How to Make a Low-rider Bike

By reading this article you will learn how to make a basic low-rider bike, that any kid will love, from a combination of new and used bike parts. Everything from mechanics to looks and style are considerations when making a low-rider bike. Both beginning and experienced do-it-yourselfers will love tackling this project. Perhaps it can be the first of many projects that can be done with and for the kids.

Things You'll Need

• Bicycle
• Bondo
• Primer
• Wrenches
• Screwdrivers
• Bike parts

Instructions

1. The first thing you need to build a low-rider bike is to find the right bike. You can't just use any old bike, and you especially cannot use mountain bikes or BMX-style bikes. The ideal bike is an old Schwinn from the '60s or '70s. To avoid chasing down an appropriate used bicycle you can order low-rider frames and parts from distributors who specialize in low-rider bikes.There are some parts that you will want to buy new if you want your low-rider bike to be top rate. The parts you will need to acquire are a springer fork and front fender, a sissy bar and back fender and big sloping handle bars. You also want to order 100 spoke wire wheels if you can afford them, as they will make your bike really shine. You will also need a banana seat if the bike you found doesn't already have one.

2. Disassemble the bike you found for your project and strip it down to just the frame and save all of the parts you take off, as you might need them later. Building a low-rider bike is not much different then building a normal bike except in the finishing work, such as style, polish and shine. Now you need to sand down the frame and prepare it for bondo primer and paint. Once your frame is sanded, wipe the frame down with a damp cloth to remove any dust. Then take your tub of bondo and simply fill in the hole that is located in the frame right below the handlebars near the thigh area. This spot makes a nice place to paint murals on the frame if you want to later. Now that the hole has bondo in it, sand it down so that it's smooth and flat with the rest of the frame. Don't forget to wipe the frame down again or your primer and paint may not adhere properly.Take your spray can of primer and prime the whole frame to get it ready for paint. Once the primer dries you can either paint the frame or leave it the way it is (some people like the primer look), as you can always paint it later. When painting your low-rider use multiple layers of high-quality paint for the best look.

3. Now that your frame is ready to go and is looking cool you need to reassemble your low-rider bike using the parts you bought or removed from the recycled bike you are using.Start by attaching the front forks to the frame. The special springer forks are designed to make your bike sit lower to the ground once you have them attached. If the sprockets and chain that you removed from the bike you found are dirty or rusted you must either clean them or buy new ones that are shiny, otherwise your low-rider bike will not look good. After you have acquired your sprockets and chain, you must reattach those to the bike the same way they came off.

4. The last step in building a low-rider bike is accessories. My favorites are mirrors and fancy handle bar grips. Some people like to add chrome signs and white wall tires. Have fun riding your low-rider bike and remember you can customize it anyway you want, as that's what makes it a low-rider bike. Just remember that you can never have enough chrome.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to tighten all bolts snugly. Over-tightened bolts may break, under-tightened bolts may fail.

• Ride your low-rider bike at your own risk.