Important Disclaimer
Advice given in this section may or may not be accurate, safe or wise. Always use common sense and when in doubt assume that any advice given herein is incorrect and liable to end in terminal engine or part failure and possible injury or death. www.ratbike.org and its contributors can accept no responsibility for anything, anywhere, regardless of cause.
Always Carry a Wiring Diagram
just rewired your bike recently? If it breaks down in middle of hell can you remember all circuits? Of course you can't!! Make a wiring diagram copy, get the original copied half size and laminate it, now it'll fit under a seat, sidepanel etc. A small tourch,knife and fuses/wire/tape... more
Drew - UK
Broken Battery Terminal?
Snapped the terminal off your battery? Then simply solder a wire onto the stump. I found it soldered easier than expected as the lead terminal has a low melting point. Then make a loop with the other end of the wire and cover in solder so you can bolt it to the existing battery... more
Mouse - UK
Double Control Cables
A simple but useful tip is to double up on clutch/throttle cables etc.cable tie the spare to the one in use,and in the event of annoyance (usually in the rain)swap over the cables and continue merrily along @ warp speed!
Matt - UK
Quick Brackets
For quick brackets use joist retaining strip. It is about 1+1/4" wide, 1/8" thick and has staggered 1/4" holes at about 1" spacing. Easily 'liberated' from building sites too! (Honest Guv, it WAS in the skip)
Zed Kelly - UK
Making a Battey Box
Cant find a battery box simply take some snips or saw depending on grade ,battery size and get the industrial strapping from any diy store it has holes already innit or if your pushed,they put it around lampost cases "and sometimes the fall off and you see them by the roadside... more
HairyHead - Ireland
Direction Indicators
Indicators - the cylindrical roadside hazard flashers (available from most good ditches) make passable indicator units (they come free with lens, battery, bulb and flasher unit too). Just bolt them on, wire in and away you go - might cause police rage though...
Jaye - UK
Handlebar Ends & Grips
Plastic sparkling wine bottle corks make good handlebar ends and the rubber thing that goes around the inside of the rim on a spoked wheel makes a nice grip, when they break, if wound onto your handlebar and held in place by whacking a plastic cork in the end to secure it.
Also... more
Also... more
Rex from Ironage Motorcycles - UK
Keep Water out of Sparkplug Wells
On liquid cooled bikes which have recessed sparkplugs, a good way to get rid of the bits of grit that accumulate round the plug waiting to fall into the engine is to press a 'sausage' of Blue-Tack round the edge of your plug-spanner. Press down firmly over the plug then fish... more
Scott - UK
Parachute Cord
The nylon braided cable used on parachutes is tough and works great to fasten things when brackets break.
Tom Murphy
Beer Can Gaskets
I've used aluminium from my favorite beer cans for bushing and gasket material. It can be cut with a pair of scissors, punched with a nail found on the side of the road, is soft and will sacrifice itself as bushings should, and is readilly available. Aluminium soda cans work... more
'Jim' Carey
Cheap Exhaust Packing
Stainless steel scourer washing up things, slightly picked apart, make really good sound dampening wadding for sticking in your homemade exhaust. I've made my tailpipe from about a foot and a half of 4" pipe with a detatchable end and just stuff the pipe with the things. They... more
Rex - UK
Make it fit!
HVAC foil tape is grat for shimming parts that don't quite fit together right. It's metal and tape all in one. 3/4" black iron pipe can be made into custom bars, and with a few wraps of foil tape, 7/8" controls fit great. Metal lumber ties and mending straps make great bracket material.
Sib
Cracked plastics are better!
Cracked fairing or body panels? Drill pairs of holes along the crack, and tie it closed with an off colored zip tie. Get that Herman Munster stitch effect. Use for sewing up tears in jackets too.
Hellmut - USA
Road Salt Precautions
If you happen to live in a seasonally Arctic where the powers that be see it fit to scatter corrosives on the road (i.e. f*ckin' salt) then here are a few particulars that may save you some time and dissapointment down the road...
1. salt makes all the steel fasteners weld... more
1. salt makes all the steel fasteners weld... more
Lo-Tech Heavy Industries
Cheap Muffler Packing
For muffler packing use, pink bats fiberglass wall insulation.
Rudolph - NZ
