Classic & Vintage - Schwinn Suburban

I was given a large Maroon mens Schwinn Suburban today for free. I thought, well what the Hell, I'll clean it it up and put it out front for sale, and make $20, or something. I pumped up the tires and took a little ride on it, and I was quite surprized to find out that it rides very nicely. I would recommend one for daily commuting anytime. This is even though it weighs a lot more than my Raleigh Sports. You don't notice the weight while you ride. Maybe I'll be cussing it when I have to ride it up "suicide" hill, I don't know. I believe I am going to keep it for use when I ride to work. It isn't bad, and if someone pinches it on me, I am not loosing anything money-wise.
By the way, I used regular Brillo pads on it to remove rust, and Schwinn must have used some different "chrome" on their bike, because the Brillo did not seem to scratch anything I used it on.

All the Electro Forged Schwinns rode nicely. I am glad you are going to use and enjoy it.

Schwinn had the best chrome in my experience. I have cleaned plenty of it using steel wool without scratching. I can't say the same for other bikes.

We have a ladies suburban, '77 I think, and my daughter really loves it. Our only change was to switch out the wheels with the ones off a japanese made puch and that shaved about 3 pounds of the bike if I recall.

Used to ride a Suburban back in the 70's to work in southern Cal for years. Found I rode it less and less when we moved to rural New Mexico & Az. Ended up giving it away to a neighbor. Wish I had kept it now that I live close to pavement again. Mine had North Road handle bars, fenders, 10 speeds, great medium blue color.

Mine is a maroon red, ten speed with mudguards and north road bars, etc...
I believe it will be a great ride for going to work.

I have a Suburban, I gave $50 for it and a Stingray Jr. They were not creampuffs, but cleaned up OK! The Suburban is Campus Green, has Northroad style bars, 10 spd w/stem shifters and fenders! I changed out the HB stem, and must have saved a pound or 2!!!! Man, that Schwinn HB stem was HEAVY!!!

I also put new tires and tubes on it......it looks pretty good and it rides pretty good, too! I told my wife it was sorta like riding in you great aunts old buick!!! You Don't have to go fast to look cool!

My Surburban has got me to thinking about putting a proper HB stem for Northroad bars and fenders on my Paramount! I really do like THAT look!

Al

Suburbans are great riders for around the block, commuting and the like.

I like the five speeds because they have chain guards!

There is a nice one in the Detroit area now:
http://detroit.craigslist.org/bik/383228845.html

Not North Road bars, but I am doing something similar on the Paramount I am working on for my wife. She hates drop bars!

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f106/RabidKoala/38de81b8.jpg

I have two Suburbans, one a 1980 ladies 5-spd with the FF and Positron II components. Put a Brooks Glenbrook bag on that one and ride it mostly for cruising the bike path; somewhat akin to cruising with the old Buick or Caddy.

The other Suburban, a mens with quite a bit of character scratches and wounds, I built up as my beater bike grocery-getter. My own record which I'll never agail try to copy, is 100-lbs in the baskets, two 50-lb bags of landscapipng sand from the garden center a mile from home.
alf

Not North Road bars, but I am doing something similar on the Paramount I am working on for my wife. She hates drop bars!
Those aren't the Twin Sticks I sent you are they?

"Not North Road bars, but I am doing something similar on the Paramount I am working on for my wife. She hates drop bars!"

I like the looks of drop bar bikes, however, age has left me somewhat incompatible with drop bars. Therefore if I am going to be able to put any time in on my Paramount, I am gonna need to do something different regarding the riding position. I seem to remember reading something that indicated the Paramounts could be ordered with upright bars, 3 speeds, etc. Since my Paramount is a touring model, I'm thinking that it wouldn't be such an awful thing to do it. I would want to use period correct brake levers, HB stem, fenders and maybe a luggage rack.....It should make a pretty decent looking rider!

Sorry, don't mean to hijack the thread!

Al

Those aren't the Twin Sticks I sent you are they?

She wanted the power shifters....I wanted it more Schwinn, but she has to ride it!

That setup came off her old Raleigh Super Course. It is still subject to change, though.

She won't use the Brooks, either.