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I'm not in favor of rat bikes!

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The only "semi - rat' more of a custom that I did. Just like one I had in the day. Late 50's
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I think to change the appearance of a bike other than its original state is a form of expressing ones self weather it be a custom or rat rod or even s Klunker build , I too love a complete original bike as much as customizing a bike to my personal liking . I could live with myself either way ! Lol
 
another one saved

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I had a poorly repaired Hawthorne frame. really bad weld job where frame broke and was repaired by way too much brazing rod piled on. I considered throwing this frame out it looked so bad. I saw this tank setting under a table at a swap meet. every one had passed it by. the guy wanted 10 bucks for it! wasnt rusted, I didnt know what it fit, but for 10 bucks I bought it.
Of course the only frame it fit was the ratty hawthorne.
Lots of grinding later I got the bad welds looking excellent. striped off two coats of house and paint lots of rust. Added 1950 Huffy fenders, a 49 Buick hood ornament, the hocky stick guard
and a coke bottle opener I found nosing thru the trash. :)
The only way this bike got saved was because of the tank. I put it together Christmas week, and just brought it out today. too icey to ride though. Another old bike saved!

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not an
another one saved

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I had a poorly repaired Hawthorne frame. really bad weld job where frame broke and was repaired by way too much brazing rod piled on. I considered throwing this frame out it looked so bad. I saw this tank setting under a table at a swap meet. every one had passed it by. the guy wanted 10 bucks for it! wasnt rusted, I didnt know what it fit, but for 10 bucks I bought it.
Of course the only frame it fit was the ratty hawthorne.
Lots of grinding later I got the bad welds looking excellent. striped off two coats of house and paint lots of rust. Added 1950 Huffy fenders, a 49 Buick hood ornament, the hocky stick guard
and a coke bottle opener I found nosing thru the trash. :)
The only way this bike got saved was because of the tank. I put it together Christmas week, and just brought it out today. too icey to ride though. Another old bike saved!

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not another one tinker dave , its super nice I like it , good talking to you to day tinker dave keep them comeing ,I no you got more surprisess!!! for us cabers!!!!! from bicycle larry
 
Dudes, he had quite a few things I liked and would want on Beryl, like the rack and tank. Even if it's black I saw the Troxel seat I want on eBay. Troxels are my official favorite seats.
 
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View attachment 440762 Like my Hot Rod, I build my Bicycles and Motorcycles for me with my money, and my sweat. It's none of anyone's business what or how I do it. I build these things to make me happy. I used to show my 1958 FLH Harey Davidson but got tired of everyone telling me what they would do if it was theirs. I Build both Stock and Rats and enjoy both.
 
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Wow! And the debate rages on for 6 years. I like bikes! Custom, motorized, restored, rat, just bikes. I lean towards the custom, rat, motorized. I do not restore bikes. But I will be happy to come over and oggle at your restored bike. Now I'm gonna go weld some big ugly brackets on my 41 Autocycle frame. Just kidding.
 
I think my attraction (read: addiction) to crusty rusties is because that's what we had as kids. No one in my neighborhood had a fancy Schwinn. If we were lucky enough to get a new bike it was a basic model. If you had a bike you'd start saving for some ape hanger, shorty fenders, lay back seatpost, etc. We weren't poor, just working class families.
 
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