Rat Bikes

[bagobones]

I like rat bikes. Not worn old sacks of crap that aren't safe to ride, but bikes that go against convention - using improvised parts to fix them or maybe parts from a different model bike. Often they show blatant disregard for conventional styling. Maybe all the chrome is sanded down or even painted flat black. Sometimes the whole thing is flat black! Ugly, unconventional, but perfectly in tune and reliable.

I have seen some recently in my travels across the USA and here are some of the pictures I have taken....Please add yours!

[bagobones]

This was ridden to a ride rally with no seat!

[bagobones]

More from the Freedom Run 2010

[dt]

Saw these ratty looking things over at a swap meet in Plant City last year.

Often they show blatant disregard for conventional styling.

Like a PBR sticker on the gas tank…

Maybe all the chrome is sanded down or even painted flat black.

This would include all of bone’s bikes. 

[bagobones]

And both of mine too. 

[dt]

Here you go Bag…from the Starke Bike Fest. The “ultimate” rat bike. 

 

[flapug]

1st of many more to come from my travels around the Daytona area.

[bagobones]

Aw shucks, thanks for thinking of me! Yes, that is a fine machine indeed. Actual rubber rats too. Is that a Cadillac Emblem I see? Also good to have a combat knife handy. Ironically, my bell is hanging from basically the same spot as his. Weird horn too. A rail spike for passenger pegs, and bicycle pedals for the rider. No mufflers either. loud! And that paint job? Quite putrid! 

Here you go Bag…from the Starke Bike Fest. The “ultimate” rat bike.  

 

[flapug]

couple of wings

[dt]

^^ Hah! Must be a popular model for ratting. 

[dt]

Saw this ratter out in the parking lot at the Webster Cycle Meet today.





^^ One of the stickers says "Ugly is In!"





I took a photo of this Indian and noted the sign in the background. Whether that bike above is a show winner or not, it looks like the owner wouldn't have had a lot of competition if he pulled it across in to the show area.   

[flapug]

Wings do seem to be popular.

[flapug]

 

[dt]

^^ That would seem to fit the definition. 

...bikes that go against convention - using improvised parts to fix them or maybe parts from a different model bike.

[maureen]

I feel like I need a shower after just looking at those.

[bagobones]

Here's a ratty Honda CX500 I saw behind a theater in Chicago. The owner and I were both working for the show that night and I saw him starting it up once after the last show of the week. He wasn't very talkative (I thought he would have liked that somebody actually knew something about his old bike), but he did say it had been running on only one cylinder for a while. It sounded like total crap as he farted away down Wells st. I couldnt believe he was riding around like that, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

I guess it's not much rattier than my 81 Virago, what with the flat black paint and the mild polishing job on the engine. I do like the stripped bare gas tank and fender, but they WERE painted with a clear coat. Wimp. I guess this might qualify as a sort of cafe racer with those bars.

Actually it seems pretty clean to me now so I don't know if it goes in this category or not. It looks better in the photos than it did in person. And the sound of one cylinder going down the street didn't help it's cause.

[v65infla]

I feel like I need a shower after just looking at those.

Well then you are going to need a good scrubbing after this one.    

[dt]

^^ The related images looked pretty good too. 

[v65infla]

^^ The related images looked pretty good too. 

 

Yeah, I caught that also.  You never know what you will find win you take a picture from somewhere else.

[bagobones]

Rat GL Honda.