Classic & Vintage - Show me your 60's Schwinn Superior

I have a love affair with the 62'-63' Schwinn Superior. I've been totally infatuated with them for a long time now. I've never ridden one, never even seen one in the flesh but I think they're the bee's knees.

Can you help satisfy my craving and show me your 60's Schwinn Superior?


70's Superiors are neat, but Need not apply here.

I've never seen one either, but they look like nice bikes. The thing I find odd is that the 1962 catalog list the Superior as having 15 speed gears! Did they even have triple cranks back then? Did it have an IGH?

They used a Huret long cage RD and a five cog freewheel. The triple crank x 5 cogs = 15 speeds.

Here's my '63 Superior. I'm the original owner.
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c298/koskid/BSC03729.jpg

Oh sweet lord YES.

I love that Triple one-piece crankset.

There was one on my local Craigs for $100 for about a day, and it was snatched before I could get to it. From the photos (which I regretfully failed to save) it appeared to have the original saddle and bartape.

One of the few near misses which have stuck with me...I really wish I'd been on it quicker.

Here's my '63 Superior. I'm the original owner.
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c298/koskid/BSC03729.jpg

Sweet jebus that's a beautiful color. Is it original or a repaint?

I saw a purple one with a full chrome fork a while ago. I didn't know if it was a replacement fork or original.

Mmmmmmm, I love the chrome rear stays on anything, but they look so GOOD on a Schwinn!

70's Superiors are neat, but Need not apply here.

What's the matter, don't like how drop bars look on them either? :wtf: :D

nah, i just don't wanna see any wannabe paramounts.

Sweet jebus that's a beautiful color. Is it original or a repaint?

The paint and decals are original. The only modification are the rims and tires. I re-laced the wheels for sew-ups shortly after I got it. Those were the first wheels I built almost 50 years ago. The '60's Superiors came with an aluminum spoke protector the same size as the 28 tooth cog in the back. I also removed that when I re-built the rear wheel. Other than that the only stuff that was changed was brake pads, cables, bartape, hoods, etc. Saddle is original. I ran a Suntour RD for a while, but put the Huret back on.

Here's my '63 Superior. I'm the original owner.
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c298/koskid/BSC03729.jpg

Sweet mother is that ever beautiful.

The paint and decals are original. The only modification are the rims and tires. I re-laced the wheels for sew-ups shortly after I got it. Those were the first wheels I built almost 50 years ago. The '60's Superiors came with an aluminum spoke protector the same size as the 28 tooth cog in the back. I also removed that when I re-built the rear wheel. Other than that the only stuff that was changed was brake pads, cables, bartape, hoods, etc. Saddle is original. I ran a Suntour RD for a while, but put the Huret back on.

Is that really just, like, an Alvit on that amazing bike?

I'd settle for a '60s Superior, but I'd trade my '66 Paramount straight up for a pre 1960 Superior. I don't know why, I just would.

I'd settle for a '60s Superior, but I'd trade my '66 Paramount straight up for a pre 1960 Superior. I don't know why, I just would.

I loooove lugs. Don't get me wrong.

But those fat, voluptuous fillets with the mouthwatering schwinn paint colors somehow fill me with an unwholesome desire to spend my wife's paycheck.

Is that really just, like, an Alvit on that amazing bike?

It's called a "Huret Deluxe Allvit" rear derailleur in the 1962 Parts & Accessories catalog.

It's called a "Huret Deluxe Allvit" rear derailleur in the 1962 Parts & Accessories catalog.

Were these pre-Suntour? At least in the U.S.?

It's called a "Huret Deluxe Allvit" rear derailleur in the 1962 Parts & Accessories catalog.

Not in listed in Disraeli Gears. Just marketing fluff?

Not in listed in Disraeli Gears. Just marketing fluff?
I had a new deluxe allvit,it had more chrome and the chrome seemed to be of a higher quality.Mine was missing a small part and it still sold for around $160.00 on ebay.

Were these pre-Suntour? At least in the U.S.?

I believe so, Bob. According to several sources, Suntour invented the slant parallelogram RD in 1964, and I believe that's when Schwinn and other U.S. bike manufacturers took notice. Before 1964, U.S. manufacturers were buying mostly Simplex, Campagnolo, and Huret.

Um. Do I see tubular tires on a bike with a one-piece crank? That's a first for me. But yes, it is beautiful. I didn't know about these. And that derailleur is special.

They used a Huret long cage RD and a five cog freewheel.

Stan,
The r.der. on mine is not a long cage. It's just the standard Allvit. The long cage is not needed as the "granny" ring has 40 teeth(40/47/52).

Here is one of my '62 in Radiant Gold. Not the same as Coppertone if you look at them side by side. Note full chrome fork which is correct for '62. The '63 model like member dck's bike had the chromed "socks" and they seem to be much more rare for some reason. Bar & stem on this bike are not original but everything else pretty much is. Forgive the chain sag but I store my bikes in the small/small combo to relieve tension on the r.der. and forgot to move out of that when I shot the photo.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q205/amliee/My%20Bikes/DSCN0033.jpg

Here is another '62 model in Terra Cotta(same color as his '63)that I bought from member dck. Regretfully it is the 24" frame, a bit too big for me although I can ride them ok, and is still hanging as a frameset awaiting reconstuction with more correct parts. This is dck's photo of the bike from when I bought it from him.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q205/amliee/My%20Bikes/62-Superior-033008-1.jpg

I also have a '62 frameset(22") in Violet that will by next project. I plan to use a bottom bracket converter and replace the godawful heavy steel one piece triple crank with TA Pro 5 vis triple rings mounted to Stronglight 49 arms. Rings will be 47/52 with either a 28t or 32t granny(they are what I have on hand). I will graft the long cage from a later Allvit onto the earlier model to achieve the needed chain wrap capacity. Haven't checked yet to see if the original Huret 600 f.der. will handle the smaller granny ring.

Here's my '63 Superior. I'm the original owner.
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c298/koskid/BSC03729.jpg

Very nice ! It looks just like my 76 Superior except mine came factory with a 3-piece crank.


Johnnybee.

Stan,
The r.der. on mine is not a long cage. It's just the standard Allvit. The long cage is not needed as the "granny" ring has 40 teeth(40/47/52).
You're right, Eric. Mea Culpa. :o

Beautiful, thanks for the 62's!

Sierra, if you've got too many just let me know :lol:

I also have a '63 frameset in full chrome. It's the 24", so again, a bit big for me.

Not sure what I'm going to do with it. I've considered having it painted the Schwinn Radiant Blue of the period.
A '63 Superior in blue is my "Holy Grail" bike. They must be rare as hen's teeth though as I've never even seen a photo of one.
According to the catalogs the bike was available in Sky Blue, which I like a lot, but I actually prefer the slightly darker Radiant Blue.

I might be willing to trade the 24" chromed frame set for a '63 22" Blue frame set in nice condition. I've all but given up hope of finding one though. Been looking for 12 years now and as I said, haven't seen a photo of one yet.

They must be rare as hen's teeth though as I've never even seen a photo of one.
Oh, yes you have! :)

Here is yet another color for the 62 Superior. I rode this since new and it has been stored since 77.260994

Thats a great looking bike

Here is yet another color for the 62 Superior. I rode this since new and it has been stored since 77.

Gorgeous! That's a heckuva first post.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Animated%20GIFs/BLING.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e41/skydog653/1963%20Schwinn%20Superior/IMG_2011.jpg

Here's my fairly rare 1963. Almost done!

Here is yet another color for the 62 Superior. I rode this since new and it has been stored since 77.260994
That's beautiful! Looks to be mostly original too, I see you added turkey wings!

I am late to the party as usual. I have three 62-63 Superiors. Unfortunately, I have never been able to post pictures to this site but here is a link to a picture of one of the 62's that has a damaged frame but still looks great. The other 62 is identical and undamaged and I have a 63 in I think harvest gold. All of them are 24" and I ride the 63 from time to time.
http://oldtenspeedgallery.com/owner-submitted/timothy-j-s-1962-schwinn-superior/#.UIXPmW9JOAg

Looks little different from my '78. What's the big difference - aside from the componentry - between the '60s and '70 fillet brazed Superiors?

j

As you say all of the componentry is completely different, however the frames are essentially the same. The main differences are in the downtube shifter mounts; the '62-'63 has brazed on downtube shifter bosses, while the '76-'78 has a brazed on stop tab to support a clamp-on shifter mount instead. The forks are also different, especially in the crown area. Finally the '76-'78 was also available in a larger 26" frame.