Rat Bike Project

[willedoo]

I think it's whatever floats people's boats. I think golfers are mad, but golfers don't.

[willedoo]

For the same reason as with solo bikes, I can't ride horses any more unless I had a big platform to walk up an get on it's back. Probably a good idea I don't do it any more.

[facthunter]

I'm Not trying to Control your Hobby. Just commenting on practical aspects as I have all along. IF it approximates a "static exhibit " the aesthetics are everything . I thought a great part of your Aim was to Keep costs down?  I generally find starting with something good is cheaper in the Long run  than resurrecting some rusty Pile of junk.. There's plenty of challenges without adding to them. Nev

[willedoo]

I do understand your comments Nev, and appreciate them. One thing with this project is that it's about the journey, not the destination. In regard to adding to challenges, I do a lot of that on purpose. It's the challenge of projects that attracts me, not so much the end result. Yes, there's easier way of doing things and if I just wanted the end product I'd go out and buy it and save myself a lot of time. But that's not what this project is about. All good advice from you Nev, and starting off with something good would suit some. In this case, I'm neither starting with something good, nor am I resurrecting a pile of junk. It's a scratch build; I'm building a pile of junk from scratch. That's the basic idea of it at ths stage. It will be a good challenge. I've done a lot of restoration work, but always restoring something to original condition. There's a lot more freedom in this project.

[willedoo]

This is a bit off topic, but I suppose it's slightly related to a previous discussion we had about noisy Harleys with straight through pipes.

 

A mate received his new Verex slash cut drag pipes in the mail on Friday to fit to his two month old Bonneville Speedmaster. They make them in brushed, polished (bright chrome) and black ceramic finishes. He went for the polished finish as it will fit in with the existing chrome on the bike. I think they will get fitted on Monday. The photos show the drag pipes unpacked and the bike with the standard Triumph mufflers. It will be interesting to hear how loud it is; with the Triumph mufflers it sounds like a sewing machine.

 

It's been a long journey. Me and the mate started out making mud pies and playing with plastic toy soldiers, graduated on to slot cars and now we all have bigger toys. Maybe we'll finish off with wheelchair races in the nursing home.

 

[facthunter]

They aren't a Bike I lust after. Resale prices tell it all. Those engines run very hot.  Nev

[willedoo]

You're right about the resale price Nev. You see a lot on marketplace with relatively low prices.

[Jerry_Atrick]

My son calls them bomb-villes. I told him what an old bomb is in Aussie auto vernacular..

 

He wasn't too happy.. he is a Triumph-o-phile

 

They do look nice, though..

[facthunter]

They are Not a real Triumph. A couple of their Models are OK. The real Bonneville looks far better . and performs and handles well except  it vibrates and has no electric starter. ,Nev

[willedoo]

I only ever rode an old Bonneville once and only for a few k's down the road. I remember the vibration was very noticeable after being used to the isolastic setup on the Commando. I also had a ride on a Norton SS and it was a beautiful handling bike. The only issue was that it had a very annoying vibration that kicked in around 55 to 60mph, right where you would want to sit on the speed limit. To have a comfortable ride, you had to slow down or go over the speed limit.

[willedoo]

Just a Ratbikehelm update: since posting the original photo of it (second photo), it's had regular applications of a salt and vinegar solution for a couple of weeks, followed by leaving it out in the 230mm of rain we recently had. In this updated photo it's had a couple of applications of lanox. I might give it a couple more to get well and truly into the crevices. When it's all nice and dry and cured, it will get a coat of home made beeswax polish and a light burnish. Then all it needs is the ear flap leather trim put back on. At some time in the future I'll make an inner support so it can sit on a head.

 

[willedoo]

I think it looks better the way it originally was in the second photo. Will see what happens when I see the end result. It's not hard to revert it back to photo 2 condition. The first photo is more embedded rust; the second photo is just light surface rust after a couple of salt and vinegar applications.

[willedoo]

Just posting a photo of this old Norton. A mate sent a link to the facebook group it was on, and the poster said he found it in a barn where it had been sitting for sixty years.. Looks like a late 30's ES2 with a dodgy seat.

[facthunter]

 Looks Pretty complete and original. It could be a Model 18, 500 cc or  19, 600 cc. IF it is an ES2 it has a frame that continues along under the Motor. My guess it's a 1937 year. I have a nice shiny one here if anyone's interested in great Mechanical condition. (Model 18. 1937)   Nev

[willedoo]

Looking at the photo, it looks like the frame doesn't run underneath. I can remember in the early 70's there was still a lot of old stuff to be found in farm sheds but rare these days. There was so much around then that I knocked back a Panther 600 sloper shed find as I thought the $20 asking price was a bit steep. It was in good original condition, just needed new clutch plates. We still have a 1924 Hupmobile in the family from new, my grandfather's car. It was put out to farm use at one stage of it's life and then shedded sitting on blocks for a lot of years.

[pmccarthy]

A Panther sloper was always on my wish list. I have a rigid 1936 Enfield but it does my back in.