Dirty little rat

Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 7:24 pm

Some proof that I actually have a bike Smile

.

This is my dirty little secret, an 81 750f. It's a project, but more in the sense that it always takes work after it has been ridden much. She was even rattier when I got her 5 years ago but no smoke so I am happy . She starts right up and rides nicely thanks to all the advice and help from the board. Most commonly I take Sonicrete's advice and check the valves often even though it is a real PITA with the valve cover so close to the frame.

Go ahead and laugh, I like her though (and I can ride her in the rain Twisted Evil

)

Grant

Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 7:41 pm

Yo, hey you finally posted a picture of your Rat Very Happy

. Do be a shamed, we've seen bikes in much worse conditions Grant. And most important: She takes you where you want go. And there are so many fine examples to see in what you can transform your Rat into. So just enjoy the bike and take the project step by step.

Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 2:30 am

Nothing wrong with riding a rat! Dirt doesn't slow ya down....and it makes all the 'polishers' feel better about all the time they waste!

Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 8:38 am

Rat bike = Very Happy

You can:

- ride it in the rain

- park it someplace dodgy and not worry about the precious side covers being missing when you get back (I have this phobia that keeps me parking in sight of where I'm eating lunch, drinking coffee, etc. Am I the only one?)

- maybe push that little bit harder in the corners

- let your mate take it for a burn and not worry about it

- spend more time turning fuel into noise and less time polishing

- allocate more money to go and less to show

I keep reminding myself of the above every time I consider taking my F to bits and doing it up. Not that that is not a worthwhile pursuit (and I love seeing the pics of all you guys' projects), just my feeling on the subject these days.

Cheers.

Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 9:23 am

Yeah makes sense to have a bike you can just ride without carting it around in your pocket. I have the highly polished & meticulously cared for 1100 (Black nonno in avatar) which has never seen a rain drop etc.etc, blah,blah. So, I went out & found a 900 81' which is a little rough around the edges. When I picked it up it sounded like a dying lawn mower and the guy sellin said it just had a costly rebuild but needed tuning. (Oh yeah I thought) I saw some new gaskets hangin off the block etc, so I took a risk on his honesty and bought it dirt cheap. 97,000 on the clock, everything works, no leaks etc. I took it to the local tuner in my area and, get this, he told me he knows the bike, even quoted the guys name who sold it to me and went on to tell me that the bike has had big bucks spent on rebulid on engine and other items. More? Well the guy stopped short on the final tuning and carb balance after he found out how much he already owed my mechanic! He paid what was oweing and left the project sit, until I bought it. Very Happy

I can't beleive how well this bike starts, runs and rides & I just love throwing the leg over any day without worrying about the weather or the paint etc. I still get the looks cos in the end, I'ts still aclassic old "F" aint it guyz! Laughing

P.S. My bike was tuned by Allan at Top Tune motorcycles in Albury NSW Australia.
Allan is an old hand on the old bikes & not many like him left working on the old ones. If you are getting the run around over the age of your bike you won't get that at Top Tune & Allan is a magician on "F" bikes & other brands too. Tell him Steve the Wood man sent you. Smile

Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 6:49 pm

Hey thanks,

She use to have side panels Crying or Very sad

. I had my left one off and was painting it and was riding with my cracked silver spare when the nicest of my collection came off (a right with all three tabs and no cracks). I was cruising along about 100mph when I felt a flapping and then as I slowed down to stop to take a look the flapping stopped. I stopped and noticed the panel was gone, looked back about 300 yards just as a truck was running it over.

She is mostly a rat because I never "wash" her, just wipe of each area I work on with a rag and then ride. There is always chain spray all over and the rain gets everything filmy, so I guess you could say I am the rat for abusing her. She barely ran when I got her so... Thanks for all the help.

Grant Wink

Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 1:10 am

And what could be wrong with a RAT?

Gord Twisted Evil

Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 3:21 am

robbo wrote:

Rat bike = Very Happy

You can:

- ride it in the rain

- park it someplace dodgy and not worry about the precious side covers being missing when you get back (I have this phobia that keeps me parking in sight of where I'm eating lunch, drinking coffee, etc. Am I the only one?)

- maybe push that little bit harder in the corners

- let your mate take it for a burn and not worry about it

- spend more time turning fuel into noise and less time polishing

- allocate more money to go and less to show

I keep reminding myself of the above every time I consider taking my F to bits and doing it up. Not that that is not a worthwhile pursuit (and I love seeing the pics of all you guys' projects), just my feeling on the subject these days.

Cheers.

Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 3:27 am

As long as that little rat puts a smile on your face when you twist the throttle, it's all good!

Ride Safely, brother!

Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 8:03 pm

Hey hey Gord,

It has been a while since we heard from you. I hoped if I posted it as a RAT you might chime in. Nothing at all wrong with RATS. I love mine and I got her over 120mph fully loaded down in Nevada the summer before last. Know it was close to actual speed because those little radars the police leave out. She and I are both RATs but I wouldn't sell her to anyone, especially not after paying nearly the same in speeding fines as I paid for her Evil or Very Mad

.

Good to hear from you again, Grant