Quasi-Motobike
Everyone has their ‘grail’. For me it has been everything from driving a model of vehicle, playing a cherished guitar or amp, skiing a destination mountain ski area, racing a dream mtn bike, a travel trip, conquering a white water rapids section on a wild river; just to name a few. I have been lucky to have had many fulfilling and rewarding events in my life that have culminated in the ‘grail’ level of experiences.
I have had many fun finds in searching for ideas and styles of builds over the years, preparing for build offs on RRB. Concepts and themes that have driven me to find certain frames to build around, or finding a cool frame and letting that do the talking as far as how it would be realized.
There has always been one style of bike that I have wanted to build / rat-ify / in a rat-storation project. And that is the ‘Motobike’, sometimes in various brands also referred to as ‘Motorbike’. But I like it without the ‘R’, because there is no motor on these facsimiles designed to mimic early motorcycles.
The bicycle motobike is a do-it-all, utilitarian ride, with larger wheel diameters, fenders, lights, rack, and a tool box like tank to hold necessities for long rides. It is a self-supported style of bicycle to be able to keep on riding, over varied surfaces, with efficiency and determination. Not necessarily fast like a road bike or racing bike, but faster than a cruiser. And not a true off road bike with fat, gnarly tires to dig in and aid control. But it can handle gravel and dirt and pavement with it’s large, 28” wheels and ‘skinny fat’ tires.
It’s not unlike it’s four wheeled counterpart from the early 1900’s, the Model T. They were driven everywhere, and were so utilitarian that the model lasted 20 years in production.
And so, I embark on what may be my most challenging build to date. To somehow preserve the history of the motobike, while still adding some nuances to ‘make it my own’. And so I present to you the Quasi-Motobike, because it will be ‘as if’ it were a motobike from the 19-teens and 20’s, but with some RRB BO sauce rubbed in for good measure!
Everyone has their ‘grail’. For me it has been everything from driving a model of vehicle, playing a cherished guitar or amp, skiing a destination mountain ski area, racing a dream mtn bike, a travel trip, conquering a white water rapids section on a wild river; just to name a few. I have been lucky to have had many fulfilling and rewarding events in my life that have culminated in the ‘grail’ level of experiences.
I have had many fun finds in searching for ideas and styles of builds over the years, preparing for build offs on RRB. Concepts and themes that have driven me to find certain frames to build around, or finding a cool frame and letting that do the talking as far as how it would be realized.
There has always been one style of bike that I have wanted to build / rat-ify / in a rat-storation project. And that is the ‘Motobike’, sometimes in various brands also referred to as ‘Motorbike’. But I like it without the ‘R’, because there is no motor on these facsimiles designed to mimic early motorcycles.
The bicycle motobike is a do-it-all, utilitarian ride, with larger wheel diameters, fenders, lights, rack, and a tool box like tank to hold necessities for long rides. It is a self-supported style of bicycle to be able to keep on riding, over varied surfaces, with efficiency and determination. Not necessarily fast like a road bike or racing bike, but faster than a cruiser. And not a true off road bike with fat, gnarly tires to dig in and aid control. But it can handle gravel and dirt and pavement with it’s large, 28” wheels and ‘skinny fat’ tires.
It’s not unlike it’s four wheeled counterpart from the early 1900’s, the Model T. They were driven everywhere, and were so utilitarian that the model lasted 20 years in production.
And so, I embark on what may be my most challenging build to date. To somehow preserve the history of the motobike, while still adding some nuances to ‘make it my own’. And so I present to you the Quasi-Motobike, because it will be ‘as if’ it were a motobike from the 19-teens and 20’s, but with some RRB BO sauce rubbed in for good measure!
