Has anyone ever made a "rat bike" out of a 1500?

[Dougs dream]

There is a pretty good deal on a low milage "cosmetically challenged" wing local to me. Just trying to look for a few examples. I have a couple ideas but can't seem to find any examples of anyone ever doing it.

[offcenter]

I have to respond to this.
I do NOT understand the whole "rat rod" or "rat bike" thing.
Why would anyone take the time to build something that looks
like a piece of crap?
Every time I see one of these things, all I can think is that the guy
was just too lazy to finish it.

[kwild]

Check out this forum for good ideas on a strip down. https://ngwclub.com/forum/page/Welcome. I personally like a modded Goldwing. shows a different kind of talent and skill.

[AZgl1800]

to each their own...

I recently saw a very tastefully done Rat styled 1500, don't know whether to call it a chopper or a rat bike.

the handlebars were low down, not of that crappy looking up in the air stuff.....

all plastics gone, he made a few custom metal covers....

Willl see if I can find it...

This is not a 1500, but a nice job done on it

Searched everywhere on my pix folders, must have not downloaded it.


here is a '75 that is radical https://www.pipeburn.com/home/2011/12/1 ... guapo.html


Folks don't always use the term 'rat' when they show a picture of a nice look conversion.

I can see it plain as day in my mind, just can't find it.

[themainviking]

Rat bikes are born and used hard not made..... that is to say, when a bike is ridden for a long time without doing anything to maintain it and it just keeps on ticking like the Eveready Bunny, it becomes a rat bike. This is an area of pride for some people who show off the ugly thing as still being rideable. To purposely MAKE one of these is a total insult to machinery of any type. If something is not rat, why would anyone make it rat.

All that said, is the real description of rat bike being taken into consideration here? Oil leaks all over the place, filth and dirt, broken and duct taped plastics, one hard bag and one old leather bag, no trunk lid ..... etc. Or is rat bike being used to describe a stripped touring model?

This is an example of a true rat bike

http://travelingringo.com/2011/12/the-r ... -kentucky/

In finding this example, I googled rat bike and discovered that I have been living in the past. People now intentionally build what they call rat bikes, which just look like the 1975 shown in an above post, but which are really just not pretty, but well running motorcycles. Who knew.

[joeincalif]

I have to respond to this.
I do NOT understand the whole "rat rod" or "rat bike" thing.
Why would anyone take the time to build something that looks
like a piece of crap?
Every time I see one of these things, all I can think is that the guy
was just too lazy to finish it.

When I started reading your post I thought it was mine. I posted the exact thing a while back but it must have been on a different forum. makes no sense to me either.

[baba67]

Here are a few that I have found...

[Dougs dream]

I can see some of you are upset with the concept. C,mon lighten up, riding is supposed to be fun. I rode a 91 for a couple years and never warmed up to the look/style of it but thought it was a great machine. Currently on a Shadow.

Anyway, I found some examples. The video is pretty close to what I already had in mind.

[youtube]

[/YouTube]

[Dougs dream]

Here are a few that I have found...

Thanks!

[Dougs dream]

Check out this forum for good ideas on a strip down. https://ngwclub.com/forum/page/Welcome. I personally like a modded Goldwing. shows a different kind of talent and skill.

Thank you, exactly what I was looking for.

[Dougs dream]

to each their own...

I recently saw a very tastefully done Rat styled 1500, don't know whether to call it a chopper or a rat bike.

the handlebars were low down, not of that crappy looking up in the air stuff.....

all plastics gone, he made a few custom metal covers....

Willl see if I can find it...

This is not a 1500, but a nice job done on it


Rotary bike 2.jpg



Searched everywhere on my pix folders, must have not downloaded it.


here is a '75 that is radical https://www.pipeburn.com/home/2011/12/1 ... guapo.html


Folks don't always use the term 'rat' when they show a picture of a nice look conversion.

I can see it plain as day in my mind, just can't find it.

Truthfully, I'm open to both right now. And I'm starting to lean towards a nice looking conversion but who knows where this will end up? He he

[Dougs dream]

to each their own...

I recently saw a very tastefully done Rat styled 1500, don't know whether to call it a chopper or a rat bike.

the handlebars were low down, not of that crappy looking up in the air stuff.....

all plastics gone, he made a few custom metal covers....

Willl see if I can find it...

This is not a 1500, but a nice job done on it


Rotary bike 2.jpg



Searched everywhere on my pix folders, must have not downloaded it.


here is a '75 that is radical https://www.pipeburn.com/home/2011/12/1 ... guapo.html


Folks don't always use the term 'rat' when they show a picture of a nice look conversion.

I can see it plain as day in my mind, just can't find it.

Ooooh, that seat on the 75 looks mighty uncomfortable.

[tnt9339]

You must be looking at that sun bleached 93 in Ballard. $1000 is not bad if it runs good. It would cost a lot of $$$$ to replace all the sun bleached black plastic items, controls etc..
Seems like a perfect rat ride to me. Go for it.

Tony

[Charlie1Horse]

NO!!! That's what they make Harleys for.
Russell

Those who say it cannot be done should try not to interrupt those who are doing it..

[ekvh]

To each his own, your money, your time, your fun.

Here’s one realllly naked: https://ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php ... 67#p691867

Owner built a wing for ice racing.

[ekvh]

Another here page 109

https://ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php ... start=1620

[kwild]

You could always go a little less radical, tons of options from insane to subtle. Here's my old 1200.

[AZgl1800]

thanks for finding this one, it is the one that I was looking for....

IMO, it is very tastefully done...

[bellboy40]

I'll bet that stripped down yellow 1500 will really haul to mail! I think they said it only weighs about 450 pounds. The guy said when you crank on the throttle in 1st and 2nd gear it tags the rev limiter easily with tire smoke and hooks up good when he gets to 3rd gear.

[Andy Cote]

Some of the pix are four cylinder bikes which, IMHO, are easier to strip down than a GL1500. Some are of Valkyries which are already stripped down.

If rat is what you want, run it as is.

If cheap but decent looking runner is what you need, lots of used parts available along with some ABS glue and a quickie paint job keeps the cost down.

It true custom, open your imagination. No gas tank opens up some great opportunities. Have fun and make it yours.

[Andy Cote]

BTW have you seen the separate thread started by Gerry1965? viewtopic.php?f=6&t=48011

[fibersport]

While I can appreciate the time, effort and craftsmanship that some of these bikes display, it's not a look I like at all, kind of like adding tons of chrome on a Goldwing. I'm taking off the previous owner added stuff as I like the original look but there are others that like it - more power to them. The flip side is if your bike is totally stock, so are so many others and you then begin to look like everyone else, kind of like HD's - they're like Walgreens and dog poop - one on every corner .... Just my $0.02.

[Big Blue UK]

I would not mind one of those.

[Ivan Boring]

Well, not a 1500, but I just had to post it...

[WingAdmin]

How about a snow-capable Wing with sidecar and outrigger from Poland?