My first "rat rod" bike

[phantomxrider]

Well guys, here's my first rat rod bike. My main project is a 1990 Mazda MX-5, but frankly it's too .... cold to be working on it :roll: Recently, out of completely no where, I got the urge to restore/build/customize/whatever a beach cruiser bike. So without further ado.....

$18 bike from Goodwill ("Ocean Pacific"). Check out the front spokes, lol

Old white wall tires from the Whizzer days

...as well as some old apehangers from the Whizzer days too

I have much more; these pics were from the first day I had the bike (three days ago or so). Let me dig up the photos from today's work, they'll be up in a minute.

 

[Markm]

right on!!!!!!!!!

 

[phantomxrider]

Well I had most of the parts mocked up on the bike before I tore it all down and began painting. Eventually I'm gonna add on a banana seat, a headlight and some nice fenders.

I don't have any pics, but I also sanded off all the rust on the chrome parts and polished them with some Turtle Chrome Polish.

I cleaned & sanded the chain guard, frame, handlebars & fork. Took a heck of a lot of Goo Gone to get rid of the years-old gunk and sticker residue. I then laid down a white primer and a final coat of flat black.

Then I taped off the spokes (only 36, but still really tedious) and laid down some gloss red Rusto on the rims.

Here's a mockup of the final wheel - I can't wait to put the tires on tomorrow morning Of course the tires are going to be much cleaner.

At this point in time I'm just playing the waiting game for the paint to dry. All the parts are hanging in the garage.

 

[masterpoop63]

8) classic look

 

[outskirtscustoms]

Sweet, I actually found it easier to just paint the rims and rub the paint off the spokes later, Especially with chrome spokes as it doesn't stick that well anyway, Saves a lot of time masking. I have since cleaned the rims..... :roll: I did about the same look on my bootlegger build, then a few rusty bits and custom touches and here's what mine became:

 

[phantomxrider]

Here's a teaser pic. The bike's put together and ride-able, but sadly I have morning shift and can't post all the pictures :roll:

 

[outskirtscustoms]

Looks great but I'm kinda partial to flat black, red rims, and white walls. It's just a classic look.

 

[phantomxrider]

I'd say the project is about 85% done. I gotta add on the handle grips and paint on some pinstriping. I also wanna add on some fenders, a headlight and a back luggage rack.

 

[okndn]

The bike looks good its a simple and classic look

 

[Half Link]

Looking really good so far!! Can't wait to see the striping! Keep it up buddy!! 8)

 

[KOTA]

Classic look....I NEVER get tired of that combo.

 

[UTR1]

came out nice....

 

[12gaugesage]

Definitely dig it, nice simple, subdued.

 

[phantomxrider]

Updates: fenders are in the mail. Which means....pinstriping goes on when they come in!

 

[phantomxrider]

Needs some handlebar grips and some final pinstripe detail around the white accents but other than that it's pretty much done. Maybe a banana seat later....but I have $400 worth of Miata parts laying around so this thing's on the backburner for now

I fit/painted a piece of plywood for the "tank", installed some fenders, and took it all back apart one more time to paint some little white diamond details. Like I said I wanna finish the red pinstriping around the white but it's not a priority.

 

[XC204]

Classic Cool!

 

[KOTA]

The bike and the Miata.....Two classic looking rides. 8)

 

[phantomxrider]

I have some more pics of the Miata if you guys are interested 8)

 

[KOTA]

I have some more pics of the Miata if you guys are interested 8)

I work for a Mazda dealer. I pick up or deliver Miatas all over the Northeast.........Never thought I'd say this, but on the NEW ones, I'd prefer the auto-trans. The "paddle" shifters are quick and precise.........I LOVE my job! :lol:

 

[phantomxrider]

Bit of a bump but I've been messing with it lately. Up until this point I've been at the local campus of my college, but this semester I'm moving to the next city over to the main campus so I've been focusing on the bike more since they won't let you drive from the dorms to class. The bike's looking quite different now. Here's what I've done so far:

-Wood grain foam handlebar grips
-"gas tank" and luggage rack platform made from wood
-Rear luggage rack installed, painted flat black
-New 3-spring tan seat w/ diamond stitching and chrome crash bar
-1948 Whizzer handlebars put on, painted flat black (dad gave me the original ones off his '48 Whizzer he's restoring; the chrome was too pitted to work with so he got repro's)

Crappy cell pic, mo better ones to come

Soon to come is a bullet light paired with a flat black springer fork, a brown leather messenger bag to hang on the side of the luggage rack, & some powdercoated red rims with black spokes.