I'm looking to build a rat bike here soon and prefer to start from a mostly assembled stock bike as opposed to piecing it together. Make/model doesnt matter but I want it to look similar to this when I'm done,



The high front end with a low rear, nice sized tank, rake, etc. Unless I've just been searching wrong I can't find any cheap rusted beaten down softails to build from which is what that bike looks to mostly be.
Are there any other makes/models to build from that I can achieve a similar look to that photo after some chopping and swapping parts?

New to the game here so its all a learning curve. I just want a foundation to work with where I know I can get to that look with some work.
I've seen similar bikes where the builder only had around $2-3k total into them.

 

I remember seeing that lady on a Sturgis TV show. She put the tank in her garden and let it rust over a few months.

 

Never saw the point of a fake rat bike.

 

Go to cycletrader.
sort by:
private seller
Used
Harley
price: lowest first

http://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2...TAIL-114354348

Or hit Craigslist and stay after it.

Or if you are serious about it, Hit the major swap meets.
It won't be hard to find something.

I agree with the previous poster, no point is creating a fake rat bike. Buy a beater and mechanically rework it. At least the look is honest.

And: Look how that chick is sitting. She isn't even on the seat. I guess it looks cool, but she won't be in that position for any more time than it took to take the picture.

 

Just buy a bike from orange country choppers - instant rat bike.

 

DINGDINGDING! Give this man a prize!

A 'rat bike', just gets that way, it isn't built. It's the same as buying store-bought jeans that have holes in them for $100.

People with more money than sense.

 

Those things aren't worth an effort to fart at!

Better my sister in a ***** house and my brother on a Yamazukhon

 

Rat bikes aren't built. They evolve.

 

With that I managed to find out more info on this. It started as a 91 softail custom and she put it on a paughco frame with a rake kit.

I should have been more clear in the first post. I intended on buying a beaten down abused bike and putting a little work in to get it running with whatever works.

 

That's Betsy she rides all over the place, she probably got tired of sitting in the seat and changed positions.