If there would be a beauty contest for Mad Max, post-apocalyptic, nuclear aftermath bikes, this Moto Guzzi would definitely be among the finalists. We’ve seen our fair share of ratted machines so far, but only few of them show authentic, unbridled creativity. Many of the rat bikes we encounter are carefully trimmed to exude a somewhat fake negligence and decay, but they are easy to spot by the trained eye.
On the other hand, some of these machines are customized in such a way that it’s impossible to see what’s the idea driving their owners. I guess they are simply beyond description and by all means, in no need of description. After talking to a guy who had an old ratted Izh, I somehow understood that there is rather nothing to understand when it comes to this culture.
Each owner has his or her ultra-special relationship with the bike and what works in one case might not work for other guys. Literally, each of the authentic rat bikes is in a way, mirroring some of its owner’s mind, passion, ideas or dreams. What may look like an ordinary puppet or emblem attached to the bike usually hides a special story which will not be revealed by any of the visible elements.
One can make suppositions and be wrong more than often, simply because these elements come with different stories, depending on who’s telling them. What looks like a silly add-on to a bike may be a reminder of a nephew who died when he was only a child, as it was the case with the guy I mentioned.
His story taught me that (almost) each authentic rat bike carries amazing stories with it, and should not be judged by how old or how crazy it looks. I’d even say that many of those bikes have lived a life infinitely more captivating and interesting than many other fancy two-wheelers.
So enjoy this uncanny Moto Guzzi sidecar filmed at the iconic Elefantentreffen 2015, one of the world’s oldest motorcycle rallies established in 1956 and held in late January or early February.
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