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Scraper Bikes Catch Big Ride on YouTube

Passion for colorful, customized rides spreads around globe

By Kate Rockwood, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 14, 2008 1:00 PM CDT

(Newser) – Scraper bike fever is sweeping the globe, thanks to a music video posted on YouTube by teenage friends in Oakland, NPR reports. These tricked-out bicycles are named after big, bright, and bold old-model cars fitted with wheels so large they scrape the rims. Unable to afford a car, the “Scraper Bike King” fitted his two-wheeled ride with oversize wheels, fixed Oreo and Skittles wrappers between the spokes, and spray-painted the frame.

The result is an eye-catching, highly customizable ride. But it wasn’t until the group of friends made a video testament to their scraper bikes that the trend began to spread. More than 3 million people have since viewed the clip, and fans from as far as Australia, Italy, and Japan have modified their bikes. And in the King’s hometown, the trend has exploded.

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Scraper bikes are named after old-model cars outfitted with wheels so large they scrape the rims. (YouTube)

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Modifying a scraper bike often requires nothing more than candy wrappers, spray paint, and a bit of creativity, reports NPR. (YouTube)

The scraper bike phenomenon has spread around the globe, thanks to a group of Oakland friends and their YouTube video. (YouTube)

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Scraper Bikes Catch Big Ride on YouTube