Rat Bike Project

[facthunter]

The main mod is the rear hub (and brake) and the 21 inch front rim I can't see what the Hoo Hah is. He's not hurting anybody and it's his bike. Today you can easily spend enough on a WLA to have way more money invested in it than you will ever get for it... The best way to get  a good one is to buy a good one. There's no shortage of them here. Later restorations may have non original parts. I've never seen a non original part that was superior to an original.  The latest  repro mudguards  have become acceptable for quality and look.  As I said the original star hubs  used on the rear have been all used up. There are repros at a cost that are OK but don't have the "Look". That seat was very IN  with the civilianised WD surplus bikes the went on the road just after the war .  The seat sits further back than the Military one does.  I have a mate who has on still in the crate.. They were treated with tropic proof Waxes to inhibit them from corrosion. Nev

[willedoo]

A Wooden Indian, not the cigar type.

 

[willedoo]

Found an old mph Smiths speedo in rat bike condition which might be a contender. It's fairly big; about an inch bigger dimeter than a W or U series Harley speedo. I've got 5 gallon split taks so it will depend on the final fitment of those tanks whether or not the speedo will fit between the filler caps in a tank console.

 

 

 

[nomadpete]

31 minutes ago, willedoo said:

Found an old mph Smiths speedo in rat bike condition which might be a contender. It's fairly big; about an inch bigger dimeter than a W or U series Harley speedo. I've got 5 gallon split taks so it will depend on the final fitment of those tanks whether or not the speedo will fit between the filler caps in a tank console.

 

 

 

Looks rather Morris Minor. Got the patina you want.

[willedoo]

1 hour ago, nomadpete said:

Looks rather Morris Minor. Got the patina you want.

Spot on Pete, that's what it is.

[Marty_d]

I like how it only goes to 99,999 miles.

Did they not expect cars to do more than 100,000 back then?

 

 

Edited 17 hours ago by Marty_d

[nomadpete]

30 minutes ago, Marty_d said:

I like how it only goes to 99,999 miles.

Did they not expect cars to do more than 100,000 back then?

 

 

Young pup!

 

Nobody expected a car to last 100,000 so there was no need for a bigger odometer.

 

I had a friend who took a photo of his Holden odo rolling over to zero - but the car was on it's second engine.

[nomadpete]

A mate had a Mini Moke Californian with inentical speedo. I remember the day well. I had my left leg in plaster from a bike accident so it was stuck out the side. To say I felt a bit vulnerable would be an understatement.  He wound it out til the needle was on the Full mark on the fuel gauge. Then a XJ Jag breezed past us like we were standing still!

 

Sorry for the thread drift, but the Pic of a rusty old speedo lit up ma mrmory cell. 

[nomadpete]

Have you got an engine for your trike yet? I know where you might get a nice light alloy Buick/Rover V8.... 

[willedoo]

7 hours ago, nomadpete said:

Have you got an engine for your trike yet? I know where you might get a nice light alloy Buick/Rover V8.... 

It won't be a trike, conventional two wheeler with a sidecar is the plan. I seem to remember seeing one of those engines on marketplace near here recently. I don't know much about them apart from them being a small aluminium block motor.

[willedoo]

On the subject of sidecars, this contraption I'm building won't be registered, but in Queensland it's relatively easy to fit a sidecar to a registered bike. I don't know whether other states have an inspection/approval process for fitting a sidecar, but here if you have dual seat rego (we have dual and single seat registration options), you can just put one on without having to get it inspected or approved. The only requirements if you happen to get pulled over is that it must have a mechanical park brake if manufactured after a certain date, and must have four attachment points and obvious stuff like lighting. Bolt-on clamp attachment kits are ok but if brackets are welded to the bike frame, it must be engineer certified. So as long as you have dual seat rego and use bolt-on clamp style attachments, you can build your own sidecar, bolt it on and ride away.