"Rat" bikes.

[alstensby]

I've seen in several locations where people have custom 80's metric bikes (seen a couple on here too) where they refer to them as "Rats". Well, they're not actually rats but I'm curious what they're actually called! I've seen them earlier this Summer and have since decide to take an older Suzi to redo for a fun bike as I have a pair of newer cruisers in the garage already. Anyhow, so you know what I'm referring to, it's when they pretty much strip them down, eliminate the rear fender and drop it so you're practically sitting BETWEEN the rear tire and tank. If I can track down a pic, I'll post the link. Anyhow, curious as to A) what these bikes are actually called and B) what would be a good bike to use. I got an '82 GS650GL running this Summer so I'm going to likely stick with something like that since the engines are really solid. What's a good size to use? I've seen some upwards of 1000cc or higher, but the engine seems too bulky. So I was thinking of maybe a 750 or 850. Ultimately, I'm looking to strip it down, paint it nicely, put a bigger rear on it and just make something that'll be fun to beat on for power now and then. Not looking to put a lot of money in to it. Any help would be appreciated!

[t3rmin]

A ratbike is just a ratty bike. One you don't care about how it looks, you just ride it. Although some people go to extremes to make 'em as ratty as possible, which can be almost as much work as making it look "nice".

For instance I've decided to consider my XS1100 a ratbike. It's not pristine and I don't care. I'm working on getting it running right, making sure everything is tip-top mechanically, then I'm going to flat-black the tank and sidecovers and ride the snot out of it. It'll probably gradually acquire cafe-style parts, but for now I'm going low budget.

A ratbike can be any make, model, or year.

[alstensby]

Oops.

I may not have gotten across what was in my head. I know what a real ratbike is, but I've seen bikes that people call ratbikes when they're not. I'll probably just have to find a pic.

[TheCafeKid]

Like a bobber? chopper? cafe?? dragster????? WTF are you talkin about man?????:-D

[mark]

I've got a rat bike. For me its an affectionate title.........she ain't a looker but I like her anyway.

Its not a scientific, or technical term.

Ratness is in the eye of the beholder.

[buff1260]

Is this a ratbike then as its matt black

[rigidchop]

frame mod

on the cb750's that i'm used to, we use the term "konged" to describe the dropped seat section, as it is the name of the guy who first did it.

[alstensby]

A better idea...

Here's kind of what I'm looking for:

http://www.thegsresources.com/_scripts/gallerydispwnd.php?RegID=512

Get rid of the rear tail all together and drop the back a bit still. The first place I came across this was someone posted about someone from here selling their bike on Ebay. They referred to it as "The Beast". I'm pretty much just confusing it more probably. lol

[spyug]

The bike you are illustrating is a bobber.

A rat bike is anything that looks like it was ridden hard, put away wet, left to rust, crapped on and beat to rat sh#t. It may or may not be bobbed (i.e.parts removed) but it definitely looks beat up. Its not clean.....its nasty! It wears rust like a badge of honour.

Interesting but not my cup of tea.

Cheers all,
Spyug

[OhioEric]

bobbers choppers streetfighters and cafe's

have a peek at thechopperunderground.com

http://www.thechopperunderground.com/forum/index.php?&

they are good guys...the photos will help you out...almost all metric based low buck bikes. you may need to register to get in as some a-hole actually crashed the site last year erasing thousands of posts about customization and parts interchangability...then he got back on and laughed about it...sad.

hope that helps...
-Eric

[alstensby]

Thanks.

Yeah, I suppose Bobber is what it's going to closest resemble...in a totally bastardized way though. lol.

[Headphase]

if you wanna see ratbikes, look at ratbike.org

I'm letting my old xt600 go the way of the rat

[buff1260]

i think my bike is a ratbike now cause its satin black

[TheCafeKid]

definately symantics here...alot of what ive seen i would more consider a cafe or a streetfighter..."rat" bikes by classic definition are what was said earlier...its just a crusty old beater that still runs and runs good...the owner is more concerned with riding than polishing....bobber, chopper, cafe streetfighter whatever...they usually dont involve alot of mods..when it rusts..it gets painted with rattle can..more often than not..flat black..

my bike started out as what one could consider a rat bike i guess...but when its done it will be a cafe bike...fine lines..and some people get pi$$ed when you call thier bike something that they think its not.

by my definition:

Bobber: rear has been cut much like a chop, but little rake to the front, usually a rigid or semi rigid suspension

Chopper...see above, but add lots of rake..

Cafe...Vintage UJM (usually based on standard models, not LTDs or Ls in this forum, or Customs in a Honda forum) OR a REAL cafe roots bike being something from Europe, usually a Triumph or Norton or BSA, stripped down and modded for speed and handling...no perks no frills

Streetfighter...see above except based on a modern sportbike using modern tech and parts


Thats basically how i break it down...just my view...

[KiwiGS]