It started when some young men in Oakland California decided to “scrape” their bikes because they couldn’t afford the cars that were the original scrapers. They then made a video rapping about their bikes, posted it on YouTube. Other people posted their scraper vids. and mock scraper vids and a phenomenon was born. 18 months later there’s a scraper bike section on YouTube and the vids are worth checking out for the comments alone – particularly like the shocked commenter who spots a scraped Bianchi Pista. One of the interesting things about most of the bikes in the vids thoughthe original scraper video is that the bikes aren’t all that flash one of them is is a trike – actually it looks like a Pashley Workbike and there’s what looks like a rather nice Pashley Tuberider in there. Pashley out on the edge as ever. And that tune is also so damn infectious. So what is scraping? Originally a collision of hip hop and car modding: cars with big rims and candy paint jobs, and, as the name suggests, scraper bikes is a collision of… hip hop and bicycles with big rims and candy paint jobs. The scraping bit refers to the fact that the original scrapers had rims so big that they scrape the inside of the wheel well. Basically it’s all about pimping your ride – with a big emphasis on the wheels. How soon till it goes mainstream? Well, check out the vid then look with fresh eyes at Trek’s new District… 
Scraper bikes… coming our way, or already here?
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There you go again
Marginal margins.
The covid / post-covid boom is driven primarily by failures of capitalist strategy, causing over supply and price gouging. What we are seeing now is the correction. Most so-called ‘Western brands’ bikes are made in Eastern countries anyway - who have long been the leading manufacturers of carbon bikes. Now these makers are becoming brands / sellers too and Western brands have been put on notice. Inflation is driven by greed, not need.
@Benthic A125 motorbike can be ridden by a 17 year old can do about 75MPH; a legal e-bike that a 17-year-old cannot use can do about 15MPH.
The latest moral panic. "From August, the legal age to ride an e-scooter in Ireland will rise from 16 to 18" But, in Ireland you can still drive a: - moped from the age of 16 - 125 cc motorbike from the age of 17 - 3.5 tonne car from the age of 17 So that makes complete sense.
@mitsky I am seeing those Amazon ones in Manchester pretty much every day.
Quite. There's also a demand side story to accompany your eloquently written post, in that domestic demand has dampened from the captive COVID market of a few years back, and less international demand due to tariff-led policies and anti-dumping laws. On Chinese competition, I don't think it's necessarily Western profit-seeking behaviour which has caused increased Chinese supply and competitiveness as much as higher Chinese investment leading to higher quality output, innovation, and economies of scale. I don't know about Chinese frames as I haven't bought one and haven't seen one, but for wheels I don't see any inherent quality advantage for Western brands. Indeed, innovation seems to be coming from Chinese brands along with lower prices, just like we're seeing with electric cars. So higher quality and lower prices.
They should concentrate on the road users who do most of the killing and injuring: car drivers.
I've used the "why aren't you on the motorway?" one before, except here it would be "highway" or "Interstate." The other one I like is: "Get on the sidewalk!" (pavement) "On the side what?" "On the sidewalk!" "So it's not called a side-bicycle then?" Also one I've used a couple of times: "You're not a car!" "Neither are you!"
I've used Challenge, Vittoria, Veloflex and Continental tyres. What stands out for me regarding Challenge is how robust their supple tyres are. Usually there is a tradeoff there, but Challenge somehow manages to keep both.
2 thoughts on “Scraper bikes… coming our way, or already here?”
HAHAHAHAHA
That’s the first time i’ve ever seen a rap song dedicated to a tricycle. and they really look like they mean it. genius. that has absolutely made my day.
i remember seeing this a
i remember seeing this a couple of years ago, it must of been, and it still makes me laugh, a song dedicated to a scraper. Let it roll!