Brat Bikes - The marmite of the biking world?

[stablepeach]

Hi, I'm pretty new here and having done some reading was a bit surprised at the disdain with which the brat bikes/scramblers are viewed with...

From what I can tell there seem to be a few reasons for this...
1) People don't like the look - this also seems to spread to the people who typical are seen to ride them?
2) The modifications that are done are purely aesthetic and can put the structural integrity of the bike at risk.
3) The bikes are not very resaleable as they've had bits chopped off which mean they can never be put back to 'standard'.

All these points make sense and are great guidance... I personally like the look so wanted to understand whether there was anything else I've missed?

My thoughts are that once I've got something that serves as a solid foundation there are things that can be done to get close to the look without having to lop off bits or make the bike unsafe... but again wanted to understand if I've missed something.

I'm a long way away from doing anything beyond just trying to rebuild my garage of parts into a bike shape but was keen to get underneath this so that I understood why people disliked them so...

Thanks!.
Matt
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StablePeach

[wr6133]

Some reason people using the term "brat bike", makes me want to punch them, with a scaffolding bar.

A decent scrambler/street scrambler type build even when aesthetic only can (imo) look really good. However 99.9% of them are dangerous, shit looking things made my morons in their shed who appear to be using the "My first Angle Grinder" play-set, coupled with buying all their crap (sorry, "unique custom parts"), from eBay, without looking and on recommendation from Stevie Wonder.

[MarJay]

I'm going to take the risk that I'm going to sound gatekeepery here, but I think it's sort of justified.

Nobody who was into bikes pre this latest fad is into 'Brat' bikes. The only people who are who think that checked shirts, man buns and beard oil is cool.

A brat bike is an accessory in the same way a portable vinyl player is for some. At first it was an amusing diversion to watch these non motorcyclist motorcyclists mess about with crap old Japanese tat that nobody wanted. Then it got serious. Taking fairly rare Japanese and European bikes and ruining them, and then trying to charge ten times the market rate for them.

Nowadays it's impossible to get an MOT'd bike for much less than £1500, and as for Japanese UJMs, the prices have gone through the roof. Why? Because the world and their wife want to grind them to bits and turn them into 'Brat' bikes. Even the idea of the Cafe racer has been usurped, as well as the scrambler. The thing is though, PCP is now a thing, and many of the mainstream manufacturers will happily sell you a brown seated retro which will have a warranty. And it doesn't involve the carving up of dwindling numbers of perhaps formerly unloved but now rare Japanese classics.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Riejufixing]

[Riejufixing]

[stablepeach]

If it helps I've never been able to grow a beard. I do however own a checked shirt... and my hair is longer than normal thanks to Covid.

Your points all make sense and I don't remember seeing any of this around when I was riding previously. I was also quite surprised at the going rate compared to when I bought my last one back in 2004.
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StablePeach

[pepperami]

[Polarbear]

That scaffolding bar is going to get some serious use.

The bear has joined the queue.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[chickenstrip]

Do it to a Superdream. Do anything you want to a Superdream, up to and including setting it on fire. But please leave nice bikes alone. They're getting too rare to be ruining like this. In fact, that would be my main point. If there are millions of a certain model, I'm not bothered. But when we start to get down to models that were deemed as good bikes and that there aren't that many left, and commanding strong prices when they do crop up for sale, it's unforgivable.

Or do it to Chinese bikes. They're ruined from the factory anyway
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Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[Bhud]

People either love or hate Marmite.

I don't think anyone loves "brat" bikes. It's more like a fashion fad. Like clothes, it's a big industry - parts and once-plentiful old bikes sell like hotcakes on Ebay, and mainstream parts sellers have also been in on the action for a few years. The reasons why someone would want to own one are complex, but they come down to attention being a coveted resource in short supply in an overpopulated world where everyone is on social media. Rudderless ships, and all that. You won't find these things being ridden much. People use them like anything else - in an attempt to establish a credible identity. It's not even just a youth thing nowadays. People do it well into old age.

If, on the other hand, you like riding bikes, it isn't the path for you. Just look around and count all the "brat" bikes on the road.

[A100man]

Its a fashion brought about by the sort of people who buy their jeans pre-ripped - wankers.

I'm presuming the CG125 is targeted for the heresy treatment because aforementioned wankers haven't the gumption to pass a test.
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Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600

[GSTEEL32]

So... having not come across this form of buggery before..

Street-fighter bikes are ones which have been crashed from the front, and brat bikes are ones which have been crashed from the back...... unless you spend a lot of money, in which case brat bikes have been crashed from the back AND the front.. ?

K.. Got it.

[redeem ouzzer]

As above - for a riding machine as much use as tits on a fish. They are purely an expression of fashion / image.

As i've said before, i'd be quite happy for us to have tough laws like the German TUV, that would stop the cunts in their tracks....
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Be a REAL MAN!

[Ayrton]

My dislike of them is that it's always done purely for the aesthetics and so the owner can go larping as hipster. Just look at the advertising photo's for the Ducati scrambler, it's always some guy wearing an open face helmet in jeans and lightweight boots. I suppose that isnt anything new and is probably the same for most types of bikes, just look at all the sons of anarchy wannabees riding cruisers.

I got pretty annoyed the other day when I had a look on ebay for a 125 for the girlfriend and most of the Honda CG's where either turned into some kind of brat cafe racer thing or sold as potential cafe racer projects. These are decent bikes that learners should be able to pick up fairly cheap, but instead they are being ruined and then sold on for £1000+. I'm sure it's the same situation for a lot of older bikes that could make decent cheap starter bikes for people.

[stinkwheel]

The first "Brat" bike I saw was on the "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" films. Pretty cool bike, novel styling, something different.

Built as a custom build so a well executed working bike as well as a neat neo-ratbike look. Based on a K-series CB350 which was a pretty poky bike in its day. I'd have one.

My main issues with them is that people who have no idea what they are doing dive right in there and try to build a custom bike. I just built a custom bike after over 20 years of maintaining my own bikes and it was a real challenge.

So people cut bits off the frame they needed (without reference to the legal implications), they fit pod air filters for cosmetic reasons with absolutely no idea how to set the bike up to run with them, they throw away utterly necessary parts, they try to scratch-build a wiring loom.

Then they come on forums to ask for help to deal with the bike they've ruined. Then the bike lands up on ebay.

Let's look at the original "Brat" bike.

https://cdn-2.returnofthecaferacers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Girl-with-Dragon-Tattoo-motorcycle-1.jpg

Look, mudguards. Both ends. These stop the front wheel spraying water in your face and the rear one spraying gravel into the carbs. An interesting, classic engine with well documented options for tuning it to run with pod filters and a loud exhaust.

First thing the builder of this bike did was thoroughly overhaul the motor, suspension and transmission. You can hear how well it goes in the films.

Forks attached to the yoke in the usual position, not dropped through and not a gaiter in sight. Oh look, shrouds, classy.

Twin leading drum brake, interesting mechanics.

Very limited use of exhaust wrap, only where you'd burn your leg if it wasn't there.

Seat, remarkably, is not brown.

Silencers and a mainstand. Even has a chainguard and battery box.

Clip-ons are there but not thumb-trappers. I would like to see rearsets on this bike.

The front tyre is silly.

Back part of the subframe has been chopped but then braced. As has the rear mudguard.
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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.

[chickenstrip]

[MarJay]

https://steemit.com/history/@deus/who-is-go-takamine-and-what-does-brat-style-mean

It's all copied from a Japanese man who has a shop called 'BratStyle'.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[WD Forte]

Me next with that scaff bar!

No mudguards tells you its for a wanker
who will rarely ride it and if then not far
and never, ever, EVER! in or after rain

Most are garden ornaments for poseurs
and the money these twats expect for their polished turds
is a shocker.

Oh and knobbly tyres for a road bike FFS
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bikers smell of wee

[smokin joe]

Being a returnee to biking after an eight year lay off I'd never heard the term "Brat bike" till I saw this thread. So being a curious type I typed it into ebay, and got this -

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CB750-Four-Street-Scrambler-Warranty-and-Finance-Available/264793080309?hash=item3da6e5c1f5:g:vvAAAOSwXfhfCh~M

Can I join the list for the iron bar, and do you mind it I heat it to cherry red and wrap barbed wire round it?

[arry]

[dynax]

I was going to sell my CG125 later this year as i don't tend to use it very much, but i am buggered if i am going to sell it on now, it is all original barring new tyres and tubes, i would hate for it to be destroyed by some cnut who hasn't got a clue about shit, so i am going to make more of an effort to use it more even if just once a week, no fekker is getting their hands on it
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Mike.
Bikes: Xena, Bridget,Florence
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmihUc0xXxYbR4_0l-F1FzA/videos?view_as=subscriber

[redeem ouzzer]

[MarJay]

[c_dug]

[Zen Dog]