Manufacturer, Retailer, Survey and Consumer Feedback - Schwinn vs. Schwinn

I noticed along with department store Schwinn bikes there are "bike shop" Schwinns. Is there a difference between the two? The Bike shop Schwinn has better components and more adjustments, nicer seat and grips, so I bought one. Even if very similar at least I got fitted and I'd rather spend the money at a mom and pop LBS than Wally World and their likes.

If I posted this an a "wrong" location feel free to move it

Yes, there is. The Bike shop Schwinn has better components and more adjustments, nicer seat and grips. :D

There really are no such things as "Schwinns" anymore. The Schwinn family has nothing to do with modern Schwinns. I don't think any of the current crop of Schwinns are made in North America.

The X-Mart Schwinns all seem to be made in China. The bike shop versions seem to be made in Taiwan. The build quality and components of the bike shop versions are considerably better than the X-Mart versions. You get what you pay for.

I wanted to share a little bit of information that I ran into when I read a book titled, No Hands. It chronicles the rise and fall of the Scwhinn family's fortunes in the bicycle business.

Also, one of the U.S. factories that used to make Schwinn bicycles is still operated today by two of the members of the family. The factory now manufactures and sells bicycles under the name Waterford and also makes a limited run of bicycles under the Schwinn Paramount name. You can see the frame at the following link:

http://www.schwinnbikes.com/paramount/

The Waterford website has a little bit of background information on it too. Here's a good link to start with.
http://waterfordbikes.com/now/home.php?newstype=paramountb

So if you are looking to get a Schwinn's Schwinn, you now know how to make that happen.

Best Wishes,
Butch

I wanted to share a little bit of information that I ran into when I read a book titled, No Hands. It chronicles the rise and fall of the Scwhinn family's fortunes in the bicycle business.

Also, one of the U.S. factories that used to make Schwinn bicycles is still operated today by two of the members of the family. The factory now manufactures and sells bicycles under the name Waterford and also makes a limited run of bicycles under the Schwinn Paramount name. You can see the frame at the following link:

http://www.schwinnbikes.com/paramount/

The Waterford website has a little bit of background information on it too. Here's a good link to start with.
http://waterfordbikes.com/now/home.php?newstype=paramountb

So if you are looking to get a Schwinn's Schwinn, you now know how to make that happen.

Best Wishes,
Butch

That's interesting, considering that Dorel Industries owns Pacific Cycles which own the Schwinn brand name. Richard Schwinn now produces bicycles for a company that owns his name, and can't put his name on those bikes without their permission. How humiliating is that?

If humiliation bothers you, you have no place in business. Because that's all it is: business.

That's interesting, considering that Dorel Industries owns Pacific Cycles which own the Schwinn brand name. Richard Schwinn now produces bicycles for a company that owns his name, and can't put his name on those bikes without their permission. How humiliating is that?

I've both talked with him and own one of his bikes. He's not humiliated. He's actually very proud of what they do. The Schwinn company was on the verge of bankruptcy. He and the chief Paramount engineer, Mark Meuler, decided to buy out the Paramount operations in Waterford Wisconsin right before the Schwinn company was sold.

Waterford makes a really fine steel frame for both themselves out some other companies. When the Schwinn company decided to make a limited production commenrative Paramount bike, they naturally choose Waterford as their source

So a Schwinn sold at Wally World, is an 'Evil Schwinn', to a Schwinn sold at an LBS? :innocent:

I've both talked with him and own one of his bikes. He's not humiliated. He's actually very proud of what they do. The Schwinn company was on the verge of bankruptcy. He and the chief Paramount engineer, Mark Meuler, decided to buy out the Paramount operations in Waterford Wisconsin right before the Schwinn company was sold.

Waterford makes a really fine steel frame for both themselves out some other companies. When the Schwinn company decided to make a limited production commenrative Paramount bike, they naturally choose Waterford as their source

Schwinn Company? You mean China Bike? I've got news for you, there is no "Schwinn Company". Pacific Cycle is a marketing company that imports bikes from China and Taiwan and slaps on the Schwinn logo.

I would like to own a Waterford, but let's face reality, Waterford is a tiny niche producer that employs about 20 people. The way this economy is going, I really doubt there will be much demand in the future for $3K+ hand made bikes.

Schwinn Company? You mean China Bike? I've got news for you, there is no "Schwinn Company". Pacific Cycle is a marketing company that imports bikes from China and Taiwan and slaps on the Schwinn logo.

I would like to own a Waterford, but let's face reality, Waterford is a tiny niche producer that employs about 20 people. The way this economy is going, I really doubt there will be much demand in the future for $3K+ hand made bikes.

English, mutha******, do you speak it? Because you can't read it.

English, mutha******, do you speak it? Because you can't read it.

Another suburban white boy, suffering form micro-phallus, who pretends that he has soul on internet forums. How sad.

But still smarter than you. It's all good in the hood.

So a Schwinn sold at Wally World, is an 'Evil Schwinn', to a Schwinn sold at an LBS? :innocent:

Right, when you see a Wally Schwinn, think Chairman Mao Zedong. When you see a LBS Schwinn, think Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek.

So a Schwinn sold at Wally World, is an 'Evil Schwinn', to a Schwinn sold at an LBS? :innocent:

I would rather have a Taiwanese Schwinn (and I have 2) than a Chinese Schwinn. I live in Japan, and am very familiar with the manufacturing processes in both countries. Neither are great, but one is definitely better than the other.

If I had had choice to buy an American built Schwinn, I would have done so.

Right, when you see a Wally Schwinn, think Chairman Mao Zedong. When you see a LBS Schwinn, think Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek.

Don't forget to thank the UAW for running the US based operation out of busniess.

Don't forget to thank the UAW for running the US based operation out of busniess.

I don't want to turn this into P&R, so this will be my last post on this thread. Schwinn went bankrupt, not because of the UAW, but because of imbecilic management.

English, mutha******, do you speak it? Because you can't read it.

Get some sleep, Jules. You sound like you are skirting an autoban or something. Don't do it.

The truth of the matter is that the Schwinn family did what every family operation does at some point...they factionalized and some lost interest in the core innovations needed. We've seen this in many other industries, the San Francisco Chronicle's publishing family did it and you can see what happened, for an example.

I just looked at the 70th Anniversary Paramount website and it's run by Cannondale Sports Group. How do they fit into the Schwinn mix?

I just looked at the 70th Anniversary Paramount website and it's run by Cannondale Sports Group. How do they fit into the Schwinn mix?

Apparently Pacific Cycle owns Schwinn, Mongoose, Next, Cannondale, GT and many others. Yikes.

This is from Pacific Cycles parent Company Dorel.

Recreational/Leisure
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In 2004, Dorel became one of the largest marketers of recreational products in North America with its acquisition of Pacific Cycle, a leader in the design, marketing and distribution of high quality branded bicycles and other recreational products. In February 2008, Dorel purchased the Cannondale Bicycle Company and SUGOI Performance Apparel, further solidifying its presence in the bicycle industry.

The Recreational/Leisure segment comprises two distinct operating divisions: The Cannondale Sports Group division which deals specifically with the Independent Bicycle Dealers (IBD) channel; and the Pacific Cycle division which deals with the mass merchant and sporting goods channel.

Dorel markets its Recreational/Leisure products under the Cannondale, Schwinn, GT, Mongoose, SUGOI, Pacific, Dyno, RoadMaster, PowerLite and InSTEP brand names.

You can now add Ironhorse to the stable of brands owned/controlled by Pacific Cycle. They just purchased this out of bankruptcy.