Rat/Rough Bikes, you have owned.

[tri boy]

Today I got all nostalgic and scanned some photos of bikes I have owned.
Amongst the cluster of 20yr old pics, was one that stood out.
It was a rough old Honda four, made up from a mish mash of parts sourced from the bike wreckers I was swinging spanners for.
I dragged it out of the pile of wrecks, got it running etc, for the sole purpose of riding it to the Xmas party, so all us Hairys had something to destroy when we got pissed(as every red blooded apprentice does).
Could we kill it?
Only by riding it into the river!:shit:
Next morning, it was skull dragged out of said river, thrown on a trailer and taken back to the workshop.
For the next Nine months it became my Rat Bike. Broke down regulary, was a constant source of laughter, frustration, learning etc.
Anyway, I would be interested to hear of similar Rats that people have owned, and the adventures you have had with them.
I did a search for similar threads but couldn't find one, so if this has been done to death, my apologies.:yes:

[Steam]

I got a couple of survivals but that's different from rat, kinda instant-rat really.
One day when I have mechanical knowledge I will have a bike so dirty and oily and bodged together, I will be known far and wide as "that rat guy".
That is my ambition in life.
oh, Gotta have a beard too, a big white one.

[tri boy]

Hey Steam,
The CX in years to come will transform into a perfect Rat.
Give the beastie shit, and it will grow a tail and sharp, sharp teeth.:Punk:

[Bonez]

Hey Steam,
The CX in years to come will transform into a perfect Rat.
Give the beastie shit, and it will grow a tail and sharp, sharp teeth.:Punk:Aint that the truth. I'm having a ball of a time on mine. Nearest thing to a rat bike I had, apart from my CX that is, was an early '70s Cb500. Rusted Cb550 fuel tank, rusted seat pan that flexed every time you went over a bump, shitty tires and rather obnoxious 4 into 1.

Went rather well and used as much oil as the CX. Did my first winter Tahapie/Napier crossing on it. Ended up wrecking it as room was a premium at the time. Still have the 4 into one and some top end bits, crank and a few other bits that are compatable with my '76 CB550F.

Never ever got around to taking pics of the cb500 for some odd reason.

[billyvan]

The one I am working on/playing on, at the moment is a real dog, It's a freebie project, 1980 TF185 Suzuki.

Got given the bike with no cluth, due to a shorn off shaft and missing parts.

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Got given lots of donor parts of a TS185 for nada!

Its now running again after turning it into a TF/TS 185.

Just gota get the wiring right and ride it for a few months, before I try and unleash it's quirks on some other keen punter :yes:

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Good fun building though:yes:

[tri boy]

Those old TF/TS Suzi's were tough old girls,
Even high country farmers struggled to kill them. Mainly died from a poor oil change out policy, or bouncing down/over steep country.
A true Shearing Shed Rat.:headbang:

[vifferman]

When I was "between bikes" in the early 80s, my (then) bro-in-law gave me a bike in exchange for painting his roof and fitting some guttering. It was a CB250RS, with an XR500 engine and twin Cycleworks zorsts. It ran like a bag of arseholes, and the previous owner had given up on it and dumped it on the side of the road. After my bro-in-law retrieved it, it then spent several months sitting in the weather outside.

I checked it over, and found out it the intake valves weren't seating, so I took the head off, and my uncle (who was a tutor at the tech) got his students to give it a valve grind. While that was going on, I took the rest of it apart, and painted everything with spray cans from Repco. Had some el-cheapo tyres and a chain fitted, and it was back on the road. It still didn't run terribly well, but by chance I found something in a dirtbike mag about XR carbs, drilled the slider, rejetted it, and it was much happier.

All up it cost me $630 to get mobile, but I never quite got the jetting sorted so it was a bit cranky. Pulled beaut wheelies though!

Then one night it got stolen from the garage while I was at work, and taken on a joyride around a local subdivision. I found it the next morning, a wee bit trashed from being crashed in the dirt, and with a broken ignition. By chance, a girl who worked for me had a flatmate with some CB250RS parts lying around, and I got replacements for all the trashed parts for next to nothing.

I kept it for a while, then decided I needed summat a bit more tidy and with less "character", and bought a VF500. Some guy in Wanganui bought the XB500RS from the shop I bought the VF from, and I came out about even, once the commission was accounted for.

[tri boy]

Wow, it's a small world.
Snap, on owning a CB250RS.
Snap, on having Wanganui connections. (hmmm, wonder if my old RS ended up with a 500 in it?).
Often I wondered if the mighty RS would handle a XL/XR 500 conversion. My mate had a CB400N, and loved fly'n past me, giving me "The Bird".
Photo of both of us on the incline just out of National Park, circa early 80s.
By chance, was the RS blue?

[Bonez]

Wow, it's a small world.
Snap, on owning a CB250RS.
Snap, on having Wanganui connections. (hmmm, wonder if my old RS ended up with a 500 in it?).
Often I wondered if the mighty RS would handle a XL/XR 500 conversion. My mate had a CB400N, and loved fly'n past me, giving me "The Bird".
Photo of both of us on the incline just out of National Park, circa early 80s.
By chance, was the RS blue?
I've got a blue cb250rs in the garden shed keeping the C50 stepthough company.

[xwhatsit]

Not sure if my CB250RS counts. Paintwork is far too good to be a rat bike, and it doesn't burn any oil (just leak it from the gear shift shaft :)). However it does fuck plugs up the arse like they're Zhang Ziyi and as a result I have to bump start it more often than not. Speedo unit is held on with duct-tape.

I'd love a CB500RS, but don't want to sacrifice my own CB250RS, I doubt they'd handle particularly well compared to the original which is a beautifully balanced little thing.

I bought a parts bike for peanuts, and ripped off nearly all the bits I needed, and then recently sold the rolling chassis to a racer who is putting an XL500 motor in it to race it in post-classics. Of course I'm a numbnuts who left the pillion pegs attached to the frame; so now that one of my pillion pegs has dropped off somewhere I don't have any spares :D. Going to see him tonight to get them back off him lol.

[tri boy]

Not sure if my CB250RS counts. Paintwork is far too good to be a rat bike, and it doesn't burn any oil (just leak it from the gear shift shaft :)). However it does fuck plugs up the arse like they're Zhang Ziyi and as a result I have to bump start it more often than not. Speedo unit is held on with duct-tape.

I'd love a CB500RS, but don't want to sacrifice my own CB250RS, I doubt they'd handle particularly well compared to the original which is a beautifully balanced little thing.

I bought a parts bike for peanuts, and ripped off nearly all the bits I needed, and then recently sold the rolling chassis to a racer who is putting an XL500 motor in it to race it in post-classics. Of course I'm a numbnuts who left the pillion pegs attached to the frame; so now that one of my pillion pegs has dropped off somewhere I don't have any spares :D. Going to see him tonight to get them back off him lol.

Fucks plugs. Held together with duct tape?
Your table is waiting sir.:yes:

[xwhatsit]

Fucks plugs. Held together with duct tape?
Your table is waiting sir.:yes:

Shut up, prick :D
It's not a Suzuki so it doesn't count :scooter:

[nudemetalz]

When I was younger, I had a Honda CB400/4. It had 85,000km's on it and was quite rough looking. The previous owner had put a CB450 muffler on as the original had rusted out.
Now, I did some really mean things to that poor old machine :---
Like.................
- Did a "Peace Symbol" up at the Sign of the Kiwi (back when I lived in ChCh obviously). The poor old machine sat on 10,000rpm while I got a friend of mine to help me turn her around in a circle. The clutch wouldn't work for some time 'til she cooled down.

- Then, I decided to find out how high she would rev in first gear (down Colombo St, I was a teenager you know). Got to an indicated 15,000rpm before she decided to valve bounce. However, she didn't die.

--Then, I decided to do a top speed run. I got her at about an indicated 160-165km/h when all of a sudden she started sounding really loud. I looked in the mirrors and I saw my muffler doing cartwheels behind me. OOPPS -So I stopped and bungyed the muffler back on and took her home.

Nowadays I'm conservative with my riding, but always think about that old dog, the 400/4 or when it rained the 300/3 or 200/2.

:scooter:

[xwhatsit]

When I was younger, I had a Honda CB400/4. It had 85,000km's on it and was quite rough looking. The previous owner had put a CB450 muffler on as the original had rusted out.
Now, I did some really mean things to that poor old machine :---
Like.................
- Did a "Peace Symbol" up at the Sign of the Kiwi (back when I lived in ChCh obviously). The poor old machine sat on 10,000rpm while I got a friend of mine to help me turn her around in a circle. The clutch wouldn't work for some time 'til she cooled down.

- Then, I decided to find out how high she would rev in first gear (down Colombo St, I was a teenager you know). Got to an indicated 15,000rpm before she decided to valve bounce. However, she didn't die.

--Then, I decided to do a top speed run. I got her at about an indicated 160-165km/h when all of a sudden she started sounding really loud. I looked in the mirrors and I saw my muffler doing cartwheels behind me. OOPPS -So I stopped and bungyed the muffler back on and took her home.

Nowadays I'm conservative with my riding, but always think about that old dog, the 400/4 or when it rained the 300/3 or 200/2.

:scooter:

Hahaha, that's brilliant. I think it's really good that the engine in my bike carked it early on in the piece. Taking apart an engine and putting it back together -- forking out money for the bits, too! -- really makes you think about the glorious mass of whirly-bits whizzing about inside, and you're loathe to do something that hurts 'em. I think having to do that rebuild makes me a hell of a lot nicer to the poor wee one-lunger.

Rat bikes are a good test of a bike's longevity and strength, however. Bikes like the CX500 seem to crop up all the time as rats, indicating that they indeed can stand an extraordinary amount of abuse.

400-500cc bikes seem to be a popular choice. Perhaps that size engine is large enough to be relatively unstressed in normal use, so they last longer; but bigger engines seemed to go into the bigger more sporty bikes that would die earlier from a crash, or because they were nicer bikes had more attention lavished on them.

[koba]

haha nice ones guys!

Later generation of rider here, hence the newer bike.

My one is an 88 gsxr 250, one of the 17,000 rev screamers, will do 20,000 tho!

Its known around the place a bit, especially having had so many (I forget howmany, but lots) previous owners. (icl Vasaline warrior)

Affectionatley she is dubbed "the black bitch"

Its got 2000 kays on the clock beacuse it got all the way round before the speedo cable snapped! that was a while ago now...

Runs like shit, but keeps running. had a blown head gasket for about 10,000 kays of me riding it, just got sick of topping up the cooland coz ya gotta take the tank off. Did the head gasket and couldn't believe it but the head was flat! after running semi-aircooled with a hard wired fan for about 3 months!

Tuff as fuck motor in the thing, just keeps on going thu all sorts of abuse (must admit to always being fastidious in changing oil tho)

Its painted an interesting mix of gloss and matt black, except the primerish spill effect where I painted half the tank in enamel which is, as I know now, petrol soluable!

Under the paint is black fairing, blue fairing, white fairing and probably more.

It was the first bike I ever really rode, but did it with no front brakes for ages because it belonged to a mate at the time and he didn't have the money to get a new lever. It spent most of the time with at least one control, or forks or whatever bodgied up.

Have ridden it home more than obnce as a 125 twin due to shit suzuki electrics.

I love it!

Otherwise its a mint example of a fine classic japanese motorcycle!

Currently for sale... any takers? :bye:

[tri boy]

Currently for sale... any takers? :bye:

I will give ya half a kilo of Mainland Colby, and......well thats about it.:shit:

[Motu]

You lot are just boys playing at a man's game....

[billyvan]

You lot are just boys playing at a man's game....

Some interesting looking additional bits on that, looks like it should have started out looking more like my family one!!

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[JayRacer37]

I got the WarPig!!

- Oil spews out of most orifices
- the fork seals are blown, so there's no oil in there
- it has 90,000 on the clock, but its done three years of road riding with the speedo disconected, and gawd knows how many with it off for racing
- the whole headlight is held on with cableties and one aliminuim hand bent plate, and the clocks broke off their triple clamp mount, so they are taped on top of the headlight (it lost all the stock fairings LOOONG ago, headlight aftermarket too)
- wiring goes funny and you have to shake the main loom to make the starter button connect when you want to run it
- the only original bodywork (tail piece) is secured to the bike with duct tape and cable ties...its also help to its-self with duct tape
- there is a stick from the side of the road between the gas tank and frame to stop it rubbing thru
- the throttle sticks at the grip and I just cannot find why, so it has 'cruize control'
- has MotoGP style pipe (ie, headers, into collector box, then stock system goes back into two pipe, one of these has home-made plug (sparkplug with bondi around it, stuffed into pipe) the other has a 10in. chrome missalaneous part 'silencer' stuffed down the end of it, that the baffles blew out of straight away (cost me $10 that did...) exiting JUST below right hand footpeg)

Bonuses -
- I don't have to polish it or my boots, or oil the chain - the oil spewing out of it does that for me
- thats all I can think of right now....

Recent bike carreer highlights:
263.4kmh flying 400m at carterton sprints
10.02s (so close to 9!!) standing quater at carterton sprints
3rd overall (1s behind GSXR1000 riding winner) at Gladstone Hillclimb

all these were done with it just as you read above.....:yes:

I love my 'Pig - oh, its a '89 GSXR1100K.

[tri boy]

Some interesting looking additional bits on that, looks like it should have started out looking more like my family one!!

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Close, but no cigar billyvan. Its just too tidy. Loan it to me for a month or two, and it will return with a new feral attitude.:devil2:

[tri boy]

[QUOTE=JayRacer37;1067313]I got the WarPig!!

- Oil spews out of most orifices
- the fork seals are blown, so there's no oil in there
- it has 90,000 on the clock, but its done three years of road riding with the speedo disconected, and gawd knows how many with it off for racing
- the whole headlight is held on with cableties and one aliminuim hand bent plate, and the clocks broke off their triple clamp mount, so they are taped on top of the headlight (it lost all the stock fairings LOOONG ago, headlight aftermarket too)

Hell yeah!!
Photos please.:Punk: :headbang: :devil2: :ar15: :stoogie: :niceone:

[cowpoos]

I got the WarPig!!

- Oily shit spews out of most orifices like you?
- the fork seals are blown, so there's no oil in there like you?
- it has 90,000 on the clock, but its done three years of road riding with the speedo disconected, and gawd knows how many with it off for racing been thrashed like you?
- the whole headlight is held on with cableties and one aliminuim hand bent plate, def like you?
- wiring goes funny and you have to shake the main loom to make the starter button connect when you want to run it like you?
- the only original tail piece is secured to the bike with duct tape and cable ties...its also held to its-self with duck tape like you?
- there is a stick from the side between the gas tank and frame to stop it rubbing thru like you?
- the throttle sticks at the grip just like you?
- has collector box, then stock system goes back into two pipe, one of these has home-made plug (sparkplug with bondi around it, stuffed into pipe) the other has a 10in. chrome missalaneous part stuffed down the end of it, that the baffles blew out of straight away exiting JUST below like you then I suppose?

Bonuses -
-I have isusse farting no kidding?
- I don't polish my boots while wearing them scared of something?
- thats all I can think of right now.... tired huh?



I love my 'Pig - oh yes I do

Please read the above very carefully :innocent:

[billyvan]

Hell yeah!!
Photos please.:Punk: :headbang: :devil2: :ar15: :stoogie: :niceone:

Yip I second that, photos of the warpig are a MUST

I know my BMW is ineligible for entry as a rat/roughy, was just showing how far the other one had been butchered, it does seem to have a mind of it's own though, Oh yeah, that's supposed to be called character:yes:

[koba]

You lot are just boys playing at a man's game....

Is that a flucken bloody VeeDub motor?!?!

[billyvan]

Is that a flucken bloody VeeDub motor?!?!

That's what I picked as well, looks like a complete set of BMW running gear, thats why I posted the pic of mine to show just how bastardised it was!!!
It's got some interesting bars, and different seat set up!!!!

[Motu]

It was an old Ural with a 1200cc 40hp VW motor in it,and a Jupiter chair on the left.Some sort of Yamaha tank and seat.The frame was extended 6in to fit the motor,so the dog bones bring the bar back within reach.You can just make out the VW oil coolers which stuck up at an angle at the front.As hard case and rat as you can get,and a shit load of fun to ride.

[Steam]

It was an old Ural with a 1200cc 40hp VW motor in it,and a Jupiter chair on the left.

What happened to it? Where is it now? Did you build it?

[Mr. Peanut]

Some interesting looking additional bits on that, looks like it should have started out looking more like my family one!!

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Thats a chinese bike.

[Motu]

What happened to it? Where is it now? Did you build it?

In reverse order - No,I didn't build it,my modis operandi is to pick up other peoples unfinished projects,always a good idea going to waste.A maintinence engineer at the freezing works built it,then had to get rid of it in a hurry....so,there I was.Then another KB member Lee Rusty and I did a deal on it,I don't really know what he did with it,but apparently it ended up abandoned on a farm in Waiuku.I did meet another guy who owned it,he was a scary over the top nut case,so it was always in good hands.

[Steam]

Thats a chinese bike.
Yeah, there's a guy selling an identical one on Trademe right now. Apparently they are fairly good, have a top speed of 90kph, and are an almost identical copy of some BMW from just pre-WW2.

[Steam]

Here are some rats from the Classic bike show in Wellington. Some were in the show and some were outside the show. I especially like the one with the Aluminium sidecar, I see that everywhere around the city.

[Steam]

ya here are some more

[tri boy]

The 50s hard tail Triumph is a beauty. Nice shots steam.:yes:

[T.W.R]

Anyway, I would be interested to hear of similar Rats that people have owned, and the adventures you have had with them.


Brought this old 79 XR250 when it was 10yrs old for $200 just as a fun bike which gave some hilarious results:Punk:

:shutup: gave plenty of hours of entertainment and learning before lunching itself :bye:

[jim.cox]

Brought this old 79 XR250 when it was 10yrs old for $200 just as a fun bike which gave some hilarious results:Punk:


The bike in that photo is FAR too tidy to be a Rat.

[Goblin]

The bike in that photo is FAR too tidy to be a Rat.Got to agree there. That's a Minta!


Here's my ratty and what my racer used to look like.:shit:

[T.W.R]

The bike in that photo is FAR too tidy to be a Rat.


Got to agree there. That's a Minta!



:shutup: remember pictures can glamorise things :yes: though considering $200 brought it, for the money it was a minter :innocent:
it had an XL tank that would weep through rust holes, the side panels were painted black with stove blackener, pretty much zero brakes etc.
I ripped the airbox off it and gutted the exhaust, broke the rear guard pulling wheelies so trimmed it up with a hacksaw :shutup:

Still got the piston out of it somewhere :innocent: though it's in an ugly state .
Ended up giving it away to a young fella who was trying to build another one for parts.

[tri boy]

:shutup: remember pictures can glamorise things :yes: though considering $200 brought it, for the money it was a minter :innocent:
it had an XL tank that would weep through rust holes, the side panels were painted black with stove blackener, pretty much zero brakes etc.
I ripped the airbox off it and gutted the exhaust, broke the rear guard pulling wheelies so trimmed it up with a hacksaw :shutup:

Still got the piston out of it somewhere :innocent: though it's in an ugly state .
Ended up giving it away to a young fella who was trying to build another one for parts.

It's a RAT. Looks like you gave it a wash once in a while. Makes it a water RAT.:shutup:

[T.W.R]

This is a $40 Rat :yes:

A mate brought this off the farmer he worked for for $40, wasn't running, swing arm was slogged, & shitloads of other crap wrong with it.
He gave it to me to get going :shutup:
He and his brother were wrapped up in the local scouts/rovers outfit and the bike ended up being used by the local scout group and lasted 4yrs of boy scout treatment before it died :crazy:

[Skunk]

ya here are some more
That bike is Spydas. He has few few real classics too.

[Steam]

Spyda. He has few few real classics too.

I hear he's an interesting chap, mad but brilliant. Has a virtual bike museum under his house or something?

[Skunk]

You hear correct.