I want to build...

[Greg]

...a Rat Motorcycle.

That's not the best example, but it was a project in the works. That Yamaha has the right start seems to be going the right direction.

Start with a late-70's Yahama, Honda or Suzuki that has a 2 cylinder, decent size'd engine (500-750cc) that runs good and mod it from there. Build a hardtail rearend, dirtbike forks and narrow handlebars. Run it fenderless, paint it a flat color and just have a cheap, reliable bike that gets good mileage.

 

[Exalted 4x4]

wow greg your like me and have a interest in everything! Home improvement to do it yourself choppers.

 

[Kiel]

I'm diggin that, now only if I had ever ridden a motorcycle I'm thinking that could be done on the cheap:greg:

 

[lenny]

I would think that you would want to use a 4 stroke just because of the simple fact that most 2 stroke street bikes I have ridden leave you smelling like exhaust and are temperamental to start.

What about starting with something like a CX500 Deluxe Honda? Electric start and 4 stroke with decent power. only down side is that its propshaft driven which would make building a hard tail kinda difficult.

 

[BioNuke1]

2 Cylinder, not 2 stroke.

 

[Greg]

I would think that you would want to use a 4 stroke just because of the simple fact that most 2 stroke street bikes I have ridden leave you smelling like exhaust and are temperamental to start.

What about starting with something like a CX500 Deluxe Honda? Electric start and 4 stroke with decent power. only down side is that its propshaft driven which would make building a hard tail kinda difficult.

Not a 2 stroke... I'd build a chain drive for sure. Easy to modify.

 

[crimsonride]

I'm doing something along those lines...but not really. In fact, I just brought it home saturday. I'm going to build a cafe cruiser though.

 

[Greg]

I'm doing something along those lines...but not really. In fact, I just brought it home saturday. I'm going to build a cafe cruiser though.

I'd love to see pics as it comes along.

 

[lenny]

2 Cylinder, not 2 stroke.

Haha! oops my mistake

 

[phatfoto]

I had a 81 Yamaha XS650 and always thought it would make a great rat bike. Well, after I got rid of it, I found out what rat bikes were and thought my old 650 would have been perfect. But I'd have to have some suspension in the back. My back would kill me if I didn't.

The 650 was a great machine, stronger than most gave it credit for. Originally a 70s Cafe bike, evolved to a cruiser...

Not long after this pic, the bike got dual front disks and factory mags, a flatter handlebar, and the anti-vibe rubber isolators for the handlebars were cut in half and shimmed with washers. Firmed up the controls, but made the handlebars vibrate worse...

 

[crimsonride]

this was the last one I did for my buddy. We didn't get very far on it till my buddy got married and all progress stopped. This is only about a fifth of what I'm going to on this new one.

 

[Stephen]

I'm rebuilding one of these:

At 72cc, it's technically a motorcycle! Does that mean that I can be part of the 'badass biker' thread going on here?

 

[Coreshot]

Here's a cool one from Exile...

 

[Coreshot]

My next project, I'm gonna take this...

 

[Coreshot]

...to this...

 

[Medsker]

So what exactly is a "rat" bike for us uninformed people? I know I could google it but I'd rather here what it is from enthusiest then dictionary. I rebuild wrecked Harleys for fun in my spare time and it might be fun to try one of these.

Medsker

 

[Greg]

this was the last one I did for my buddy. We didn't get very far on it till my buddy got married and all progress stopped. This is only about a fifth of what I'm going to on this new one.

Looks good, to bad it didn't get finished.

...to this...

That'll be fun!

So what exactly is a "rat" bike for us uninformed people? I know I could google it but I'd rather here what it is from enthusiest then dictionary. I rebuild wrecked Harleys for fun in my spare time and it might be fun to try one of these.

Medsker

Well, the Rat part comes from the term Rat Rod, which is a hot rod built with the mentality of 'beg, borrow & steal' for parts. They are usually pretty rough, built cheap with whatever parts you or your buddies have on hand. Flat black or another flat color is the choice of paint or the faded original paint covers the metal. My Dodge Modified project is something along those lines, Cadillac motor, rusted-thru Dodge body, tractor grill, Ford Bronco axle, homemade frame, etc, etc.

Here's the look I'm shooting for with my car-

Basically I want to apply that concept to a bike, something cheap, different & fun. Start out with a running Japanese bike for a few hundred dollars, strip off all the unneeded junk, delete the rear suspension, add longer dirtbike forks & stretch the front a little, add a set of narrow drag bars, a cool gas tank, paint it flat black & call it done. Does that help?

 

[phatfoto]

Basically I want to apply that concept to a bike, something cheap, different & fun. Start out with a running Japanese bike for a few hundred dollars, strip off all the unneeded junk, delete the rear suspension, add longer dirtbike forks & stretch the front a little, add a set of narrow drag bars, a cool gas tank, paint it flat black & call it done. Does that help?

In my case, I really don't want a hardtail. But I've thought that some very short shocks, or altered shock mounting to get the rear pretty low would have been cool. Some narrow handlebars would be good too. As for the dirtbike fork, I'm not sure I want to give up dual disks on the front. My 81 XS650 had a single disk on it when I bought it, there was a pricey factory option to add a second disk. The opposite fork had mounting ears for a caliper so that was easy. The mag wheels I added were factory, and the front was drilled for two disks. I just couldn't believe the HUGE difference in braking with that setup. I switched to the mags when I broke a few spokes on the original rear wheel. THe used mags were cheaper than replacing spokes.

Hmmm, I wonder if I could find some longer upper forks to work with original XS lowers... Just what I need, another project I can't afford!

 

[Greg]

In my case, I really don't want a hardtail. But I've though that some very short shocks, or latered shock mounting to get the rear pretty low would have been cool. Some narrow handlebars would be good too. As for the dirtbike fork, I'm not sure I want to give up dual disks on the front. My 81 XS650 had a single disk on it when I bought it, there was a pricey factory option to add a second disk. The opposite fork had mounting ears for a caliper so that was easy. The mag wheels I added were factory, and the front was drilled for two disks. I just couldn't believe the HUGE difference in braking with that setup. I switched to the mags when I broke a few spokes on the original rear wheel. THe used mags were cheaper than replacing spokes.

Hmmm, I wonder if I could find some longer upper forks to work with original XS lowers... Just what I need, another project I can't afford!

That's the cool think about building anything.... you make it your own! I don't need to follow thru with starting this idea, I really don't have the time or room right now. I need to finish up the hot rod at least.

 

[phatfoto]

I've been thinking another bike would be cool. But after moving here from Cali last summer, I figured it would be a few years before I even considered one. Now this just brings some old ideas I've had back to the warming tray...