my opinion, based on the conversation you just spoke of above,
is that A Lowrider is a Lowrider.
A cruiser is a Cruiser.
A lightweight is a lightweight
A Traditional Hot Rod...which is now refered to as a Rat Rod,
is the same as the Hot Rods my father grew up building,racing and showing.
A Car.....( or in our case a Bike )....that is put together
with parts and pieces that work well together
to create a build that is Low in cost.
The cost is kept down because Hot rodders where young and lacked funds.They where car enthusiasts that had big hearts
and dreams to go fast and have fun.
They would part and piece together old Model "A"'s and Model "T"'s because they where easy to work on,
light weight, and where a great Platform for a build.
They where also such a well built car that they lasted for years out in a field and Solid Metal was still present.
Todays "Rat Rod" cars are a reflection of the days when it was all about "Go" and less about "show".
The cars my dad built and raced where Hot Rods!!!!!
not all had perfect Paint Jobs......
but they did go like a Raped Ape!!!!
Money was spent on Speed and performance...
..not The paint Jobs..
So....A Flat Black Lowrider bike with Red wheels is just that...
and a Cruiser Bike with a Flat Paint Job and shiny wheels is just that as well...
The term "Rat Rod" in our application, I feel, is more along the lines
of this below.
"all of us here at the Forum are building up bikes with
parts and pieces to make them into a "Cool" bike!"
so ,your Lowrider is a Rat Rod styled Bike.
"Rat Rod" being that it's a Custom.....
and it is based on a Tradition,Poor Boy
Hot Rod....Made for "Go" not "Show"
just my 2 cents.
