Project rat tracker

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

Well then children, after a few months of being bikeless I've bought myself another one. This one is a lovely decaying example of a 1983ish GSX250 that I got for 50 quid.

Now the rather nice feature is that under the surface corrosion it appears to be in rather good condition. The forks bounce up and down without leaking oil, the rear shocks do much the same, the tank is nasty on the outside but good on the inside, the clocks work, and the engine runs happily with no smoke.

Yesterday I got home from work to find the guy with the bike (and van) waiting for me. I gave him money, he gave me bike, off he went. I cleaned the carbs out that afternoon - didn't even try to start the bike before cleaning them out - hooked it up to my jumpstarter, and then found my jumpstarter was dead.

So the jumpstarted charged overnight, and this morning the thing started after a little tinker with the choke and idle adjuster.

So. The big question is, do I get a seat and a couple of side panels and ride it around for a bit, then get rid of it, or do I take off all the existing bodywork, bodge on some other stuff, and make a flat tracker? From riding it around the garden, it likes to play on grass and gravel, and it is very light.

Kris · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

cover it in BioHazard tape and use it as an 'Urban Assault Vehicle'

Cool

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Adam_P · World Chat Champion Joined: 23 Jan 2004 Karma :

Flat tracker.

I've been looking in the classifieds of my local paper for something just to thrash around the lanes and fields around here.

Especially with plenty of stubble fields around at the minute.
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Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

Flat tracker. Mr. Green

You've got a car which would be used instead of a hack bike most of the time I think. Flat tracker is different and a new way to cause injury and spend money.

fazed · Korn is my hero! Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

You save money and buy a decent bike. Also fix that and keep it until you do save and buy a decent bike Wink

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

Looking pro flat tracker at the mo then. Might pop up to the local breakers this afternoon and see what they have.

Fazed - I don't spend cash on bikes, no point me having a bike worth anything to do 1 or 2k miles a year.

Robin · Scooby Slapper Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Lash a seat onto it and ride it till it next needs fixing.

It'll evolve a character of its own as time goes by. Very Happy

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

I've had another little go at it. Getting it slimmed down nicely now, although I do wonder where I'll put all the wires.

The exhaust is blowing in the mid section - the bit where its a cone. I'll do something about that and the overall length. Probably involving a hacksaw and some noise and swearing.

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

Flat tracker! Very Happy

You KNOW that you want a toy, you have a car for practicality, and I know you like bikes that are considered somewhat different from the mainstream (which, after all is said and done, people do respect).

You don't need a hack, you have a car. You need a slighty quirky toy!

Shh... it has gull wing doors! Very Happy

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Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

cliff · Doctor Sicknote Joined: 10 Feb 2004 Karma :

Looks like someone has taken my bike and enlarged it. Looks fun. Cool

Rag the arse out of it, I say.
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stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

That bike will be a bona fide ratbike within a few months.

I say flat tracker it, fit a loud exhaust of your own devising (1983 bike), throw any plastics in the bin then take it for an MOT and ride it about the place making as much of a spectacle of yourself as possible.

Matt black paint optional or just leave it to rust.

Mind you, I am biased: (Taxed, Insured and MOTed I will have you know!)
https://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/bikeshite/images/2-picture2.jpg?0.4361041710481124

https://www.ratbike.org
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Demonic69 · The Pink Rhino Joined: 31 May 2002 Karma :

Where do you find bikes like this? Bah! You could sell it to me for £55 Very Happy

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M1ke · Ped Boi Joined: 11 Jun 2002 Karma :

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

Ebay. Keep your eyes on it, occasionally gems like this turn up.

This one spent the last 5 years sitting happily in a dry barn, then the old farmer decided to sell all of his assorted bikes and bits - lots of. I made an offer, he said make it 50, I agreed.

Anyway, I went to the breakers yesterday and picked up a seat, tail unit, and petrol tank. I've started.. modifying the frame for more feel, and to make the fuel tank fit. Hacksaw made that rather heavy going, so angle grinder is on order.

It was light to start with, its going to be a lot lighter once I'm finished with it.

What are the rules on exhaust noisiness on a 1983 bike? That motad is too long, so I'm planning on just chopping it after the conical bit to give me a stubby conical exhaust. Might even weld up the holes if I get some welding gear. Failing that I'll be pop riveting on squares of ally.

tatters · Exxon Valdez Joined: 04 Jan 2004 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Your exhaust must, in the oppinion of the tester, be no louder than standard, I have found many testers do not hold very strong oppinions.

Therefore:

Cut the zorst off just behind the pegs with an angle grinder at a 45 degree angle then get a couple of VW beetle baffles to stick in the end of your new slash-cut drag pipes. If the MOT tester says it is too loud, go round the corner to the supermarket and buy a couple of packets of metal scouring pads. Pull the baffles, stuff the pads up the zorsts then go back for your free retest. Give it some gas on the way home and watch the shower of red hot sparks coming out the back end.

With a bike that old, especially if you get a daylight MOT, you can really take the piss, providing the bearings are OK and the wheels are straight, you get away with murder.
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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.

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

Its going to have to be a pisstake daytime MOT I feel.

I believe for that I need... a brake light.

I can sort one of them.

Also considering tiny speedo and tacho to bolt onto the handlebars, and probably retaining a neutral light.

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

A bit more activity today. Chopped the exhaust, but it still needs a clean up, patching, and probably some baffling.

Cleaned up the forks. They are still quite badly pitted away from the working surfaces, but I got the rust off. Cleaned up the bottoms a bit too.

Got the headlight and clocks off. Front end is getting there now.

jayluvmito · Crazy Courier Joined: 15 May 2004 Karma :

you dont need a brake light for a daytime mot, some mot testers argue that you do, but just get the rulebook out...

i would say keep lights though to ride with them on, but thats prob too sensible..

why not burn it and buy a decent bike.

or a decent classic like a 350 lc or a rd250dx...i have a dx and ther nice little bikes..
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one day...

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

why would I want a decent bike? If I paid more than 50 quid for it I might feel guilty about taking a hacksaw and angle grinder to the frame.

Today my angle grinder came, and I bought some new hacksaw blades and some decent safety specs.

I found that having a sharp hacksaw blade really makes a difference. Cut through the frame in about 10% of the time it was taking. Angle grinder I used for one cut, then it broke the disc on it and I can't persuade it off yet. Also made lots of sparks without really doing anything.

So. Chopped and drilled the frame some more, so I can now test fit the assorted bits. The seat unit is from a z650, and held on by one bolt on a belt bit of ally. The seat is a homemade one from some chopper. No idea about the fuel tank but it looks like the one off a suzuki ZR50 X1. No cap for it yet.

Starting to look flat trackery. Long way to go still though. Like playing with electricity.

Frost · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 May 2004 Karma :

If the forks are too fooked, theave some off a honda superdream, they look exactly the same, and you average scrapyard has a hundred of them! Razz

synaptyx · Crazy Courier Joined: 05 Jul 2004 Karma :

Robby, it's great seeing this thing in progress, more pics! Thumbs Up

Tarmacsurfer · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jun 2004 Karma :

Nice project Thumbs Up

Flat tracker is definitely the way to go.
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Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

I can't do too many pics - I can only take them when I'm not holding something critical, and when I have a clean hand or glove to take one.

Its a very. very messy job you see.

Going to try and get the seat fixed on tomorrow and try to get some kind of fuel cap. Then ride it around the garden and see if the hideously weakened frame snaps.

Big Pete · Spanner Monkey Joined: 18 Jul 2004 Karma :

looking good so far , seat unit looks particularly fine. Thumbs Up

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