Matt Black Rat v Shiny Polished-opinions please!

[trikerdrew]

Hi you rabble,

Basically some folk like bikes all clean and shiny.

Some like 'em all filthy and matt black.Ratty or survival or in between.

What is your preferance and why?Don't hold back blurt it ou,they're Shyte cuz.............

Drew

[Urban Terrorist]

I love matt black, but i also like shiny bikes, you get different reactions to the different bikes!!!

And I still want this bike:

http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/5808/brownpearl4ax3.jpg

[Dougie]

Had both,but never shiny enough to warrant polishing instead of riding.Can't be arsed,tho',with folks who spend a fortune on bling but don't even have the basics of mechanical knowledge.The number who can't even adjust a chain or change the oil etc is horrendous.My old GS is pretty horrible (and,let's face it,not as reliable as I'd like :rolleyes: ) but it does what I ask of it and if something breaks I can usually fix it.

[slug_salter]

i dont think that a coat of matt black means the things a shed, and ive seen some awful bikes with third party bolt on shiny bits on ..
at the end of the day i guess its down to personal preferance but a good solid bike with sound engenering is all it really comes down to,

me trike is having a coat of matt black applyed as we speak ,but only after its had a full stripdown and been rewired ,too everybodys taste it may not be , but rock solid and reliable it is

[Nik]

Depends on the bike - some stuff looks good matt black and some stuff doesn't. Same with shiny - some bikes suit, some'd look better matt black. :)

[headless]

a love the look of rat bikes but never had one, then again my bike aren't shiny ether

[Simon B]

Not a fan of designer rats, ie stick on some **** and spray it matt black, I really hate seeing bikes that are a couple of years old and the owners just spray them ( badly) matt black, you know over thet tyres, disc's, no stripping down.
Dont have a problem with ones that have evolved,
Yep prefer bikes that people look after both cosmetically and interally.
If you really want a rat heres me mates bike for sale its a rat bike strter kit and should be well cheap
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/KAWASAKI-GPZ500-SPARES-OR-LONG-TERM-PROJECT-NO-RESERVE_W0QQitemZ200205608533QQihZ010QQcategoryZ10 464QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[headless]

I love matt black, but i also like shiny bikes, you get different reactions to the different bikes!!!

And I still want this bike:

http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/5808/brownpearl4ax3.jpg

and to do the engraving on the tank u just fill it with lead that way it don't break through then when ur done just melt the lead out

[Bassman]

problem is that an awful lot of Rat bikes are just that rats.. bikes that the owners are too fecking tight to spend any money on to maintain em right.. and cos its a bit fashionable right now to have a rat bike... folk seem to think all they need to do is throw a tin of matt black paint over it all, let the thing rust away, and stick on a few spiders and stuff and its "I ride a rat me"...must be a fashion thing i guess... :p
Not for me ..sorry

[John Hopkins]

Both of my bikes are rats..the Gt has new brake pads, Battery, oils, heated grips, rear tyre, clutch plates and the Vmax has new brake pads, battery, oils, all panels stripped and polished aluminium. But neither has any aftermarket stuff on them, both start on the button..apart from the stripped and polished panels on the Vmax, I consider all the other bits essential maintenance...Unmodified, original old bikes, maybe a bit of mat black on the engine to hide corrosion but thats it... :D John

[Bassman]

didn't think polished casings..and well maintained bikes and Rat Bikes went together mate...wouldnt call your bikes Rats .. just good bikes..

[Dougie]

problem is that an awful lot of Rat bikes are just that rats.. bikes that the owners are too fecking tight to spend any money on to maintain em right.. and cos its a bit fashionable right now to have a rat bike... folk seem to think all they need to do is throw a tin of matt black paint over it all, let the thing rust away, and stick on a few spiders and stuff and its "I ride a rat me"...must be a fashion thing i guess... :p
Not for me ..sorry
But (big can o' worms time) the number of bikes that fail their first MOT because the owners are more interested in polishing rather than maintaining is bigger than you'd think.My bike's cosmetically horrible but it's safe and solid.The brakes work,the chain is lubed and properly adjusted,the suspension works,the lights and horn work,swingarm and steering head bearings are greased and adjusted and the oil and filter are replaced regularly.Okay,she leaks a bit of oil,but she is near 30 years old.I have seen bikes brought for an MOT all nice and shiny with trick add-ons with bald tyres,the brake pads down to the steel backing plates and the chains unlubed and nearly dragging on the floor,all because the owners would rather spend their cash on anodised crap,tinted screens and the like than proper care and maintenance.Just because a bike LOOKS ratty doesn't mean its a rolling wreck and conversely because one is shiny doesn't mean it's safe.........

[Juke]

Matt black for me, everytime................... ;)

I am just a lazy bitch who would rather ride than clean. Simple as that. :p

i like the look of some shiny bikes, but thats it, just to look at. Owning one dont appeal to me, coz it would be disrespectful to let a nice bike crud up.

And yes Rob, I would like that bike too. Lots...................... :D

[John Hopkins]

didn't think polished casings..and well maintained bikes and Rat Bikes went together mate...wouldnt call your bikes Rats .. just good bikes..

Well they are old, can't really have a new rat, they don't have money spent on them unless they need it,you shouldn't spend money on a rat, and they are well maintained but not pampered..The polished panels on the Vmax were done because they had to come off for the maintenance, and the seats were dyed and polished for the same reason, but it was all done at home and for no cost..

my definition of a rat...Standard bike...no respray, no rust, well maintained and reliable, but not worth much and no great loss if you run it into the ground..Anything else is a custom or show bike... :D John

[Pugwash]

simple,basic,easy to Home maintain & summit i can clean up in under 30 mins with a jet washer an a tine of pledge .that fits all my needs

did shiny couldn't be assed to clean it

did new still couldn't be assed to clean it

Powdercoat is gods answer to lazy fukkers like me :D

[Nik]

But (big can o' worms time) the number of bikes that fail their first MOT because the owners are more interested in polishing rather than maintaining is bigger than you'd think.My bike's cosmetically horrible but it's safe and solid.The brakes work,the chain is lubed and properly adjusted,the suspension works,the lights and horn work,swingarm and steering head bearings are greased and adjusted and the oil and filter are replaced regularly.Okay,she leaks a bit of oil,but she is near 30 years old.I have seen bikes brought for an MOT all nice and shiny with trick add-ons with bald tyres,the brake pads down to the steel backing plates and the chains unlubed and nearly dragging on the floor,all because the owners would rather spend their cash on anodised crap,tinted screens and the like than proper care and maintenance.Just because a bike LOOKS ratty doesn't mean its a rolling wreck and conversely because one is shiny doesn't mean it's safe.........

Very true. Had the Changeling MoT'd recently and the MoT bloke said he'd be happy to ride it 'cos he knew that it was safe and everything worked properly despite its appearance. The same couldn't be said, however, of the polished and shiny five year old 'Blade that'd just failed on wheel n' swingarm bearings, headstock bearings, worn tyres, worn pads and more ...


:)

[Bosun]

believe it or not im now a great one at cleaning shiney
wilkinsons wash and wax occassionally is fine by me

personnal preferences is a real bike showing the patina of use and age

[Hillbilly Deluxe]

personnal preferences is a real bike showing the patina of use and agei agree,if a rat bike is what you want,it should evolve,anything else is just a matte black custom bike :)

[Kylie]

What are these "clean" and "shiny" words you speak of?

[Mortis]

There is a time and a place for both. Personally, I like to see bikes being used and not just for show. ATEOTD, bikes are meant to be ridden! If I see a nice shiny bike with decent milage on it, I will respect the owner more than some trophy hunter who'll only bring there bike out if it's sunny. There again, I hate to see "designer" rats where they are covered in fake **** instead of accumulating it through riding the bloody thing in all weathers.

I used to run a XJ550 rat bike back in the late 80s (it won best rat at the CMA national rally 1990 :D ) and I loved it to bits. It died when I crashed it in snow just outside my house :( . It looks like Project Triumph Mk I will be a rat and I'm looking forward to some serious milage on it before Project Triumph Mk II comes along.

[slob]

problem is that an awful lot of Rat bikes are just that rats.. bikes that the owners are too fecking tight to spend any money on to maintain em right.. and cos its a bit fashionable right now to have a rat bike... folk seem to think all they need to do is throw a tin of matt black paint over it all, let the thing rust away, and stick on a few spiders and stuff and its "I ride a rat me"...must be a fashion thing i guess... :p
Not for me ..sorry


and whats wrong with that :D . . My ikes have become rats through spanks and a liberal amount of nelect/cable ties.

Truth is i m not mechanical and I do not have the patience to do it right so I do what works for me.

My favorite bikes are those where a bit of imagination is employed on a fixed budget..we can all have what we want with a bit of money but it's the shoestring builds that turn me on,.

[Kylie]

I fix stuff that needs fixing, but i cant afford to fix stuff that doesnt... so the fairing stays bolloxed

[slob]

I fix stuff that needs fixing, but i cant afford to fix stuff that doesnt... so the fairing stays bolloxed



to be fair, you look after your bike pretty well... I keep eying up the duck and drake as I pass through everyday btw

[Kylie]

to be fair, you look after your bike pretty well... I keep eying up the duck and drake as I pass through everyday btw
I do my best, but i dont have the knowledge to do everything. I was looking at the under side of the bike earlier - the frame, centre stand, side stand all need stripping and painting cos they're going rusty, and the bottom of the shock??? maybe, i dont know, but it looked like it needed greasing.

Any time you fancy a night in the duck and drake you just let me know! You're welcome to come stay.

[jabba]

matt black..nato green..desert camo..

Not against bling but get tired of cleaning em.

Aslong as there mechanically sound they do me.

Had one of those drifter 1500's and had to run it during the winter coz my xrv broke down never again. I was paranoid about the rust :(

[kitkatman]

i am going to try between matt black and shiney, if it looks good then it stays, if it dont, then its matt white :D


i think its personal though, some bikes look good ratted, the one that the owners have spent time fabricating things from nothing to make sure it works and is practical and not giving a shyte what it looks like, that way the rat suddenly becomes a life of its own, but it can also look like a death trap......as for the shiney ones, well....i am now prefering the non harley shineys as i think the v-twin has been rinsed that hard that its now a part of the norm to see em big and shiney, so when you see something a touch different....its nice

[gothtec]

I Have mi shiney and mi rat... I like the Dragshiney as I feel good on it and it gets me places (cost me enough) and keeping it mech good and shiney keeps its value... I like mi CGrat because I can throw it around and tinker with it as needs/ wishes must without danger of detracting its value (not much)...

Must clean the Dragshiney.. and its a nice day :confused:

Decided to keep the rat (stick a trailer on it) and concentrate on the new project instead (another shiney!).

[Kylie]

I had a horrendous dream last night that my exhaust, which is fairly simple suddenly turned out to be really complicated and i hadnt looked at it properly - instead of having one end can, it had 6, and they were all different sizes, and the bit that was going rusty had massive holes in it, and someone told me it was going to cost me thousands to fix it! That probably says something about me or the bike or both, not sure!

[John Hopkins]

I had a horrendous dream last night that my exhaust, which is fairly simple suddenly turned out to be really complicated and i hadnt looked at it properly - instead of having one end can, it had 6, and they were all different sizes, and the bit that was going rusty had massive holes in it, and someone told me it was going to cost me thousands to fix it! That probably says something about me or the bike or both, not sure!

You need to get out more...Is it natural to dream about a motorbike..and you can fix a silencer by cutting the ends off a large food can and strapping it over the holey bit with two jubilee clips for a lot less than thousands... :D John

[Bosun]

i found my rat bike today
http://www.bosunsbikes.com/images/2008/misc/Pioneer%202008/images/P1110557%20(Medium).JPG

a 1905 ROC georgeous eh ;) :D

[pete lee]

My bike was a lovely shiney vt700 shadow but a few years of riding through the winters it needed respraying,rechroming etc.Couldn't afford to have it done properly so it got a coat of satin black.Maintain it well enough,although not confident to strip it completely down so some overspray on parts of it.So not a ratter just a bit ruff looking because now it's no big drama if i leave it outside and it rains or if i drop it.So its evolved through necessity and i enjoy it a lot more than if it was shiny.Still like shiny though.

[Taff]

The whole concept of rats went tits up when some fuckhead decided to have 'Best Rat' category in their show, and others followed suit. Till then it was the odd cool ass ol' Triumph or BSA still plodding on after years of faithful service.
Suddenly the formula rat was created, folk were buying half decent GS's and XS's and ripping the side panels off to be replaced with shíte looking aluminium plate, covering 'em in matt black, and strapping unnecessary bullshít to em, anything military, bottles and shít with no purpose, fucking pointess army netting, sticking knobbly tyres on 'em for no reason other than to make 'em look 'ard, and to stick in shows hoping for a trophy when they wouldn't stand a chance normally. Then "i'm gonna buy one and rat it" became a credible phrase rather than the pathetic last grab at credibility from someone on the fringes of the custom world who aint got the spanner power to build a decent bike. Now the rat bike category aint far behind the Harley one for fakeness and bullshít. One was pictured on here last year, possibly at an Ace Caff show, obviously a decent bike the night before, it'd been urban-cammo'd or some old shíte the night before, tyres and all, and stuck in the rat bike section. Wankers.
And it aint about money, i've kept decent bikes running and looking good from me early 250's to 750's when i either had nowt, or was throwing what i did have at another project.

[Kylie]

I am fighting the rat battle with my bike - it has aspirations to become a rat and I am trying to keep it halfway decent - would love to do things to it - white wheels on a motorbike ffs?! I fancy black with a red stripe round the rim....

[Simon B]

I do like all the comments about, riding it all the time and its got ratty.
My uncle ( RIP) had the same BSA he had when he was 20 and rode it all year round, its called looking after a bike, he had it for 40 years ok it werent atrophy winner but it looked good
My Heritage was ridden all year round, come the winter time, I greased it up sprayed it with silicone sealant, come the good weather just got it all off and it looked good still.

[trikerdrew]

I don't like shiny bikes.Had a couple nicked and left sour taste in my mouth.

Piles of corrosion held together by rust and matt black are out as well.

Suppose I am more into purpose built bikes/trikes which means they are survival I guess.

If everyone stripped their bike at least once they would end up swopping all the fasteners/cables and hoses.Powdercoating/painting or even polishing bits they hadn't seen before.

Rather have a Matt Black bike than be in debt with one I was scared of binning/being nicked etc

drew

[Kicky]

Got three bikes,78 Goldwing,83 BMW R45,02 1100 Dagstar and you could eat yer dinner off of any of them.
Why?,cause I grew up with feck all,so anything I do have I religiously look after,and they are well used.Wing has 57,000 miles on it,the wee Beemer 36,000 miles and the Dragstar 20,000 miles.Wing and Beemer were bought as scrappers and rebuilt,the Dragstar I bought new,first new bike I ever owned.
I like "Rats",real Rats that is,not the deliberately Ratted,whose only purpose is to pick up awards at shows.
Often thought about stealing someones Ratbike and polishing it just to see the look on the owners face.
Ain't keen on them over-blinged powder puff chariots either.

[Kylie]

I do like all the comments about, riding it all the time and its got ratty.
My uncle ( RIP) had the same BSA he had when he was 20 and rode it all year round, its called looking after a bike, he had it for 40 years ok it werent atrophy winner but it looked good
My Heritage was ridden all year round, come the winter time, I greased it up sprayed it with silicone sealant, come the good weather just got it all off and it looked good still.
Mine isnt getting ratty from riding it - its getting ratty from me falling off it!

[Pugwash]

The whole concept of rats went tits up when some fuckhead decided to have 'Best Rat' category in their show, and others followed suit. Till then it was the odd cool ass ol' Triumph or BSA still plodding on after years of faithful service.
Suddenly the formula rat was created, folk were buying half decent GS's and XS's and ripping the side panels off to be replaced with shíte looking aluminium plate, covering 'em in matt black, and strapping unnecessary bullshít to em, anything military, bottles and shít with no purpose, fucking pointess army netting, sticking knobbly tyres on 'em for no reason other than to make 'em look 'ard, and to stick in shows hoping for a trophy when they wouldn't stand a chance normally. Then "i'm gonna buy one and rat it" became a credible phrase rather than the pathetic last grab at credibility from someone on the fringes of the custom world who aint got the spanner power to build a decent bike. Now the rat bike category aint far behind the Harley one for fakeness and bullshít. One was pictured on here last year, possibly at an Ace Caff show, obviously a decent bike the night before, it'd been urban-cammo'd or some old shíte the night before, tyres and all, and stuck in the rat bike section. Wankers.
And it aint about money, i've kept decent bikes running and looking good from me early 250's to 750's when i either had nowt, or was throwing what i did have at another project.

I Agree on all the Points made there Taff

[growl bunnie]

Originally Posted by Taff
The whole concept of rats went tits up when some fuckhead decided to have 'Best Rat' category in their show, and others followed suit. Till then it was the odd cool ass ol' Triumph or BSA still plodding on after years of faithful service.
Suddenly the formula rat was created, folk were buying half decent GS's and XS's and ripping the side panels off to be replaced with shíte looking aluminium plate, covering 'em in matt black, and strapping unnecessary bullshít to em, anything military, bottles and shít with no purpose, fucking pointess army netting, sticking knobbly tyres on 'em for no reason other than to make 'em look 'ard, and to stick in shows hoping for a trophy when they wouldn't stand a chance normally. Then "i'm gonna buy one and rat it" became a credible phrase rather than the pathetic last grab at credibility from someone on the fringes of the custom world who aint got the spanner power to build a decent bike. Now the rat bike category aint far behind the Harley one for fakeness and bullshít. One was pictured on here last year, possibly at an Ace Caff show, obviously a decent bike the night before, it'd been urban-cammo'd or some old shíte the night before, tyres and all, and stuck in the rat bike section.


Couldnt of put it better myself.

[John Hopkins]

Mine isnt getting ratty from riding it - its getting ratty from me falling off it!

Well stop doing it then!! :D John

[Kylie]

Well stop doing it then!! :D John
I am trying that option at the moment... well hopefully anyway.

[Urban Terrorist]

Basicly, the arguement on what is and what isn't a rat will rage on for many years to come. And certain people hate them, others don't.

[John Hopkins]

Basicly, the arguement on what is and what isn't a rat will rage on for many years to come. And certain people hate them, others don't.

Well rat bikes started off as a derogatory term for old bikes that people like me could afford, and because we couldn't afford to replace them we kept them going..The people who called them ratty were posh rich people who had nice shiny new bikes..Same thing happened during the second world war at Tubrook when the krauts called us despicable rats for digging in and fighting instead of surrendering..Now the first field squadron Royal engineers are called the Desert Rats and even have a squadron newspaper called the old jerboa bulletin... :D John

[dracken1]

BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF MY BUSINESS. IT JUST HAS TO BE

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m185/dracken1/various/BLING.gif

[InSanCen]

Matt black all the way.

I buy it to ride it, not polish it.

I wouldn't say i hate shiny ones, just not my thing.

[John Hopkins]

BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF MY BUSINESS. IT JUST HAS TO BE

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m185/dracken1/various/BLING.gif


Of course you do realize even Bling is a black thing... :rolleyes: :D John

[baldyshinehead]

I do not enjoy cleaning my bikes, never have. But when i have had shiny bits i do once in a while get the water and bucket out.
I like matt black bikes, but some bikes dont suit it. Thinking of removing alot of the black from my chop as i think it will look better without it.
My old rat ( now jukes bike ) was made that way because some twat drove over it and i couldnt fix it back to the way it was, so i did the best i could.
So, it depends on the bike.

[gothtec]

On this "true rat" business.

With mi CG I needed a cheap bike to run, but also learn to tinker with. It wasn't a "cool" looking bike, just a hardy machine. As I had no budget my only option was to make it look the way I wanted for the cheapest cost.

Therefore under the description of a "true rat" mine doesn't get a look in. Yet in the spirit of ratting my bike comes under the two main concepts:

- Its made and maintained at cheapest cost
- Its run in all weathers

Yes I built it as a rat... but it is a Rat!

[RebuiltYorkie]

Often thought about stealing someones Ratbike and polishing it just to see the look on the owners face.
Ain't keen on them over-blinged powder puff chariots either. :D :D

Hiya Kicky
how you doing? I thought your wing would class as a Black Rat! ;)

May be I'll rat mi trike.... I mean me been a gentleman o' fashion an all!

Matching leathers an' trike.. All black!

[droid]

Works for my VW trike, Clive... :D

[RebuiltYorkie]

Works for my VW trike, Clive... :D

Hi Droid

It's gonna have to work for me.... Because it's the cheaper option, after all I am a Yorkshireman... an' I got look after mi penny's.

Sshhhh! I got tell you an' Kicky summat... When you join this site your suposed to open a virtual bar.... Mines a pint of Tettley's bitter.. ta very much ;)

[John Hopkins]

Welcome to the forum droid..ride safe.. :D John

[John Hopkins]

Welcome to the forum Kicky..Ride safe :D John

[droid]

Hi Droid

Sshhhh! I got tell you an' Kicky summat... When you join this site your suposed to open a virtual bar.... Mines a pint of Tettley's bitter.. ta very much ;)

Going to have to be a Free House then....mines a pint of Ped(igree) :)

[droid]

Welcome to the forum droid..ride safe.. :D John

Cheers! :)

[trikerdrew]

Either a pint of original or guiness with a jamesons :eek:

cheers everso

Drew