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Lowrider’s gold and chrome Classic is one of the coolest-looking bikes out there. Performance? Forget it. Gears? Who needs ’em? It’s not one for the tech-heads out there, but if you want cool, you want style, you want to cruise, it’s just the bike.
- Frame & forks: Basic material shaped into a work of art (6/10)
- Handling: The consensus description of the handling was ‘odd’, but this sort of bike isn’t bought for such traditional ride qualities (3/10)
- Equipment: Not exactly performance-led, but it comes with mudguards, kickstand and a bell, and numerous extras are available (6/10)
- Wheels: With 144 spokes per wheel these heavyweight hoops should be looking for an entry in the Guinness Book of Records (6/10)
Yes, the cranks are four inches long, the riding position means your legs never get anywhere near straight, the wheels weigh as much as a sack of spuds and it’s all about style over substance, more bling than bike… but none of that matters, because we enjoyed every single pedal stroke on it.
This isn’t a bike sold to the shy and retiring, but to the extrovert. If you’re in a hurry, forget it. Apart from the fact that this hunk is designed for cruising, you’ll be surrounded by admirers wherever you go. Young and old alike, everybody was fascinated. Sweeping along Weston-super-Mare’s seafront we were mobbed by kids and teenagers.
The so-so front hub brake is aided by a coaster brake – just pedal backwards and it slows you down gently. But you’re never likely to be motoring so the lack of all-out stopping power wasn’t an issue.
The wheels are behemoths, with an incredible 144 spokes each. But, hey, they look great and it would take quite an effort to knock them out of shape.
The Classic even comes with its own little toolset: screwdriver, spanner and monkey wrench. And if it had come with the stars-and-stripes bell, bulb horn and chrome bullet LED light available from Ridelow’s site it would have been perfect!

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Product Specifications
Product
Name | Classic (09) |
Brand | Low Rider |
Description | Wheels - Chrome plated 20in steel rims, Histop high flange steel rear coaster, Rotoflex high flange front drum, 144 radial chrome plated spokes front/rear |
Rear Wheel Weight | 2960 |
Top Tube (cm) | 42.5 |
Standover Height (cm) | 53 |
Chainstays (cm) | 29.5 |
Bottom Bracket Height (cm) | 20 |
Weight (lb) | 38.1 |
Year | 2009 |
Weight (kg) | 17.3 |
Stem | 22.2mm steel quill, 65mm extension, 25.4 single bolt bar clamp |
Seatpost | Steel 22.2mm, 300mm length, with low-rise sissy bar |
Seat Angle | 75 |
Saddle | Lowrider banana, padded velvet |
Rear Tyre Size | 20x1.75 |
Available Sizes | One Size |
Headset Type | Steel threaded 1in, standard ball and cone |
Head Angle | 75 |
Handlebar | Steel ape-hangers, 38cm rise, 68cm width |
Front Wheel Weight | 2920 |
Front Tyre Size | 20x1.75 |
Frame Weight | 2180 |
Frame Material | Arc welded Hi-Ten steel cantilever frame with stamped steel dropouts |
Fork Weight | 246 |
Fork | Hi-Ten leading link springer fork, 1in threaded steerer, crimped dropouts |
Cranks | Lowrider Collection BMX style 1 piece steel, 90mm arms, 36t steel ring, 1/2in x 1/8in pitch |
Brakes | Hi-stop coaster brake rear, Rotatex front drum brake with steel lever |
Bottom Bracket | Standard bmx type, press fit steel cups with standard 5/16in balls and cones |
Wheelbase (cm) | 99.3 |