Usually "biker gangs" bring ideas of Harleys, leather, Veitnam POW flags, etc. Not so with the newest group prowling the streets in Richmond Hill, Queens, New York City. The one similarity these teenagers do have with their motorcycle counterparts is their crazy-loud sound.

As the New York Times reported, this group of teens has customized their fleet of BMX bikes into booming sound machines. The bikes, which probably start out at about 20-pounds, are overloaded with speakers, amplifiers, and car batteries to power the operation. iPods, CD changers, DVD screens, and custom wood and plastic cabinets to house the assemblies are popular additions. The sound systems put out as much as 5,000 watts of power, and can pump out music at 150 decibels. The rigs weigh 200 pounds or more when fully loaded and ready to rock.

The group will ride as a pack, cruising the streets and alternating who gets to play DJ and strut his stuff.

Most of the riders have a Guyanese or Trinidadian background. In those countries, stereos on bikes is commonplace. It's a new phenomenon for NYC, however. And these teens are pushing the sounds-on-bikes to a new level.

“People say, ‘It’s the next best thing to having a system in a car,’" says Nick Ragbir, 18. "But it’s better because you don’t even have to roll down the windows.”

Many of the riders do work installing car stereos to fund their projects. A new venture, called Legal Intenionz, will capitalize of the attention they've received and commercially install custom stereos on bikes.

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