Categories of the custom motorcycle world!

[Qawls]

Hey guys/ gals I'm currently doing some research for a university project and we were asked to pick a category of motorcycle and I chose 'Brat Style', this could probably be classified as a sub-category of something or other but we are required to pick a category and broaden the scope of that category.

So the categories I know of are; Brat Style, Bobber, Cafe Racer, Scrambler. I realize there is some cross over between categories for example a cafe/ brat conversion but would as much detail as you could possibly give me. Ultimately we will be designing compressed air-powered motorcycles, I'll keep ya posted!

Cheers!

 

[savheadbanger]

IMO bratstyle refers to a customized, "sporty" bike that retains a standard or stock seating height, stance, and relaxed body positioning. Usually with a flat, 2 person seat. Basically cafe's without aggressive rearsets or seat humps/cowls, or bobbers with a rear seat, and low bars.

Keep in mind i dont know what the fuck im talking about.

 

[savheadbanger]

Also, do tell more about these compressed air bikes.

 

[Qawls]

Thanks for the reply, good info! Will definitely keep ya posted.
I forgot to mention tracker! So there's the flat-tracker, street-tracker and tracker right?

 

[Mjn76574]

If you are looking for any type of custom there are numerous others, and yes, it would be accurate to call them sub-categories.
For instance
Customs (general term for motorcycle in non stock form)
Subcategory: race
2nd subcategory
1) cafe racer, popular post WWII British motorcycles used in Europe to compete among friends and drinking buddies, styled after and using racing techniques of the day. The name is derived from "friendly" races from cafe to cafe.
2) tracker, motorcycles designed to resemble dirt or asphalt circle track racing motorcycles
The name is derived from the type of racing surface raced on I.e. dirt track oval=dirt tracker
3)replica, in the image of a specific racing machine, commonly the image of a specific sponsor or racing personality
4) bobber, popular American post WWII motorcycles, often large, surplus military American manufactured motorcycles. Unnesecary parts removed to increase speed and performance.
Name derived from the term bob, as in to cut short (such as the haircut)
Subcategory style
1) chopper, an evolution of the American bobber, emphasis of form over function
Name derived from the cutting or "chopping" of the stock vehicle to change its appearance.
2) retro, styled to take the appearance of historical motorcycles.
3) brat style, designs originated in industrial Tokyo Japan to minimalist design or older "obsolete" motorcycles that were cheap and plentiful.
Name believed to have come from the first such designer in this style.
Subcategory functionality
1) endurance, typically dual purpose motorcycles set up for extended riding distances in remote areas, including large fuel tanks and large panners for supplies/equipment.
2) street fighter/ hooligan, originally the repurposing of damaged motorcycles to road legal status at minimal cost.
3) touring. Large motorcles designed for extended range with high level of comfort and amenities.

Many many more
Trikes, stunt, freestyle, rat etc.etc.
More or less any motorcycle that departs from the factory supplied in any significant manner can be concidedered a custom of some manner
M.J.N.

 

[Qawls]

Wow thanks for the response that's EXTREMELY helpful man, good info!

One question though, how would you describe the difference between a flat tracker, street tracker and a dirt tracker.
I have now decided that I am going to look specifically at trackers because of their multi-purpose functionality.

Thanks!

If you are looking for any type of custom there are numerous others, and yes, it would be accurate to call them sub-categories.
For instance
Customs (general term for motorcycle in non stock form)
Subcategory: race
2nd subcategory
1) cafe racer, popular post WWII British motorcycles used in Europe to compete among friends and drinking buddies, styled after and using racing techniques of the day. The name is derived from "friendly" races from cafe to cafe.
2) tracker, motorcycles designed to resemble dirt or asphalt circle track racing motorcycles
The name is derived from the type of racing surface raced on I.e. dirt track oval=dirt tracker
3)replica, in the image of a specific racing machine, commonly the image of a specific sponsor or racing personality
4) bobber, popular American post WWII motorcycles, often large, surplus military American manufactured motorcycles. Unnesecary parts removed to increase speed and performance.
Name derived from the term bob, as in to cut short (such as the haircut)
Subcategory style
1) chopper, an evolution of the American bobber, emphasis of form over function
Name derived from the cutting or "chopping" of the stock vehicle to change its appearance.
2) retro, styled to take the appearance of historical motorcycles.
3) brat style, designs originated in industrial Tokyo Japan to minimalist design or older "obsolete" motorcycles that were cheap and plentiful.
Name believed to have come from the first such designer in this style.
Subcategory functionality
1) endurance, typically dual purpose motorcycles set up for extended riding distances in remote areas, including large fuel tanks and large panners for supplies/equipment.
2) street fighter/ hooligan, originally the repurposing of damaged motorcycles to road legal status at minimal cost.
3) touring. Large motorcles designed for extended range with high level of comfort and amenities.

Many many more
Trikes, stunt, freestyle, rat etc.etc.
More or less any motorcycle that departs from the factory supplied in any significant manner can be concidedered a custom of some manner
M.J.N.

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

Lets not forget the "Board Tracker". Even thugh it traces it's roots back to the infamous Board Track Racers from the teen's and '20's there are still a few building bikes with that theme in mind today.

 

[Qawls]

I actually just discovered these bikes, apparently the raced with no brakes!

 

[cyclefreak]

There is no difference (that I know of) between dirt trackers and flat trackers. Two names used to describe the same bike. One that races on a flat, dirt, oval track. A street tracker is essentially a dirt tracker with all necessary components added to make it legal for street use ie. Headlight, tail/brake light.

 

[trek97]

I actually just discovered these bikes, apparently the raced with no brakes!

No brakes and none if any had a clutch. Push or peddle to get em started an and off they go. getting faster and faster. 75 mph. They could control speed a little bit by adjusting the timing on the fly.
You really need to make the trip to Barber. If your interested to see bone stock original board trackers run.

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[cyclefreak]

Re: Re: Categories of the custom motorcycle world!

You really need to make the trip to Barber. If your interested to see bone stock original board trackers run.
Absolutely! And during the vintage festival, they take several of these from the museum and run them not only on the track, but also the service road around the track so you can get an up close view of them running.

 

[trek97]

And I have no doubts the Brat style, originally came from customer demand. Since city dwelling Japanese couples are very confined to space and money. Japanese couples needed a machine that was cheap, easy to get parts, and is cool and stylish. ANd most importantly for couples that can only afford and store one bike...seats 2 up. I am sure they have no problems fitting two 95lb japanese butts, snug as bugs on those seats. However here in the United States. LOL fitting 2 up on a brat style seat...is a fiasco. I tried to give my wife a ride...once. Our average size American butts didnt fit the seat very well. It was a hoot.

the Brat style shop in Japan. they make all kinds of styles in the Brat Style shop. Not just "Brat Styles".

A brat style bike in the Brat Style shop in Japan.

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[trek97]

I will always refer to mine as a brat style because of the seat.. Even though w the stretch and the clipons I feel it looks more like its ready for the strip.

 

[Mjn76574]

some clarification on my definitions
the "brat style" is most likley a evolution of how you defined it. but was not concidered a type of custom until it was emulated and defined. prior to that it would have been common transportation for its users with the function over the form. i.e. they did not design them to look like that because thats how they wanted them to look, they looked like that because thats what they needed to look like to accomplish the job.
what is commonly refered to as a tracker is a streetable version of the oval track (predominantly dirt surface) racer motorcycles of the 70's. the most common being based off of the shape of the harley davidson xr750
the term flat track vs. oval or dirt is most likley a local colloquialism (example of calling it soda versus pop vs softdrink depending on geographic location) board tracker (also called velodrome racers among other terms) would not fall under this catagory usually, as they are quite different in the use and appearance, more akin to the roadracing machines of their day than dirt track machines.
please remeber that these are just a few of the many types of customs out there
A few more that came to me would be motard, and riddler.
M.J.N.