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A lowrider bicycle is a highly customized bicycle with styling inspired by lowrider cars. These bikes often feature a long, curved banana seat with a sissy bar and very tall upward-swept ape hanger handlebars. A lot of chrome, velvet, and overspoked wheels are common accessories to these custom bicycles.
Contents
- History
- Popular source bicycles
- Modifications
- Lowrider tricycles
- Lowrider Bicycle magazine
- LRB Lowrider Bike of the Year
- LRT Trike of the Year
- Lowrider Bicycle Club of the Year
- In popular culture
- References
These bikes are typically a highly individualized creation. Despite the fact that these bikes originated within the poverty of the barrio, lowrider bikes can often be anything but cheap.
Noted American bicycle mechanic, technical expert, and author Sheldon Brown wrote of lowrider bicycles,
History
Lowrider bikes first appeared in the 1960s in California. Children would emulate the craft of lowrider cars with their bicycles as a canvas for creativity, usually starting with common muscle bikes. This allowed those who were too young to drive a car to have a custom vehicle. In 1963, Schwinn was the first company to launch a muscle bike, in the form of the Sting-Ray. Lowrider bicycles had a resurgence of popularity the 90s, as lowrider bicycle competition at lowrider shows started to become intense, as a result of the increased popularity, classic Schwinns became far more scarce as well as more expensive. Stemming from this new popularity a magazine titled 'Lowrider Bicycle Magazine' started publication in 1993.
One of the first trendsettering bicycles was the infamous "Claim Jumper," owned by Danny Galvez, Jr. of Los Angeles, California. As the first cover bike for LRB, it made history as it was on the debut Winter ’93 issue.
A man by the name of Warren Wong has a rightful place as a pioneer in lowrider bicycle history. Warren worked with BMX and freestyle bikes, but his desire to be different revolutionized the industry, and he eventually became known as the "Wheel King." with his "Body Count" clover-laced design. These were the first lowrider bicycle wheels, which would later evolve and be duplicated by many.
Although California was the hub of lowriding with all the cover bicycles from the early editions of Lowrider Bicycle Magazine being from California, eventually the lowrider bike craze spread to other States of America as well as other countries such as Australia and the Philippines
In 1996, Kodak launched a commercial campaign for their Advantage camera systems, which focused on lifestyle. Rene Vargas and his "Gangster Madness" bike from the November/December ’95 issue of Lowrider Bicycle Magazine was one of the first lowrider bikes to be featured in a nation-wide commercial, which debuted during the ’96 Summer Olympics. This was the beginning for more usage of lowrider bikes in commercials, as industry wanted to capitalize on the trend.
Eddie Munster's custom bicycle, created by George Barris and Skip Barrett of Barris Kustom Industries, is sometimes credited with spreading the popularity of lowriders,
Popular source bicycles
Some makes of bicycles are particularly popular among lowrider builders.
-Schwinn Sting-Ray, one of the most sought after bases for a lowrider build. The bicycles was American-produced (usually 20"),
-Schwinn Tiger is popular in smaller sizes such as 16"
-Schwinn Pixie
-Malvern Star and Speedwell dragster bicycles both in short and long frame varieties are popular bicycles of choice in Australia
- Bratz beauty bikes are popular both in Australia, America and other countries.
-Aztlan Cruiser
- Pre-built and even custom-made one-of-a-kind lowriders are available from lowrider bicycle shops and even some lowrider car workshops. Some top lowrider bicycles shops are Manny's (Compton), Fantasy Toys Lowrider & Hobby (Cleveland), Krazy Kutting (Yuma).
Modifications
Basic or classic characteristics of a lowrider bike (most accessories are highly polished chrome, though gold can also be used for added flare):
Some custom modifications include twisted forks, spokes or handlebars, what are known as "bird cages" (twisted metal strips that resemble a bird cage) that are cut and welded onto handlebars, sissy bars or pedals. Many bikes also feature custom framework such as tanks and skirts which are the addition of sheets of metal, usually welded onto the frame to give it a "filled-in" look. Some lowrider bicycles even have air or hydraulic cylinders set-up to emulate the height adjustable suspension of lowrider motor cars.
Lowrider tricycles
Some lowrider bikes are modified into lowrider tricycles, for style. Converting a lowrider bicycle into a tricycle often allows the bike to sit closer to the ground while still being rideable, and even hop without falling over if they have airbag suspension or hydraulic suspension. Converting a bicycle into a tricycle often creates extra carry-space at the back of the bike.
The space between the two rear wheels is sometimes used to mount either a two-seater "love seat", a "boombox," or even pumps for hydraulic or air suspension.
Commercially bolt on conversion kits to convert any existing lowrider bicycle into a tricycle are available from many sauces.
Lowrider Bicycle magazine
Lowrider Bicycle (LRB) magazine (published by Lowrider), debuted in the winter of 1993, bringing the culture of lowrider bicycle to mainstream America.
LRB notable moments:
LRB Lowrider Bike of the Year
LRT Trike of the Year
Lowrider Bicycle Club of the Year
In popular culture
In 1994, the AirWalk shoe company made a commercial featuring lowrider bikes.
In 1996, Marianne Dissard and Robert Kramer made the documentary film Low y Cool with the South Tucson, Arizona, lowrider bicycle club Los Camaradas.
Also in 1996, as part of Kodak's Advantage camera systems advertising campaigns, the company shot Rene Vargas and his "Gangster Madness" bike (featured on the Nov./Dec. '95 issue of LRB) for a nationwide commercial, which debuted during the 1996 Summer Olympics.
This was the beginning for more usage of lowrider bikes in commercials, as the industry loved the lifestyle involved with the bikes and wanted to capitalize on the hot youth trend.
In 2000, Sprite shot a television commercial focusing on the youth of lowriding, which featured four-time LRB Bike of the Year Champion Mike Lopez, Jr. and his club, Finest Kreations. (After "retiring," Lopez, Jr. also traveled to Europe to display his bike in a cultural exhibition.)
In 2001, PepsiCo made a commercial titled What's Your Thirst."