Funky little Rat Bike Project

Over the past couple months, I've been building up a spare old Honda Trail 55. Actually, I can't say I started with a Trail 55, as I used up random pieces from the junk pile of many bikes. I wanted to do something fun, so I went the rat bike route. I stripped everything down to bare metal, gave it a muriadic acid wash, then gave it a patina using a salt water spray.

I still need to finish a few details, but as of two weeks ago, the bike has been up and running. I finally snapped a few pics last night:

Chris H.

pink rims four teh win

That seat looks familiar.

is the double seat stock? bike is quite cool

Not really. Cub 50s had either a longer banana seat, or a solo seat with an accessory back seat. This is just a seat I made up that attaches to a stock luggage rack. The main seat is from a Cub 50, as I used the smaller Cub 50 fuel tank. The Trail 55 fuel tank is quite a bit bigger (same overall shape) and didn't look quite right.

I just used a combination of foam, some random textile felt material I had, and a thin wood backing board. I grabbed some discount plaid at the fabric store and assembled everything whilst sipping a beer in front of the tv. I think I posted some pics of that process here:

http://subrewgarage.blogspot.com/2010/03/making-seat-plaid-of-course.html

Lots of details on the bike spread out amongst the beer posts!

Chris H.

thats pretty grassroots! i like it

Cool man. I dig it.

Beyond awesome.

I want one

I took Ratty for his first real "long distance" ride yesterday morning. We made a lap around the valley, went downtown, and ran an errand at the local hardware store. Got a thumbs up from a Cop, a guy on a Harley pulled up next to me at a light and yelled out "bithin dude, bitchin!", and I made some local kids scream.

It is about 99% complete. Just need to finish the DIY LEd taillight build, and mess with carb settings a little to get it a little smoother at part throttle.

I managed to hit 48mph in 3rd gear with revs to spare without really noticing, so I'm not sure how fast it will run in 4th gear.

Chris H.

So awesome. I may have to build a small rat bike this summer.

Where is the gas tank?

Damn. That is awesome. You are making me rethink my decision to sell my Passport project....

EvanB wrote: So awesome. I may have to build a small rat bike this summer. Where is the gas tank?

Pretty sure it's under the seat on those.

That thing is just cool.

Holy crap that is awesome. Didja submit it to the mag for the pitbikes section?