Mad Max bike anyone?

**sels1** · 9th July 2006, 20:17

Spotted this beauty(?) outside the local bike shop, and yes, it is for sale. Apparently it was used in the Mad Max movie , and also more recently The Tribe tv series. Once was an XL 250, I believe.

**Steam** · 9th July 2006, 20:33

Anyone seen any other Ratbikes around NZ? I gotta do something to make my bike unique a-la ratbike.org, and rat is easier and cheaper than bling.
Fun!
Also, does anyone know about rules for attaching stuff to your bike? I guess simple rules like "no dangerous or illegal fittings or features" and not breaking the 50cm from the centreline width rule.
But anyone know any specific rules? I tried searching the LTNZ website but got hopelessly lost. A helpful link anyone?

A later edit: thanks, I found the modification section of Ltnz now.

**Motu** · 9th July 2006, 21:01

It's an XR200 - 1981 to 1984.

**texmo** · 9th July 2006, 21:09

Reminds me of loosebruces tl1000s after it came back to life.

**Insanity_rules** · 9th July 2006, 21:11

That would be worth owning for the historical value.

**sels1** · 9th July 2006, 21:28

Originally Posted by Motu

It's an XR200 - 1981 to 1984.

Thanks Motu, (the only Honda I've ever owned had 4 wheels so I'm not an expert on them)

**et al** · 9th July 2006, 21:52

[QUOTE=Steam]Anyone seen any other Ratbikes around NZ? [QUOTE]
Best Rat Bike I have seen was at last Cold Kiwi - I think it is owned/created by Spider Staples (of RMCC - Cold Kiwi Organiser). It had all sorts of stuff attached to it - thing I remember most though was the badge "In Dog We Thrust". If you need inspiration you really need to check that one out somehow (I think there was a photo of it in the Kiwi Rider CK writeup).

**TonyB** · 9th July 2006, 21:53

Originally Posted by Steam

Anyone seen any other Ratbikes around NZ?

I used to have a VFR700 that would probably qualify as a ratbike. No fairings, no tail piece... well it had an icecream container painted matt black that filled the gap between the square Suzuki tail light. The tank was painted matt black and had "Le Pig" hand painted on it.

**Wolf** · 9th July 2006, 22:18

My old TS125 was a rat - and I didn't even know it, I'd never heard the term until I joined KB - dinged orangeish (faded red, I suspect) tank with patches of blue spray enamel to cover the bare bits that might rust. Chrome nearly gold in places owing to the rust under the shiny near-transparent chrome veneer, muffler bandage and a couple of "aftermarket fasteners" (pipe clamps) on the exhaust, sidestand welded together from scrap by a mate of my brother for the princely sum of some beer (after some considerable time riding it around and having to look for something firm to prop it against when I wanted to park.)

It was road legal - when the muffler bandage was holding up - and all the important bits worked but cosmetically awe-inspiring it wasn't (unless you'd just learned I'd ridden from Hamilton to Tokoroa and back on it two-up and then you'd look at it and be totally awestruck...)

That Mad Max bike would be OK as an off roader or a collector's piece (and $2K o.n.o. is not bad for something you can point at and say "maybe you saw the movie") but in Steam's case, I gather he is thinking in terms of still riding on the road (otherwise the "dangerous fittings" and "500mm from the centreline" rules do not matter).

In addition to not adding illegal things to the bike, a rat bike ridden on the road must still have all the road legal kit it was designed to have (or a reasonable, functioning replacement).

**sels1** · 10th July 2006, 12:03

Originally Posted by et al

Best Rat Bike I have seen was at last Cold Kiwi - I think it is owned/created by Spider Staples (of RMCC - Cold Kiwi Organiser). It had all sorts of stuff attached to it - thing I remember most though was the badge "In Dog We Thrust"

Didnt it have a toilet seat attached as well?

**et al** · 10th July 2006, 12:24

Originally Posted by sels1

Didnt it have a toilet seat attached as well?

Yes - thats the one.

**Postie** · 10th July 2006, 12:27

i would love to see the guys at the WOF station if you took that in

**Drunken Monkey** · 10th July 2006, 12:32

Originally Posted by Motu

It's an XR200 - 1981 to 1984.

Ergo, Sels1, it was used in a Mad Max movie (Probably 'Road Warrior', or that other travesty 'Beyond Thunderdome'), not the Mad Max movie (1979), which featured Suzuki & Kwaka road bikes, not trailies.