Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - schwinn super sport

looking at a schwinn super sport for $180.it is an early 70's model in good but used condition.were these actually a pretty good bike?does anyone know the weight of these bikes?the owner said it was about 30 lbs.that seems awfully heavy for a bike the owner said was an upper quality bike at the time.does the price seem about right?

The Super Sport was nearer the top than the bottom of the line for Schwinn and is regarded as a nice bike. Chromoly frames, fillet brazed lugs. 30 lbs seems about right. If in good shape it sounds like a nice buy.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/schwinn-braze.html

My first "real road bike" was a '72 Opaque Blue Super Sport, and I put tens of thousands of miles on it before it was stolen in 1980. By today's standards, they are heavy, but the frames are classic fillet brazed straight gauge 4130 chromoly. If it's straight and in decent shape, IMHO it's worth the asking price.

You can put it on a diet by upgrading it with modern lightweight components, starting by replacing the steel one-piece Ashtabula crank with a nice 3-piece alloy crank.

For inspiration, check out Pastor Bob's tricked out Super Sport, "Sporty", in THIS THREAD (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=452240&highlight=sporty).

For inspiration, check out Pastor Bob's tricked out Super Sport, "Sporty"...

Scooper. You know the rules. You can't talk about Sporty without posting at least one pic. :)

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p71/pastorbobnlnh/Super%20Sports/Sporty%20Aug%202008/SportyFlowers.jpg

You're right! :o Mea culpa!

To the OP, I might add that Pastor Bob has two Paramounts and it's pretty clear that he rates his Super Sport right up there with them.

I bought an orange ladies SS yesterday!!! Its a '73.

I bought an orange ladies SS yesterday!!! Its a '73.

Doesn't exist without pics. :)

Doesn't exist without pics. :)

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=492584

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=492584

Nice. Needs some shift cables.

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr314/jimr2527/Schwinn%20SS/DSC01549.jpg

Nice.

Thanks, but wait untill tomorrow....

I picked up a SuperSport about a two years ago. I took off the upgraded, Shimano Exage rear dr, and the one alloy rim and sold the frame to a student at NC State for $5. I felt bad, like I was overcharging him so I threw in some other parts. My rational, how good can it be with an Ashtabula crank.

After reading this thread, I think I'll go sulk for a while.

I picked up a SuperSport about a two years ago. I took off the upgraded, Shimano Exage rear dr, and the one alloy rim and sold the frame to a student at NC State for $5. I felt bad, like I was overcharging him so I threw in some other parts. My rational, how good can it be with an Ashtabula crank.

After reading this thread, I think I'll go sulk for a while.

Don't feel too bad. You weren't the only one.

These heavy steel Schwinn components didn't really match the quality of the fillet-brazed frames. European and Japanese alloy components had become customer benchmarks for fine bicycles, and the quality of the Sports Tourer and Superior, in particular, was obscured by the use of these steel components.

This cost me $75:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y87/boysrus/red%20schwinn/190_9042.jpg

I made some mods with stuff I had or got for free:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y87/boysrus/red%20schwinn/193_9312.jpg

Great bike; my favorite ride.

$180 sounds reasonable. Good ones have been selling in the $250 range. As far as is it a good bike? Not really. It has very heavy Schwinn components. It certainly is a much better bike than a Varsity or a Continental. But for the same money, you could buy a vintage Trek that weighs 10 pounds less and has much better components, or one of the sweet Japanese vintage bikes: Miyata, etc.

+1 Nice frame, low end components. Too bad Schwinn did not match a good frame with better components.

By the way, I own a 1973 Supersport.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3080/2920928134_9f475e8713_b.jpg

Price has gone through the roof on them. I bought one several years ago for $35 without the original saddle. It was my second fixed gear, the one piece crank made it an easy conversion. I sold it as a single speed and included the original rear wheel as well as, all the original parts, + extra set of randoner bars for $125. I knew it was cheap, but wife was on me to sell the extras.

+1 on the components. My RD shattered on an upshift; the FD never did really work. I've replaced them both. I also replaced the rear wheel bc it was bent (car trunk lid?) and the rear axle was broken. I put a six-speed freewheel on it. Brakes are fine; 1-piece crank is bulletproof, but heavy. I like the range of the 39-52, though. Great frame and mad style points. Now that I've gotten mine dialed in, I don't know how much it would take to pry it out of my hands, but I've seen them fly off CL at $250 also.

You're right! :o Mea culpa!

To the OP, I might add that Pastor Bob has two Paramounts and it's pretty clear that he rates his Super Sport right up there with them.

At this moment I would rate my three road bikes (on their ride quality) as follows:

FIRST: '83 Paramount (early Waterford) which I upgraded with Shimano 7 speed brifters & FD, Campy Centaur calipers & RD, Campy 9 speed triple crankset. The bike is light and very responsive.

SECOND: '72 Super Sport, i.e. "Sporty" which as you can see, has been significantly modified. It is probably about 5 lbs heavier then the '83. It turns exceptionally fast and is rock solid at 45+ mph on descents.

THIRD: '66 P-13 Paramount. To be fair, I barely rode this bike after Sporty hit the road. It needs a full tune up over the winter. Also, as my riding and bike knowledge has become refined, I've come to realize it is about 2-3 cm too big for me.


Scooper. You know the rules. You can't talk about Sporty without posting at least one pic. :)

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p71/pastorbobnlnh/Super%20Sports/Sporty%20Aug%202008/SportyFlowers.jpg

Wow! Has Sporty become the poster child for Super Sports? :roflmao2:

On my '71 Super Sport, I originally converted it to a single speed with North Roads bars, 700c wheels, and a 3-piece crankset (using the Truvativ adapter) w/ a single ring. It was okay, but pretty low on my priority list of single-speed I have that are fun to ride--it was quite sluggish in comparison. More recently, I put 27" wheels on it, a 5-speed rear cluster, SunTour RD, and a single stem shifter, and the it feels like a completely different bike! Perhaps it's the wheelset, but the thing just handles like a Lincoln without being slow. In fact, I just went from a 45t chainring to a 48t chainring because it was geared too low.

Requisite pic:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_GmYBBzTzcVQ/SRrsvRAdVpI/AAAAAAAAC5M/3ff-BxTmG1c/s800/SuperSport5_2.jpg

Neal

My 73, Cool Lemon is about done, it weighs 33# as pictured. (26" frame).
http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m394/GLVander/Superior%2076/IMGP1565.jpg

And now I know why I could not leave this 76 Superior - looks a little like Sporty (?), (pics before bath)
http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m394/GLVander/Superior%2076/IMGP1553-1.jpg

Psst. Your bolt is supposed to be behind the seatpost not in front of it.



http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3080/2920928134_9f475e8713_b.jpg

Psst. Your bolt is supposed to be behind the seatpost not in front of it.

I was thinking it was a nod to 1930-50s style, when the clamp was usually in front of the post:

http://web.mit.edu/nlerner/Public/Bikes/1950_LentonCat1.jpg

Neal

You are right, I have it backwards (bolt on seat clamp). To be fair, bike is in as found condition (I have not touched the clamp). Only thing I did was wash it and fix a front tire flat. It is a 26 inch frame, and I ride a 20 inch frame bike. I can't even take it for a test spin.

This bike is more my size:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/3113301693_a54275fd8e.jpg