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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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Scraper Bikes Catch Big Ride on YouTube

Passion for colorful, customized rides spreads around globe

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(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.

Scraper bikes are named after old-model cars outfitted with wheels so large they scrape the rims.
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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Video of a band of scraper bike boys
YouTube

The original music video that launched the scraper bike trend
YouTube


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