Hobbies And Interests
Bike Design
When building a lowrider bike, originality and customization are important. Begin by creating a design plan you can work from. Use online resources to help you design, pull ideas from other bikes you've seen or use your own personal vision.
Resources Needed
There are two main routes to getting your materials: buying and salvaging. You purchase parts from local bike shops or online stores, or you can use pieces from older bikes you have sitting around or can find in junk yards, garage sales or other places.
Collect the bicycle sections that best fit your vision. Older bike models are widely used because they allow you to mix and match pieces. The Schwinn models from the 60s, 70s and early 80s are very popular units. Banana seats, long handle bars, front and back fenders, pedals, spoke wheels and tires are all sought after materials. If you are breaking down an older bike, be sure to keep all the pieces together as you will need them for reassembly. Consider collecting items to use for personalization that might include paints, primers and even decals.
Construction
A garage or yard will suffice as your workspace. First, firmly attach the seat to the frame, making sure it is pointing forward and aligned with the frame. Next, add the front and back fenders to the frame. Place the handlebars onto the frame and line them up correctly. Incorrect handlebar placement will affect the handling of your bike. The pedals and chain should be attached next. Run a test to make sure that the chain is turning correctly and staying in place. Last, attach the tires. Some people use larger tires in the front with small tires in the back to give the bike the lowrider feel. Others may do the opposite. This is one place where customization is vital and your own vision is important.