Knock-Off Tech Decks & Tech Bikes

Tech Deck boards launched under X-Concepts LLC in 1998. The line was an instant hit and took fingerboards from a fun DIY plaything to a marketable toy industry product. Tech Decks in particular were a smash hit because there was never really a replica market for skate culture, BMX bikes, snowboards, surfboards, and the other X-Treme sports. 

From their inception, Tech Deck had the rights to feature every big skate brand World Industries, BLIND, Toy Machine, Finesse, Birdhouse, etc. X-Concepts LLC did the same licensing for popular biking, snowboard, surf brands, etc. They had it ALL... Even Pokemon, and years later, exclusive rights on Disney Store figures of Mickey and Stitch.

The copycats didn't have a World Industries deck replica on the bottom or a super-articulated and accurate BMX bike; but, they tried their best with pennies and no skate brand licenses. 

So it goes. If you're the hot new product in any market, it's inevitable that the knock-off brands will come to copy you. 

Lego had Mega Bloks, Hot Wheels had Matchbox, and Tech Deck had... All the companies below: 

Keep in mind, we won't be covering every Skate brand, just ones released in retail stores. We have a separate page on Fast Food boards and toys you can check out too! 

 "Finger Board" Somerville International Co (1999-2000)
Later renamed by Giant Merchandising then BIG Entertainment

"Finger Board" had a 2000 McDonalds toy line, it's super common to find these with G1 dudes.

Somerville Intl Inc was renamed or bought out by "Giant Merchandising" which was distributed through On Point Productions from Rochester, Minnesota. 

They kept the generic "Finger Board" name in the corner and started a new line called"Band Boards". 

Their mascot was named "Rex Roadie"

BIG Entertainment (no longer GIANT Manufacturing) dropped the Fingerboard/Band Boards names and then went by STREET JAMMERS, which had bikes, boards, scooters, and even motorcycles of famous musicians and bands:
STREET JAMMERS printed Eminem, NSYNC, KORN, Rage Against the Machine, and Deftones products.

 

 

This must've been a failed company, since "Finger Board", Street Jammers, Band Boards or whatever else toylines, and the "Big" /Giant Merchandising/Somerville Intl brand umbrella came up seemingly died after around 2000-2001.

Licensing major-label musicians costs significantly more than striking a deal with skate brands, so the Fingerboard/Big/Giant/Somerville was likely the fingerboard Icarus and flew too close to the sun and couldn't compete. Or, skated too close? I dunno. 

What a peculiar line, why rename from Somerville International to Giant Merchandising then to BIG? 

Why did they use Fingerboard for maybe a year and change names following their Mcdonald's deal? Moving on...

eXXtreme joXX by Imperial (1999)

This KMart toy line featured mini boards based on "Skate Board Legends". It also had figures based on these legends, late 90's pro skaters. They made figures out of the skaters too, which you can see on our Pro Skater toys page. 

The toy line had mini boards and key clips (keychains)

  

They also made Extreme Skis with Glen Plake's likeness. 

I couldn't find Imperial boards from 2002-2009, but they went on to make Marvel Heroes boards in 2010? 

I am unsure whether or not they are still around. 

FLICK TRIX by Spin Master (1999-2000) 

These died out in a year or two, even with a Mat Hoffman endorsement. 

Interestingly, Spin Master would of course go on to buy out X-Concepts LLC and their Tech brands (Tech Deck, Tech Deck Dudes, Tech Bikes, Tech Kart, etc.) They even slapped the X-Concepts logo on the 2006-2007 FLICK TRIX as if to say, "We couldn't beat Tech Bikes, so we just bought them out!"

Spin Master's 1999 logo:

Spin Master's early 2000's logo:

MIJO Fingerboard by HomieShop (Early-Mid-2000s) 

The Homies more kid-friendly line, Mijos, had fingerboards.

Hot Wheels Fingerboards & keychain boards by Mattel (2001)

Hot Wheels tried cashing in on the fingerboard craze in 2001 with their own fingerboards, which featured Hot Wheels car designs on them.

  

X-Games "Digit Deck" by Variflex (1999)

Variflex made X Games "Digit Decks" in 1999 to cash in on the Tech Deck fingerboard phenomena. It makes sense, why not make a board based on one of the biggest skating and extreme sports events? 

The only issue was, all the Skate Brands (and even Pokemon) had given Tech Deck the rights to their likeness. 

Therefore, X-Games just had its logo, which wasn't the thing drawing people in. The toy line didn't fare well in comparison and took a hiatus before being revamped in the late 2000s. 

X-Games by Mattel (2008)

After rival toy conglomerate Spin Master bought Tech Deck, Mattel bought the rights to put X-Games logos on fingerboards, giving up on the above Hot Wheels branded fingerboards.

 

They still didn't have the rights to any skate brands, and they came with a tool in the shape of the X-Games logo (not very practical). 

These came in single packs and three packs. I can't really find any current X-Games toys, since the 

X-Games brand and the demand for extreme sports toys aren't what they used to be. 

The No Rules Crew (Early 2000's-?)

Although it started as an X-Concepts/Tech Deck ripoff here in the states in Irvine, Ca, No Rules Crew became a huge brand in China. They sold school supplies, clothes backpacks, skateboards, and bikes throughout their stores in Bejing, Shanghai, and Wuhan. 

We have a whole page dedicated to this insane brand!

PepsiCo Dollar General Exclusive Pepsi and Mountain Dew Boards (1999)

Best Buy Store Exclusive Mini-Board (1999)

Similar Device Skateboards by Titan Sports LLC (1999)

This toy line printed WWF wrestlers onto fingerboards, I guess it aligns that kids who like totally radical stunts would also like pro wrestling? Unfortunately for Similar Device, it only lasted one wave and I don't think they ever had any big toys? Not even sure if they still exist or if/when their company closed.

 

Rocket Power and Sponge Bob Boards by Basic Fun (2000)

Basic Fun would change its name to Fun 4 All and make Tech Deck Dude keychains based on the G1 Crew 1 dudes in 2001!

Brat Boards by Toy Network (1999-2000)

These flamed out pretty quickly, but the brand did make Nascar Team boards. I genuinely like the Brat Boards logo and Toy Network smiley face logo with the helicopter propeller cap.

Dragon Ball Z boards by TOYCOM (1999)

These were likely made after the Pokemon fingerboards from Tech Deck flew off shelves. 

Super Deck Collection by Fire Bird (No relation to Pontiac). If I had to guess these were released and went out of business in the early 2000s?

Finger Skate Deluxe Board by JARU Inc.  Probably early 2000's?

Pro X Karts (Championship Radical Racing) by Toy Makers (2001)

This line was made a year after Tech Deck introduced Tech Kart in 2000.

extreme DX by BANDAI and YoMega (2000)

BANDAI Yomega extreme dx boards

These boards came with generic graphics, and they had completely randomly the most random fingerboard endorsement. Yes, crazier than the NSYNC and Eminem ones. Bandai secured the rights to make AUSTIN POWERS fingerboards, who was this for?! Kids wouldn't collect toys for a PG-13-R rated movie series. 

Bandai Digimon Boards (2000)

These were likely made to copy Pokemon fingerboards in 1999, so we have a knock-off Tech Deck based on a show that was a knock-off of Pokemon?

Vans Store Boards (2004)

These seemingly were only sold in Taiwanese Vans shops?

 

Grip & Tricks Bikes and Boards (2009-2012?)

Weird Boards (Mid-2000's?):

Weird-Ohs mini fingerboards from Taco Bell (2010):

The Ed Roth Weird-ohs model kits were a smash hit through the '60s and into the '90s, which featured Roth's typical eye-popping gross hot rod-driving characters. 
But, after his passing in 2003, the Weird-Ohs were brought back as toys in 2008 with magnetic feet and boards. The line sold for a couple of years, and had the Taco Bell fingerboards you see below: 

HEXBUG Tony Hawk Birdhouse Circuit Boards (2008)

"Street League Skateboarding" (2010-12): Target Exclusive Fingerboards 

A year after Target lost the plug-feet Skate Crew figures as store exclusives, they created their own exclusive fingerboard line. They also had figures based on pro skaters, which is on our pro skater lines and misc figurines page. 

Alright folks, from this point onward, the brands get much more bootleg, low-quality, and funny. There are stolen fonts, translation errors, and random names galore.

The brands we saw above had a store-exclusive contract, the rights to music act, movies wrestling, comics, or the X-Games. Heck, some were released by other toy giants like Mattel and Bandai. 

But, from here on out, let's see what's at the BOTTOM of the barrel. 

Street Grind MiniBoards Woo A Mart Products (2003)

 "Finger Blades" by PRO GARD (Probably Early 2000's?)

MiNi TRiCK POWER from Giraprendi

These are Italian fingerboard key chains? I'm not sure when or how long these were made. 

"Mini Skate Board" 

When Tech Decks had minis, this $1 brand with a funny M&M-esque mascot was there to copy it. They also seem to have a red Lego brick on the box? But, there's no bricks in the toy line?

"Finger Tide Flash" by XFL

I kinda love dig "New Trend Dazzle Dance" boards are I want one with every fruit on it.

The translation errors are so wholesome: "Popular Sports. Skate Boarding World"

Skate Monster:

No idea what this brand, I've never seen an actual board from them, only spare wheels? Maybe they just gave customizers a cheaper set of colorful wheels compared to amassing several Tech Decks. 

X-Stuntz (2009)

They weren't even trying, they named themselves "X-Stuntz", since X-Concepts was now owned by Spin Master and made the various Tech Deck toy lines. These seemingly ceased production by the end of 2009.

STREET: BIG TRICK

Finger Board 

These are not the same as the early 2000's brand above from BIG/Giant/Somerville.

These are from Taiwan. I'm not sure when these were made. There was so many knock-offs of Tech Decks that I suppose some of them accidentally shared the same company name?

"Skate"

This brand named "Skate" is my favorite bootleg since their boards simply say "BOARD".

Fast Food boards and toyswhole page