Cha1nsaw

Picked up a ladies Schwinn World in my wife's size, SN/GD905182, Badge Number 0899. I assume that the bike was built on the 89th day of 1989 but that is all I can tell about it. The only badges, decals or stickers on the bike are WORLD with stripes and "Wet rims increase braking distance", no tube badges, no "Made in Japan", nothing. Can anyone enlighten me about this bike?

Chainsaw

ramzilla

You probably got a pre-1980 Schwinn World - made in Taiwan. with chrome steel wheels. A very nice bike. But, the chrome steel rims were a little slippery when it rained, So, Schwinn put a little warning sticker on there to keep the lawyers away. Don't worry. It's all good. It's a very good value bike. Solid & dependable. Much lighter than the horrible Schwinn Suburbans they made in USA during the same time period. My advice: put some upright handlebars on it & enjoy the ride.

seedsbelize 

If the head badge has no red on it, it is a late 70s Giant built bike, from Taiwan. And a nice rider.

Scooper

If it's a '79, the upper tube will have a curve in it at the bottom where it joins the seat tube.

If it's an '89, the upper tube will be straight all the way from the head tube to the seat tube.

Check the driveside rear dropout and see if there's anything stamped on it it. If there is a "G" followed by four digits, it's the month and year the frame was manufactured by Giant, e.g. G0379 would be March, 1979.

ramzilla

I'm going by the label description "wet rims increase braking distance" Schwinn put those on all the Giant made bikes with chrome steel wheels. By 89 Schwinn World was equipped with alloy wheels & the little warning stickers disappeared. They also started to sprout lawyer lips & stuff by the late 80's.

Cha1nsaw

Well ... The head badge has red so it isn't 79, the rims are Alesa 416 alloy (Made in Belgium!) and the top tube is straight leading me to believe it's an 89. Nothing is stamped on the rear drive dropout so no info there though it does have an unreadable paper sticker. It does have lawyer clips on the front axle though. It has a steel handlebar, steel seat post, Shimano hubs and SIS derailer ... 6 speeds.

The old girl was never ridden enough to wear the sprues off the tires or to polish the braking surface on the rims. The spokes are rusty as are most of the other steel parts. I'll re-spoke the wheels and Ospho will fix the rest. The handlebars and seat post will be replaced with alloy. That ought to save a couple of pounds. I'll enjoy tinkering with it for the next week or so.

Chainsaw

Cha1nsaw

Tore everything off and the frame is remarkably light. Much lighter than her old Free Spirit. Alloy rims, new alloy Nito bars, new alloy seatpost, wash-n-wax, new tires, tubes and cables, she'll be good to go!!!
I like it!!
Thanks for the info guys.
Chainsaw

towndock

Don't be dissin' Chicago steel. I love my Suburban tank.