Throttled

I have found sizing to be an issue for everything. If you buy online make sure of the returns policy.

Math rock by Don Caballero. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... od_CrP-YQs

Thats classic, traditional rat.

I agree the kevlar coverage could be more, it basically covers your backside and round your hips and down like shorts. What I like is the size and fit of the armour. I use the ones with the jeans for the knees and forcefield hip stuff which is huge.

I got Red Route ones for £40 at BMF! Tho I bought mine on a skinny day methinks cos they're a tad tight for me, and a teeny bit too short!! So I tuck em in my scabby £5 biking boots. With my too-big Furygan jacket...I really need to get some new gear...!!!!!! Never had an off in them - I'd just recommend you make sure you get ones that have built-in armour too My trousers are a bit too big for me. The sizing is crap and I some which said they were the same size were not when I tried then on. That is a cracking price for the trousers.

I have a DanMedicSouth gel pad on one bike and a Bumbag4bikers pad on the other. They are as effective as each other so I would recommend the bumbag as it is cheaper. http://www.danmedicasouth.co.uk/product ... -seat-pad/ £53 http://www.bumbags4bikers.co.uk/3um3ags ... 49631.aspx £25 I fitted them and then put a cover over the top. This was a first attempt, I did it neater again. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7044/6896764269_f824d8694c_z.jpg Bear in mind they make the seat higher than before, which helped me with leg cramp. However, I think bar risers and particularly peg lowers have made just as much if not more difference to making my bikes more comfortable.

I think they are a perfect compromise for hot weather. I have not had an off in mine, but by all accounts they work, just expect them not to survive like textiles and leather may do. There are plenty from £50 to £100. I have RST ones which cost £75 and Red Route which were £100.

Stripped, cleaned (as in pistons out ) the calliper and changed the front brake fluid. Completely forgot to take any photos.

Mine is growing, the project started the day I dropped it off a damn as described in the OP. It has picked up other dents since then and rust, which is being painted black as it goes matt. The process is gradual and what I will end up seems to fall inbetween categories as it is not traditional rat, it will not be survival, instead it will be a matt black sort of ratted.

There needs to be more sub sets. Rat bike applies to traditional, not cleaned cheaply maintained as well as everything else. Survival bikes is a clear well established sub set. Mat black but otherwise as the traditioal rat bike is a sub set. Then the bikes that have lots of stuff stuck to them are another sub set.

I have been reading up on the scene. There appears to be a huge overlap between styles. I prefer more or less matt black with few add ons. I do not like the bikes with lots of weird stuff stuck to them. This video on rat bikes by a Scottish lady sums up what I want to do with my bike. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj6TBoCS ... detailpage Her top ten tips include get a cheap bike (check as I handed over £800 plus my fifth hand YBR for mine), running on a shoe string and spend as little as possible (check, I am doing this with as little help and cost as I can), proper maintenance checks (check), buy second hand and have cable ties (check), take you time and let the project develop and evolve (check), be original (check, I intend to do that), do not copy be inspired (not yet), name your bike (er no, its a KLE500), make it practical (check, I have made the seat more comfy and adjusted the handle bars), start a rat box (no I do not want to stick stuff on my bike for the survival look), ride often (check, mine has been all over Scotland and to Ireland), do not wash except when the roads are salty (check, mine is unwashed until the end of its season and then it gets a thorough clean to get rid of the salty crud. She accepts her bike is survival/rat and such bikes have evolved from the traditional old bike just being run, no worries about the looks and it does not even need to be black. I think mine will end up more like this http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc210/chrisyabass/Transalp%2020010-%202012/transalpphotosfromphone073.jpg

I appreciate your criticism. Is the phot a custom bike because it has been made to look that way? Or is it a survival bike because of its look? My bike is maintained by me doing as much as possible to keep it safe and on the road. I gave up fixing damage a while back. I see it as a baby rat that will through time and nature grow to be a full rat bike.

You are right, it is not truly ratted. I should just go mad with black paint. As for cleaning it, it is clean at the moment so I do not get filthy servicing it and so the paint sticks. It was on its last legs and rat bikes need to work and be safe. Two hard winters of salt and crud had caused various parts to seize which would have failed. The back brake piston had shed a seal and neede over hauling. The front brake is in a sorry state is in bits ready to be cleaned. More pictures to come.

I am resurrecting this as more progress has been made now I have somewhere decent to do the work. http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3670/8984367311_6b4df4c82d_z.jpg The insides of the bike have been thoroughly serviced. The outside is being made even blacker as I have hand painted the front forks and removed more of the decals. The rear spokes had gone from silver to rust and so have been treated with Kurust and painted black.

Wow! That is a brilliant video

Like TC I have no idea what to do. I imagine someone will figure it out http://imgc.artprintimages.com/images/art-print/h-armstrong-roberts-mad-scientist-in-laboratory-mixing-chemicals_i-G-56-5632-N32MG00Z.jpg

It is getting to that time where action is needed to get the tags done up and running.... http://www.us.ayushveda.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/dealing-with-aggressive-child.jpg

Hopefully the thread just has a sad middle and not ending. Love this photo http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r240/megawattblade/All%20bike%20pix/GSX1100%20project/IMAG1478_zps7e5b7849.jpg

I saw the 2011 squad and sorry, way too much make up and way too much of the bimbo look for me.

Nice idea, but same problem as to getting a parts washer, no electricity or space. The wife has said I could try out the one at home as an experiment, so long as the worst of the grit and crud is washed off first.

Since I am in my lock up and the agreement means I am not supposed to store flammable liquids, I am going to look more at that kind of product and the Marine cleaner Stu suggested. The lock up owners are OK with flammables such as aerosols and the petrol in the bikes tank, but they would not be happy with kerosene or petrol in containers.

I have seen those videos and that is what I am now doing to the bike and boy does it need it. Yup, just like my bike. It was no wonder with the chain going round crud like that, that I was not able to clean it properly.

Anything I can unbolt from my KLE, so footpegs, foot peg hangers and parts off the swing arm have been found to particularly bad. I think if anything I went OTT with protective sprays and that is what has become the gloop that is so hard to shift. Some will be used to degrease the wheels which are also very bad. I like the idea of doing this myself. One day I may become a vapour/parts cleaner! I find this job very satisfying. I like Marine Cleaner as it says it it is not noxious or flammable.

I would love a parts washer, the problem is space and no power supply.

Thanks Stu. How far does it dilute? I take it would work by pouring some into a basin and then the hot water and then dunking the part in it?