Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Schwinn Varsity

http://orlando.craigslist.org/bik/2060145164.html

I just found this bike on Craigslist, and I'm curious as to whether or not this is a decent deal. I admittedly am a newbie since my last bike was a mountain bike about a decade ago, but recently got into riding.

Any help as far as info on the bike, and well as what is notable form the post would be greatly appreciated thank you!

http://orlando.craigslist.org/bik/2060145164.html

I just found this bike on Craigslist, and I'm curious as to whether or not this is a decent deal. I admittedly am a newbie since my last bike was a mountain bike about a decade ago, but recently got into riding.

Any help as far as info on the bike, and well as what is notable form the post would be greatly appreciated thank you!

Hmm. If it's ready to ride, that's probably not too terrible for an urban area. I noticed it has an upgraded rear dérailleur, which is good.

The varsity is never going to win any awards, except maybe for kinetic energy at speed, due to the high mass of the frame and its all-steel construction. Steel wheels brake poorly and not at all when wet.

If you're looking for a slice of American pie and don't care about performance or you need a bike that will still be ready to ride after they nuke your city, this is the bike for you. If you want even minimal nimbleness out on the road, you can probably do better.

I have a Varsity. It's a cool bike to ride but as Roll-M notes, it won't win any races. It has 1970s entry-level technology. Bulletproof but heavy.

I also noticed the ad didn't post a size. Make sure it fits and check for a stuck seatpost.

It's probably a 20" frame (22" at most). Note the weight in the catalog. This may not be the same year, but they didn't change much.

http://www.re-cycle.com/images/Schwinn/1973cat/15.jpg

Thank you so much for the helpful comments, I'm definitely not looking to win any races, just something for leisurely rides and getting around town every now and then. I just wanted to get a heads up as far as the price in comparison to the bike posted, and I will definitely check it out in person as well as make sure the seat post as far as making sure I can adjust the bike to my height.

Worth the price. Varsities have a following. Expect to do some basics: bearings, grease, tubes and cables. If you do not have the time/tools/aptitude to do this relatively minor work, I would keep looking. Find one that is ready to go instead, expect to pay $100 to $150 for one in such condition, with new tires, tubes, cables, everything greased, new bar tape, chain cleaned and lubed. If you bought this bike for $95 and took it to a shop to have that list of work, it might cost you another $150 to have the work done. At that point, your total money into the bike far exceeds its value.

I didn't do anything to the Varsity I got. I changed the pedals, that was it. All the bearings are as I found them, and it came from the city dump!

I don't think that's a very good price, but maybe your market's different than mine. I solid expect to see that for ~$60 around here.

True, but it's not totally unreasonable.

Then again, I got mine for nuthin'. :D

=) thank you for all your help, I actually ended up passing on the offer because I had my reservations about having to put too much time/work into a bike when I'm very much a noob. As far as price, it was actually in the cheaper range of ones I had previously checked out, which is what sparked my interest in it.

Good decision!

http://www.re-cycle.com/images/Schwinn/1973cat/15.jpg

And look at that adorable couple out on an afternoon ride. God bless the sexy 70s.

True, but it's not totally unreasonable.

Then again, I got mine for nuthin'. :D

Me 2:D

I paid $67 for mine in 1973..rode the crap out of it!

Is there any other bike more polarizing than the Schwinn Varsity?

And look at that adorable couple out on an afternoon ride. God bless the sexy 70s.


They've given up golf to ride Schwinn Varsity's...no wardrobe change needed!

Varsities/Continentals are quite easy to maintain, and survive outdoor storage way better than most other bikes. Oversize BB bearing hold up!

For serious riding, one must size-up, i.e. buy the biggest frame you can straddle or the reach to the bars will feel incredibly short and a longer stem makes the steering floppy plus the stem quill diameter is usually the odd .833" / 21.1mm i.e. 13/16" size.

One annoyance is the crown race often fits slopily on the steerer, needs to be LocTited in place.
A SuperSport is the more sporting choice, with modern geometry and resulting normal fit. Still quite heavy, scarcely lighter than a Continental!