The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
General Category => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: Dizerens5 on November 04, 2009, 07:52:33 AM
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This photo is of a Ratier, it's a 600 cc French bike, based on the 600 BMW of the late 50s/early 60s. These were built for only a few years. They were based on BMW technology, using some parts made under license and I believe one or two, like crankshafts, provided by BMW Munich (could be wrong about that). By all accounts they were quite an improvement over the BMW - different frame and forks giving better roadholding, about the same top speed but more bottom end grunt, allowing very slow riding (presidential motocades...).
And that's the clue: Ratier had no dealer network and virtually the whole production run went to official bodies in France, mainly police.
The bikes were sold off surplus in the 1960s or maybe early 70s. The company still exists, making aerospace components, but refuses to have anything to do with its motorcycles or their present owners. There is a Ratier club in France which provides a small-scale spare parts service.
Photo is of a Ratier parked outside Orleans train station in summer 1967. I mean the old Orleans, not the New one!
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Interesting! Can't say I've heard of this marque before, though. I wonder if anyone has actually seen one on the road or talked to an owner of one of these bikes?
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I found a few other pics on Google Images, such as this earlier Ratier, based on (I believe) the R32 Boxer powerplant. Check out the badge that's on the front fender. Interesting...
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I think your photo may be of a Cemec, predecessor company of Ratier. As far as I know the overhead valve bike was only made by Ratier (again, I could be wrong!). A whole series of semi-nationalised French companies got involved, starting with one which rebuilt military BMWs abandoned in France by the retreating Nazi army in 1944. I often toured on my BSA in France in the 1960s and Ratiers were often seen - but always police ones. Not the most desirable companions for a roadside chat. The badge on your photo reads: This is not a BMW. It's quite a clever take on the famous Magritte painting of a smoker's pipe and caption reading: This is not a pipe. (And it isn't - it's a painting of a pipe!)
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I've just spent most of my day on http://www.beemergarage.com where there are several photos of the Ratier.
greetings from a wet, windy, cold and drab north
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One showed up at the Airheads meet in Rhinebeck NY a few years ago. I didn't get to talk to the owner but it was in beautiful shape.