Lowrider bikes were originally fashioned after the lowrider cars of the 1960s. They were called by many names from lowriders to dragsters to cruisers to pimp bikes. As their name suggests their body was low to the ground. These bikes also had a long curved banana seat, they had apehanger handlebars and a sissy bar.
Schwinn was the first bicycle manufacturer to come out with a lowrider bicycle. Their lowrider was called the Sting Ray. George Barin modified a Schwinn Sting Ray for Eddie Munster for the hit television series the Munsters. After its appearance on this popular cult classic sitcom, lowrider bike popularity skyrocketed. Unfortunately this popularity was short lived, because the lowriders were overshadowed by a new bike fad the BMX bike. However, a resurge of lowrider popularity developed again in the 1970s when Mexicano kids began to customize their bikes to be lowriders. Bike manufacturers noticed this trend and began to manufacture lowriders again.
One popular variation of the lowrider bicycle is the lowrider tricycle. This variation was popular because it allowed designers to lower the frame so that it was closer to the ground, while not sacrificing performance. The tricycle configuration also allowed a second seat to be installed between the back wheels. Other options included putting a storage rack between the back two wheels or installing a boom box in that space instead.
There are a lot of ways that a lowrider bike can be customized. For example, twisted metal can be added to the spokes and handlebars of the bike, a sissy bar can be installed, or the bike can be fleshed out by adding decorative metal tanks and skirting. Custom wheels and paint jobs can also add to the uniqueness of lowrider bikes.
