Rat Bike - What is it?
 

In a moment of weakness I bought this rattle can black bike boom era "rat bike" off of craigs list. I couldnt resist as the seller was willing to meet me literally right down the street and the cost was a rather strange $13.

Anyone know what it is?
It's got mostly simplex stuff, the seat says San Marcos or something like that. Diacomp rear brake, cottered cranks.

http://www.brian-payne.com/bikes/finds/rat5.jpg

http://www.brian-payne.com/bikes/finds/rat1.jpg

http://www.brian-payne.com/bikes/finds/rat2.jpg

http://www.brian-payne.com/bikes/finds/rat3.jpg

http://www.brian-payne.com/bikes/finds/rat4.jpg

http://www.brian-payne.com/bikes/finds/rat6.jpg

Going to guess some type of low end Raleigh?

that stem looks to be bike forums approved. don't trust it.

Also the front fork is bent on it. Roger

That's a Belleri stem, I believe, which is French.

Neal

thanks for the replies. I didnt even notice the fork was bent!
Did a lot of bikes use those wingnuts in place of quick releases? Is that usually a sign of a low end bike? I thought I saw some older touring french bikes had those. That said I realize this bike is a POS. I was going to just get it running and sell it for cheap.

I just bought a nice Mercier with those wingnuts and that stem and simplex deraillers. I''ll wager it's french. What size are the tires?

I'm thinkin' french as well. but it isn't very far up the pecking order.

Don't feel too bad though, the brakes and the wingnuts are worth twice $13...

Bite thine tongue sir. ;)

Try taking a pedal out and see if it will thread into another crank arm (don't force it).

Barring that, see if the serial numbers are French. :p :D

French stem, French Simplex components, and a Coureur saddle. Sounds French to me. :D

It looks like the paint was sprayed on with little frame prep--you can tell by the black brake cable hanger behind the seatpost and the black headset cups. Any chance there are decals under the black top coat?

I'd guess 60's vintage Sears made by Steyr/Puch, except they used through the top tube cable routing.

Beyond that I have no clue.