I joined this BB a few weeks back and have looked things over here at our internet home. Wow , it gets overwheling as there are sooooo many variations of the Rat Bike . Let's take that term , I associate it with my other hobby of Rat Rods. Either way it's taking somthing you have on hand and making it better. Good tires , brakes and mechanicals with either a primered or as is faded , rusty frame. Oh yeah , of course the red wheels or whatever paint you have on hand.
OK , with that said I have a few questions for the veterans of this outfit.
1. I see some of the bikes are cut and lengthened by a matter of 4-6 inches . What is the advantage of this modification ? Is there a functional advantage or is it strictly cosmetic. I admit they do look like the've been modified but it's so subtle that it's hard to fiqure out whats happened unless you know. I'm kind of into that look.
2. I see a lot of mountain bikes converted to rat bikes but the multi gears are eliminated, suspensions are gone and on some, one would never know it was even a mountain bike. Is it sacrilage to run gears on a rat bike ? I can see the suspension getting canned for the old time look. The addition of springer front ends look trick as well.
3. This is the clincher question. Do most people build these to ride or just for show and exhibition type rides etc ? Some, especially chopper type bikes look so uncomfortable to even try to peddle that I started thinking that maybe these bikes are just coversation pieces. Please tell me I'm wrong as I'm building a rat bike now and making it better mechanically but have reservations about painting it .
My bike is an old Shwinn form the 50's , maybe 60's that I had converted to a mountain bike when the Klunker Bike article was ran in mariah Magazine back in 1977 / 78 or there abouts. It's fitted with 21 speeds, has front and rear drum brakes from a tamdem bike, a springer front end, sulky wheels with heavy duty spokes and all the up to snuff antiquated stuff used then to make a mountain bike from scratch. There wasn't any mountain bikes on the market at that time. Had'ta make do.
My plan was to change the gearing to single speed / coaster brake but found that the rear tail of the frame was widened to make room for the tandem hub. So, I'm keeping the multi speed set up and drum brakes. I'm swapping out the front wheel for a standard front wheel. The seat has to go for a bigger seat so as to fit my physical seat if ya know what'a mean ! Gotta have the big basket of the handlebars too. Always liked them and what a neat way to haul your junk around.
I hope everyone will offer their input on my build and maybe give me that subtle idea that will trick this bike out. I plan to use it on our local " paved " bike paths and ride in the pits at the drags etc., no off roading.
Regards,
GoneGonzo
OK , with that said I have a few questions for the veterans of this outfit.
1. I see some of the bikes are cut and lengthened by a matter of 4-6 inches . What is the advantage of this modification ? Is there a functional advantage or is it strictly cosmetic. I admit they do look like the've been modified but it's so subtle that it's hard to fiqure out whats happened unless you know. I'm kind of into that look.
2. I see a lot of mountain bikes converted to rat bikes but the multi gears are eliminated, suspensions are gone and on some, one would never know it was even a mountain bike. Is it sacrilage to run gears on a rat bike ? I can see the suspension getting canned for the old time look. The addition of springer front ends look trick as well.
3. This is the clincher question. Do most people build these to ride or just for show and exhibition type rides etc ? Some, especially chopper type bikes look so uncomfortable to even try to peddle that I started thinking that maybe these bikes are just coversation pieces. Please tell me I'm wrong as I'm building a rat bike now and making it better mechanically but have reservations about painting it .
My bike is an old Shwinn form the 50's , maybe 60's that I had converted to a mountain bike when the Klunker Bike article was ran in mariah Magazine back in 1977 / 78 or there abouts. It's fitted with 21 speeds, has front and rear drum brakes from a tamdem bike, a springer front end, sulky wheels with heavy duty spokes and all the up to snuff antiquated stuff used then to make a mountain bike from scratch. There wasn't any mountain bikes on the market at that time. Had'ta make do.
My plan was to change the gearing to single speed / coaster brake but found that the rear tail of the frame was widened to make room for the tandem hub. So, I'm keeping the multi speed set up and drum brakes. I'm swapping out the front wheel for a standard front wheel. The seat has to go for a bigger seat so as to fit my physical seat if ya know what'a mean ! Gotta have the big basket of the handlebars too. Always liked them and what a neat way to haul your junk around.
I hope everyone will offer their input on my build and maybe give me that subtle idea that will trick this bike out. I plan to use it on our local " paved " bike paths and ride in the pits at the drags etc., no off roading.
Regards,
GoneGonzo
