Does anyone else in the Northern Domain remember growing up with the concept of a Winter Rat? This was a beat up old car that one could pick up for $200 to $400 in the era when emissions testing was limited.
I decided last year to find an XS650 that I could ride during those very frustrating late fall and early spring months when there is salt on the roads, but it is relatively warm out. Those days when one wouldn't want to bring the nice bikes out.
So, I found a forlorn '80 on the side of the road in western NY with a for sale sign on it for $500, plastered on the tank with duck tape. I took me hours to remove the DT glue, but the bike ran well. Did the usual tune up and maintenance, and refinished the beat-up tank emblem in reverse color scheme, just to be different. Slapped a Jimi Hendrix sticker on the tank, put 1977 handlebars on it, and I was done.
The quadruple bypass operation in december '16 put a damper on my hopes to be on the road by now, but today my cardiologist gave me a thumbs up and actually suggested that I get one of the bikes out for a ride. Of course, I got the '80 out, and had a first-ride-of-the-year that was exhilarating. I could not be happier. Temp in the 70's and the sun was out.
So, for at least today, my '80 Rat is my favorite bike. Perhaps others could understand the sentiment.
BTW, for those concerned, I will certainly take good care of it, just like my '76, '83, and '75.
I decided last year to find an XS650 that I could ride during those very frustrating late fall and early spring months when there is salt on the roads, but it is relatively warm out. Those days when one wouldn't want to bring the nice bikes out.
So, I found a forlorn '80 on the side of the road in western NY with a for sale sign on it for $500, plastered on the tank with duck tape. I took me hours to remove the DT glue, but the bike ran well. Did the usual tune up and maintenance, and refinished the beat-up tank emblem in reverse color scheme, just to be different. Slapped a Jimi Hendrix sticker on the tank, put 1977 handlebars on it, and I was done.
The quadruple bypass operation in december '16 put a damper on my hopes to be on the road by now, but today my cardiologist gave me a thumbs up and actually suggested that I get one of the bikes out for a ride. Of course, I got the '80 out, and had a first-ride-of-the-year that was exhilarating. I could not be happier. Temp in the 70's and the sun was out.
So, for at least today, my '80 Rat is my favorite bike. Perhaps others could understand the sentiment.
BTW, for those concerned, I will certainly take good care of it, just like my '76, '83, and '75.
Attachments
Last edited:
