Rat Bikes! Pub Bikes Beaters! Frankenbikes!

Again, probably just for decoration. Random crap strapped to the roof to make it look extra shonky.

More bikes!

To me there's a big difference.
A true rat is function over form (although loved for their looks too) and for instance (re)built/repaired with parts that weren't necessarily made for that bike, just to keep it on the road for as long as possible as cheap as possible.
Paint with patina/wear etc all comes with time or use and is not deliberately put on.
(Originally with cars) it's the idea that it might get restored one day, although "It's only original once." and owners tend to have a showboat on the side.

A fake rat is just, well, fake and I refuse to call it a rat e.g. that golf.
Why would you deliberately sand down to bare metal or throw it in acid?
It's completely against the idea of a rat.

I tried to build my BSA in a rat way, although it's a little fake too.
Took the saddle out of a trashbin, found the wheels at the local dump, straightened them, dented the stays a little to get them to fit. Then modified an old headlamp to take a 1euro LED light, so that I could take of the dynamo and cut up a rear rack to fit the front.
I only spend money on the frame, cotter cranks, grips, a chain and tires, because I got sick of blowing up my inners.
Although I only paid 10pounds for the cranks, I could've gone with something I had laying around - same for grips > fake rat.

Ha, porn has its rules, so rat should have rules!
970 pages to catch up - lets go!

totally agree

Some people done it real nice like this;

http://image.hotrod.com/f/9003317/hrdp_0704_rat_02_z%25252B1937_ford_rat_rod%25252Bpatina%25252Brear_v%25252520%25252520iew.jpg

Some does it really badly, like this;

(image too big to be viewed)

Woo! On Ones on tour! Brit Bikes abroad! etc.

^lovely! Here's my old Datsun with DIY paintwork. Cost 150 quid in true rat style.

Unfortunately the underside was as ratty as the bodywork so 18 months after buying it, it was consigned to the scrappers.

Er, anyway, bikes!

[...]Er, anyway, bikes!

This please.

what is enjoyable about that bike?

nothing.

other than it fitting the basic definition of beater, what inspired to you share it?

haha! ^

-

few Flickr faves to keep it going

my viking beater
nice & leisurely

paint is much worse close up honest !

haha! ^

ohh I really like that

Good, we're back on track. I was about to have a hissy-fit for a second. Just post pictures of rat/franken/beater bikes and let's not get in to the 'this is right' or 'this is not right' crap which proliferates the Bike Porn thread and is only ever based on preference and circumstance. /rant

Sorry 'bout that, but I think we all agree creating a rat look is whack.

i love this, its decided what my next build is going to be for me.

aside from the fenders, pretty cheap build too... asuming he already had the seat.

It's nice to see this thread getting the attention it deserves (despite the derail about rat VWs).
Here's a few pictures of my beater.

remove that thing from the bridge

he will fit a mudguard, maybe

he will fit a mudguard, maybe

Correct, that's my mudguard mount.

Correct, that's my mudguard mount.

what mudguard would that be? looks like it could be pretty practical

That's a fail.

here comes the rack expert.

That's a fail.

well it dose the job of a basket pretty well, holds things

surly it wouldn't have been that hard to make it level?

this isn't bike porn, it doesn't need to be level