Lowrider Bicycle

This bike was jointly built by two chapters of The Lowrider Bike Program. The Lowrider Bike Program was founded in Olathe, Kansas by Erik Erazo, Executive Director of Student & Community Engagement at Olathe Public Schools. He created the after-school program to mentor at-risk students to ensure they stayed in school and graduated. This program has been successfully duplicated in multiple other cities across the United States.

The lowrider bike clubs take a community engagement approach that bridges the gap between at-risk youth and local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Together community partners and the students build lowrider bicycles, while educating the youth about issues affecting the community such as substance use and misuse, crime, violence and anti-law enforcement sentiments.

This bike was jointly built by lowrider bike clubs in Olathe, Kansas and Albuquerque, New Mexico to commemorate DEA’s 50th anniversary. It was unveiled in the DEA Museum in September 2023 to great fanfare. It was also exhibited at DEA 50th Anniversary celebration.

While most custom bikes take up to a year to build this lowrider was created in just a few short months by both clubs. The Albuquerque chapter completed the body work and paint and a club mentor even hand wrapped and painted the seat. The bike was sent to the Olathe chapter to be built. It was then disassembled to be sent to Washington DC where it was again reassembled by the Olathe chapter and presented at DEA Headquarters.

Click here to view this artifact’s episode of “Stories from the Collection,” a monthly video series on the DEA Museum’s most exciting objects.