Gotta love the Rat Bikes

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Gotta love the Rat Bikes

Postby seaguy » Fri Oct 16, 2009 6:25 pm

Don't know why but found I am fascinated with the Rat Bikes/survival/road warrior types. They look like they'ed be a lot of fun to get into. If you don't no what I'm talking about check out utube and search Build a Rat Bike. It's a video of a conversion. Some are really crazy. Real knee slappers. BackBones on the tank and a frankenskull for a headlight.
I have been given a 74 honda CB350 with a few ailments. Think I might venture into the Rat Zone with it. Search rat bike zone and get some laughs.
Regards, Rich
My Old Iron: 51 MT John Deere,42 MightyMite,2 Maytags and 4 Briggs&Stratton pre 50's
My Bikes: 71 750 Commando Roadster, 82 Yam XJ650, and a 73 Honda 350 Flat Black Rat
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Re: Gotta love the Rat Bikes

Postby Cookie » Thu Oct 29, 2009 2:27 pm

I think they are pretty funny too. I started out to build a rat but I couldn't quite bear to build one that ugly. It's turning out to be sort of an in between bike.
Regards,
Cookie
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Re: Gotta love the Rat Bikes

Postby grandpaul » Fri Oct 30, 2009 7:13 am

I've been thinking even more extreme thoughts:

ART BIKE!!!!!

That takes guts.
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Re: Gotta love the Rat Bikes

Postby Cookie » Fri Oct 30, 2009 8:29 am

I've seen some strange one in SF, at Burning Man, and at the Maker's Faire.
Regards,
Cookie
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Re: Gotta love the Rat Bikes

Postby seaguy » Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:37 am

I had to go for it. A work buddy gave me a 1974 CB350 twin that has been in the weather since 1975. I am going to do the bare minimum to get it going and go from there. After I got it I found a 82 XJ650 Maxim for 100 bucks on Craig's List. Couldn't let that pass so now I have even less room to work. The maxim is actually a real nice bike for it's age.
Image
Last edited by seaguy on Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:21 am, edited 1 time in total.
Regards, Rich
My Old Iron: 51 MT John Deere,42 MightyMite,2 Maytags and 4 Briggs&Stratton pre 50's
My Bikes: 71 750 Commando Roadster, 82 Yam XJ650, and a 73 Honda 350 Flat Black Rat
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Re: Gotta love the Rat Bikes

Postby Cookie » Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:04 am

My bike of choice around town tends to be the Chang for it's carrying capacity,also at the big motorcycle show yesterday you can just lock riding gear and helmet in the boot.
The bike I miss having around was a 250 Triumph single a friend who lived at my farm had while we were in college. A small bike can be great for errands, say that nut and bolt or lightbulb you just found you need.
Looks like good stuff for a little run around to me.
Regards,
Cookie
750 Commando Featherbed hybrid
3 76 Goldwings including an LTD and one 75
CJ 750 sidecar outfit
Water cooled police CJ sidecar outfit
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Re: Gotta love the Rat Bikes

Postby seaguy » Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:29 am

Now I have too much to play with. I need to finish that Norton. It's all over my basement. I have everything for it now except Instruments. I Have a complete green ball speedo and the glass/bezel kit but the tach is toast. Wish i could afford a Dakota Digital al-in-one. That would look nice to me. Need to get re-motivated. Personal issues have sucked lately.
Regards, Rich
My Old Iron: 51 MT John Deere,42 MightyMite,2 Maytags and 4 Briggs&Stratton pre 50's
My Bikes: 71 750 Commando Roadster, 82 Yam XJ650, and a 73 Honda 350 Flat Black Rat
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Re: Gotta love the Rat Bikes

Postby grandpaul » Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:26 pm

Rich, go back and review all the recent (3 or 4 pages deep) member project threads that are now running. If THAT doesn't get your blood pumping, you need to check into the nearest cardiac emergency care unit!!!
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Re: Gotta love the Rat Bikes

Postby Cookie » Mon Nov 23, 2009 8:12 pm

Man, these bike projects seem so tiny and nice to me today. I had 40 volunteers including about 12 Marines working Saturday and we got decorations up on a caboose and two gallery cars. Today I finished the wiring and we got the generator straightened out enough to light it all up. Now I just need a Boise. I prefer 920 and I should get her before Saturday.
Then I can go back on my bike.
http://www.caltrain.com/caltrain_locomotives.html
Regards,
Cookie
750 Commando Featherbed hybrid
3 76 Goldwings including an LTD and one 75
CJ 750 sidecar outfit
Water cooled police CJ sidecar outfit
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Re: Gotta love the Rat Bikes

Postby seaguy » Mon Nov 23, 2009 8:44 pm

grandpaul wrote:I've been thinking even more extreme thoughts:

ART BIKE!!!!!

That takes guts.

I searched for these and all I found was bicycles... is that what your talking about or is it yet another style of motorcycle?
Regards, Rich
My Old Iron: 51 MT John Deere,42 MightyMite,2 Maytags and 4 Briggs&Stratton pre 50's
My Bikes: 71 750 Commando Roadster, 82 Yam XJ650, and a 73 Honda 350 Flat Black Rat
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Re: Gotta love the Rat Bikes

Postby Cookie » Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:22 pm

Regards,
Cookie
750 Commando Featherbed hybrid
3 76 Goldwings including an LTD and one 75
CJ 750 sidecar outfit
Water cooled police CJ sidecar outfit
Cookie
 
Posts: 1696
Joined: Sun Oct 05, 2008 8:25 pm
Location: San Mateo, CA

Re: Gotta love the Rat Bikes

Postby grandpaul » Tue Nov 24, 2009 7:47 am

seaguy wrote:I searched for these and all I found was bicycles... is that what your talking about or is it yet another style of motorcycle?


Search "art car" and you should get a few art bikes as well.

It's a lot easier with cars, you don't have to balance them.
GrandPaul
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Re: Gotta love the Rat Bikes

Postby DonOR » Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:26 pm

Cookie,
a few years back, I took the surfrider from LA to san diego, eventually ending up in ensenada.... lotsa fun in just a few days. Never been on caltrains, though. Is it sacreligious to ask if there's a difference? Cheers, Don (btw, the old dog's looking good)
98% of all Harleys ever sold are still on the road. The other 2% made it home.

1972 Combat Roadster
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Re: Gotta love the Rat Bikes

Postby Cookie » Tue Nov 24, 2009 4:51 pm

Different system but much the same, commuter rail. We run SF to Gilroy. All the cool kids want to live in SF but the jobs are in Silicone Valley.
I got a tubing bender so I plan to attack the old dog as soon as I relax a bit from hanging the last of the lights. All we need now is an engine.
Regards,
Cookie
750 Commando Featherbed hybrid
3 76 Goldwings including an LTD and one 75
CJ 750 sidecar outfit
Water cooled police CJ sidecar outfit
Cookie
 
Posts: 1696
Joined: Sun Oct 05, 2008 8:25 pm
Location: San Mateo, CA

Re: Gotta love the Rat Bikes

Postby seaguy » Thu Jan 14, 2010 8:37 pm

grandpaul wrote:Rich, go back and review all the recent (3 or 4 pages deep) member project threads that are now running. If THAT doesn't get your blood pumping, you need to check into the nearest cardiac emergency care unit!!!


Actually...I had to do that. Ok now though.
Regards, Rich
My Old Iron: 51 MT John Deere,42 MightyMite,2 Maytags and 4 Briggs&Stratton pre 50's
My Bikes: 71 750 Commando Roadster, 82 Yam XJ650, and a 73 Honda 350 Flat Black Rat
User avatar
seaguy
 
Posts: 263
Joined: Tue May 19, 2009 6:26 am
Location: Orange Beach,AL (Redneck Riviera)

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