A rat bike is a motorcycle that has been repaired using makeshift methods resulting in a unique appearance. Safety depends on the skill of the owner, and the culture surrounding this type of bike is popular among those who prioritize functionality over aesthetics. Survival bikes are a deliberate modification of the rat bike, and enthusiasts often meet up to exchange tips and tricks.
A rat bike is a motorcycle that has been maintained using kludge repairs, resulting in a bike that continues to run but bears little resemblance to a standard motorcycle. Often these bikes are extremely dirty and have parts that have been made using odds and ends. Whether a rat bike is safe depends on the skill of the owner who did the repairs and what kind of repairs have been done. There is a strong culture around this type of bike, as the philosophy of keeping the bike without investing a lot of money is popular with many groups.
Many people who own motorcycles believe that the joy of riding the motorcycle is more important than the look of the bike. These folks don’t clean their bikes often and don’t invest in parts that do little to improve the bike’s rideability. When a bike breaks down, people who hold to this philosophy often fix the bike at home using inexpensive parts and fixes that don’t involve manufactured parts. Over time, this results in a bike that looks very different from the original model.
The exact repairs that can be done this way vary depending on the skill of the owner. Some people are so handy that they can use items like soda cans and other scrap metal to repair exhaust pipes and other mechanisms. Items like bent wire can also be used to hold pieces together. In principle, the kludge repair must be robust and safe, regardless of how the repair looks on the bike. Functionality is much more important on a rat bike than aesthetics.
A close relative of the rat bike is a variety of motorcycle called the survival bike, sometimes called the fake rat. Unlike a rat bike, a survival bike is deliberately modified to achieve the appearance of having been assembled from spare parts and junk. These bikes have been heavily influenced by the aesthetics of survival movies involving motorcycles and are often painted matte black and may include decorative exhaust systems. Speed is usually not the top priority on these bikes, but they are expected to remain functional.
In many cases, a person who owns a rat bike and recognizes the bike as representing a particular philosophy may wish to meet up with other like-minded people to exchange tips and tricks or just to see other bikes. For this reason, there are often bicycle rat meetings and parades in areas with a sufficient number of enthusiasts. When a meetup can’t be found, rat bike information can often be obtained online at forums and how-to websites.
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