Ratty 8

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A few weeks ago i bought me a Straight 8.

Straight81.jpg


Straight82.jpg

This is how it was when i bought it.The bike is in worse shape than i touht it was.
When i took the bike home i need to take it apart because it won't fit in my car.

Straight8004.jpg

After i came home trew the bike in the garden,because it's bad shape could the bad weather do no harm.

The paint is in very poor condition.
S8014.jpg

After the cold days i started to cleaned up the parts.
Because of the bad shape,and having no inspiration.
I decided to make it a Ratty 8.
It's cheap,easy to do and doesn't cost much time.
S8015.jpg


S8006.jpg

First i cut of the V-brake mounts,because the rust on the chrome parts this was no problem.

S8007.jpg

After that sanded the chrome on the forklegs matte.
On the pic only the right one is done.

S8005.jpg

Used some red paint to make the spokes red again.
And the side of the front rim is sprayed black again.

S8008.jpg

Because i like the Brooks sadles, also this time a Brooks it's the Aged B67.
Also shortened the rear fender,i don't like long fenders.

S8009.jpg

I couldn't use the handlebar because it was bent at one side.
That's why i mounted the this low handlebar.
For the grips i used some old leather that i've wrapped around the handlebar.

S8011.jpg

This is how the Ratty 8 looked after a few days.
As you can see the shifter is still missing.
I don't like the gripshifts so i needed something else.

S8010.jpg

A Sturmey Archer shifternothing special, but better than the gripshift.

S8020v.jpg

I left off the plastic cover,drilled some dents,and made them red.
Mounted it to the chainstay,and it looks better i think.

S8019v.jpg

I've put a pair of old slotbolds in the handle bars to secure the leather,and they are nice low-budget end caps.
This is the Ratty 8 at this moment.
 
Lookin' good, man! Ive got a similar barset on my Dyno Duece right now, they feel and handle great even though it isnt quite the look I thought I was after.
Upside for you and the paint as is......you dont have to worry about bein' the one who puts a dinger in it!
 
I really dig the looks of that ride! I have a Straight 8 and been thinking about trying similar handlebars on mine. A nice Brooks with lots o' springs too. Hows the comfort factor with those bars?
 
Rockabilly Goat said:
I really dig the looks of that ride! I have a Straight 8 and been thinking about trying similar handlebars on mine. A nice Brooks with lots o' springs too. Hows the comfort factor with those bars?

The comfort factor is not that bad.
It's even better than i thougt it would be,a little bit racy.
 
Lowjack'r said:
Rockabilly Goat said:
I really dig the looks of that ride! I have a Straight 8 and been thinking about trying similar handlebars on mine. A nice Brooks with lots o' springs too. Hows the comfort factor with those bars?

The comfort factor is not that bad.
It's even better than i thougt it would be,a little bit racy.


I was wondering at the 'racy' factor. I LOVE railing turns on mine with the flat track bars but I imagine with those you can really lay'er down.

Do they allow to pedal out of the saddle?
 
Rockabilly Goat said:
Lowjack'r said:
Rockabilly Goat said:
I really dig the looks of that ride! I have a Straight 8 and been thinking about trying similar handlebars on mine. A nice Brooks with lots o' springs too. Hows the comfort factor with those bars?

The comfort factor is not that bad.
It's even better than i thougt it would be,a little bit racy.


I was wondering at the 'racy' factor. I LOVE railing turns on mine with the flat track bars but I imagine with those you can really lay'er down.

Do they allow to pedal out of the saddle?

Yes i can really lay it down, as long as i don't pedal while doing that.
Because the pedals touch the ground.
If you mean, is it possible to go standing on the pedals to make more speed.
Yes it is.
 
I'm thinking to transform the S8 into a bike based on the HPP Superbird.

hppsuperbird005.jpg

The frame will get the orange / black color scheme with a silver line.

hppsuperbird013.jpg

The wheels i'm gonna take apart and strip the paint off the rims and spokes.
After that i polish the rims to high gloss, and the spokes will be bare stainless steel.
The hubs will get some blue Mopar badges and the frame gets some Superbird graphics.

I think the most out here like the Ratty look more.
But i think when i'm done " The Superbird " will look wild also.
 
rydr1 said:
you have setup that bike nicely. This is one of my favorite Electra bicycles and you have improved it. Nice work.

If I may ask, where did you get the handlebars?

I've found it between some old steel.
But i know it has come from a moped like the one below.

Derbi_Senda_DRD_Racing_50_sm.jpg


The link down here shows a similar handlebar.
http://www.easyparts.nl/showarticles_in ... zwart.html

It was 81 cm wide,because it was to wide for me i've cut off 5 cm at each side.
 
Got started again today

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Took the bike apart.

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Took the spokes and the hubs out off the wheels.

S8025.jpg

The rear rim has some heavy oxidized spots on it.
It will need a lot of sanding before i can polish it.

work-in-progress2.gif
 
When I removed the stickers from my Straight 8 wheel they were in pretty good shape, so I just washed and waxed them and they were good. Looks like since you have the wheel broken down, you may as well sand, paint and clear. Or you can just take both hoops to a powder coater and have them powder coat them whatever color you like :) Just my opinion ;)
 
Today in a nice spring sun started to sand the rear rim.

S8027.jpg

Started with sandpaper P80 to take off the paint and the oxidation.

S8028P120.jpg

After that sanded it again with sandpaper P120.

S8030P320.jpg

After the 3th round,it's now sanded with P320.

I have to go a couple of more rounds to go up to P600,before i can start to polish the rim.
Keep you posted.

work-in-progress2.gif
 

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