Classic & Vintage - My Rat Rod Bike Build - For those who were interested...

There were a few of you who were interested in seeing my latest Rat bike build. Well, here she is:

-Sears Spaceliner Frame (made by Murray Bicycle Co.)
-JC Higgins Colorflow Beehive Fork
-Custom Rattle Can Painted and Pin Striped Tank
-Big Headlight powered by 4 D-Cell Batteries
-Troxel Style Saddle with Custom Covering

She is vintage afterall... Just not what we're used to.

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg128/steppinthefunk/Final_Spaceliner_quarterbac.jpg

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg128/steppinthefunk/Final_Spaceliner_FR-2.jpg

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg128/steppinthefunk/Final_Spaceliner_Quarterfro.jpg

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg128/steppinthefunk/Final_Spaceliner_Side.jpg

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg128/steppinthefunk/Final_Spaceliner_nondrive.jpg

looks good. is the frame just raw steel? is the headlight functional?

baadass!

baadass!

+1 way badass

Thanks guys,
The headlight is functional. It has a Krypton bulb poered by 4 D-cell batteries. I will eventually gut a LED flashlight and stick the LED's into the housing.

The frame is chromed.

whens the motor being installed?

That bike is super sweet! You have good taste my friend :thumb: What kind of tires are those?

whens the motor being installed?

Maybe in a few months. Trying to buy a house right now so it's gonna have to wait for a garage.

Here are some pre build pics:
___________________________________

**650c wheels are used for mock up only (AND to make "Zipp-crazed-roadies" mad - lol)
**I'm thinking of using 24" wheels instead of 26" since I kinda like the look of the bike with these smaller wheels. Feel free to give your opinion on this matter.
** Although I would love to keep the red, the final color scheme will not be red and chrome since I do not wish to further steal from JoeyMac's DevilWing
** For now I am experimenting with Boneshaker's fork invert trick. Whether I keep it this way or not will depend on how stable it is when ridden

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg128/steppinthefunk/space_mock_up1.jpg

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg128/steppinthefunk/space_mock_up2.jpg

The seat was a $25.00 ebay purchase that was listed under "Antique Motorcycle Seat". It had some very rusty hardware and leather that was so dry that it literally crumbled in my hands.

Seat when purchased:
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg128/steppinthefunk/MVC-013S.jpg

Seat after cleanup:
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg128/steppinthefunk/SEAT.jpg

The fork was another Ebay purchase. For some reason the previous owner thought it would be a good idea to paint the hardware on this for silver. Scraping off the ugly paint revelaed some decent chrome:

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg128/steppinthefunk/fork1.jpg http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg128/steppinthefunk/fork-2.jpg

Seat after covering:
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg128/steppinthefunk/saddle2.jpg

Tank after rattle can paint and pinstriping:
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg128/steppinthefunk/tank-1.jpg

The headlight power source - 4 D-cell batteries:
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg128/steppinthefunk/b6c6_1.jpg

looks cool but i bet its horrific to ride any distance on.

looks cool but i bet its horrific to ride any distance on.

true... but then again it's not made to be a distance runner by any stretch.

That bike is super sweet! You have good taste my friend :thumb: What kind of tires are those?

Thanks man... The tires are cheap Heng Shin tires in 2"x1.25". They were the widest cheap tires in the shop.

I love it! But don't call it a rat bike. rat bikes are supposed to look like they're held together by rust and dirt. this is a shiny beauty.
enjoy it and be sure to lock it up well...where I'm from, this is the kind of bike that teenagers like to lift.
Allan

JEEZ this is the coolest bike I've seen on the site yet, but then again I was a cutter and welder rat rod cycle guy before I came to pedalbikes, so 2wheelers like you built really speak to me. Gorgeous

looks cool but i bet its horrific to ride any distance on.

I'll bet you anything that it's no worse then most singlespeeds with the seatpost and saddle kicked up a bit.

-Kurt

Damn, that's one NICE ride. You have inspired me sir! I've always wanted to put together a fun bike, and you've certainly given me some ideas.

Gorgeous!!!

That's not a cinelli stem is it? If yes are you using a shim? I vote for some flipped cruiser bars with some sweep back.

That's not a cinelli stem is it? If yes are you using a shim? I vote for some flipped cruiser bars with some sweep back.

lol... Nice catch.
I'm actually embarassed to say that it is a Cinelli stem with a slight negative rise on a regular road bike. I think they're pretty rare and possibly desireable.

I used a 7/8" to 13/16" seat post shim to get it to work. For some reason the math doesn't work out but it actually comes out to be a perfect fit. I use this technique on two of my bikes now.

The hits just keep on comin' with you eh?

Goddam I love your bikes. Build more, I wanna see 'em!

:thumb::thumb:

Very cool.

With a bit more brass and/or wood, it'd be more steampunk than rat. :)

Hahaha super awesome.

Is the big gold thing on the fork the battery pack for the headlamp?

I love the way the tank is laced onto the frame.

Beautiful, and steampunkish, too :D .

East Hill

Suh-weet. What's the headlight housing/lens?

I love it. Here is my ratrod. I actually ride it a lot.

More Rod than Rat....

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n112/hellhammered/8109Wall_1024.jpg