Old Ratrod Project

No, its not finished. I thought I would throw up some progress pics of my bike, and hopefully get some feedback and inspiration as I go. I'll be adding pics as I progress

But for now, what I have is a Columbia. I was told it was a 1954, but that may be wrong. there's brass from the frame brazing over the serial number, and none of the parts appear to be original, so it could be anything from a 1920 up to a '55.

I've also got an 80cc (66) HT and a shifter kit, and I just built up a rear wheel with a 55mm wide rime and a Sturmey-Archer wide ratio internal hub with a drum brake.

The front fork is the original Biplane fork. I like they style, but it was meant for a 70mm hub and had been stretched badly. I reshaped it for a standard 100mm hub, then added beefy dropouts for a quick release hub and a boss for disk brakes. the new dropouts add 2 inches to the length of the bike.

The front hub will be replaced with a wide hub like the rear, but the spokes aren't here for it yet.

No idea what color I'm painting it yet. I'v considered semi gloss black with a cherry lacker.

Fork u

Fork u 2

Bike p0rn

Moar Bike p0rn
 
Thanks.
The hand grips are sewn leather over some kind of foam rubber. I think they can be stretched over the throttle. I'm going to try anyways. no idea where they are from.
The seat is a Persons Saddle, vintage unknown but probably from the 30s or 40s.
 
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I took it out for a ride today!

well, Pedal power. Had to make sure it's a viable bicycle first. It rides grate although the mods to the fork mean the trail is so short, the bike won't self correct, and the laying over riding position means my weight is on the bars, so I'll have to watch it if I take a hand off the bar, it will want to steer that direction.
The Upside is having a short trail means it tracks really well,and feels like I'm raiding on a rail.

In other words, it handles like a sports bike, but it has the likes of a cruiser. Just what a board track racer should be, IMHO.

I think it's time for the motor.
 
Take a look at my "Rat Rod". It is in the photo section under rat rod. you could put some colored wire protectors around wires. Remember a "Rat Rod" means as it is, no repaint.
 
Interesting. is that an original seat on that '37? Looks to be the same model mine is. That helps me narrow down the date of this bike a little better.
 
Nice looking bike their DrunkSkunk but...wheres the electric ?? Have you
become an ICE convert?

KiM
 
Heh
They haven't converted me yet!

I have a plan for that, but I got to get the thing running on gas first. I've sort of been not mentioning that part, but the Shifter kit is basically a heavy duty version of the Cyclone freewheel crank. won't take much to add something like that. Something of the RC variety most likely.
 
so you are running a 7 speed rear hub with internal gears? and then a jackshaft going to the sprocket?
man, that bike is going to fly!!!!
I love it...wish i had gears on mine.
 
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Thanks.
The hand grips are sewn leather over some kind of foam rubber. I think they can be stretched over the throttle. I'm going to try anyways. no idea where they are from.
The seat is a Persons Saddle, vintage unknown but probably from the 30s or 40s.

those exact brown grips that you have are available at wal mart.
they also have a seat just like the one you have on there...but i don't think it's a parsons seat.
 
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