracer1234]

[ThatDippyTwat]

Bloody bike has 1" bars, which massively limits bar choice. Think I have a solution, but we'll have to wait for the slowboat from China.
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'98 VFR800 (touring) - '12 VFR800 Crosrunner (Commuting) - '01 KDX220 (Big Green Antisocial Machine)

[redeem ouzzer]

Time MOT testers started using the "general vehicle condition" criteria to get these junkers off the road. Such scruffy machinery only serves to lower the image of motorcycling and there's no excuse for it.
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Be a REAL MAN!

[Rogerborg]

[UnspeedySam]

[stevo as b4]

I'm with Blue, in some ways.

Deliberately tatty machinery or things cobbled together just well enough to work but not work anything like as well as they could or are meant to are a shoddy approach to motoring and do give a piss poor image of vehicles to general public.

I could spend up to £5-6k next spring on a big bike, but theres nothing modern new or lightly used at that price that gets me a hard on.

Im continuing to spunk away money on my 125, for something to do really, and I've got some rusty headed bolts and fasteners dotted around the bike, due to crap nickel plating. Im toying with the idea of replacing a few of them.(maybe) with titanium fasteners, just to say my 30yr old learner bike has a bit of titanium on it somewhere.

[ThatDippyTwat]

Thankfully, some of us still don't give a fuck what the general public thinks our image. It's my bike, I've paid for it, so I get to decide. Fuck the public image.

My bikes will always be mechanically decent, but I really I don't like polishing, or chrome. Some people like polishing and chrome, but haven't got a clue about making a bike mechanically sound. I know which one I'd rather ride.
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'98 VFR800 (touring) - '12 VFR800 Crosrunner (Commuting) - '01 KDX220 (Big Green Antisocial Machine)