kolo

I purchased my 10 speed lemon yellow varsity in the summer of 1973. I ordered it in June and had to wait til august to get yellow (only choices where yellow, forest green, or coral as I remember), and 3 months was an eternity at age 12. I rode this bike constantly until I was in my 20's. I still have the bike but it is in rough shape from being stored for so long. I'm going to restore it for sentimental reasons but is it a valued idea or not?
I also have a schwinn world sport bike that I won around 1994. I actually won an excercise bike on a radio contest but when I got to the dealer, asked for a bike instead. He was happy to give me this bike instead and I remember that most of the bikes in the shop had a new style handle bar configuration and this one had "old style" handle bars so we were both happy. From this I'm fairly sure it was an older bike and I'm not entirely sure of the year I won it anyway.
I recently started riding again and realized the world sport has 7 gears (shimano) which I would call a 14 speed?
I'm curious about history of these bike models, relative values, and any other information. I looked on the Schwinn website and couldn't even decide what type of bikes they would be considered. I have a 13 yr old son who is asking me questions and I don't want to be a total idiot about them. Any help out there?

mstrpete

Help will be along soon, I'm sure. I think that Varsity will clean up pretty well and be a good ride again. Welcome to the club!

ETA: Photos and serial numbers are very helpful in ID'ing old bikes, too.

Ablaut

Aha... I have a Campus Green '73 Varsity. I wasn't alive back then, but I certainly do appreciate it now! Some people cringe when hearing Varsity, others have a thing for them. Personally, I love mine for how reliable it's been... with its bomb-proof frame it even survived a pretty nasty accident.

I bought mine for $85. In Chicago Varsities often go for $100-150. Supposedly in other markets they're priced a lot lower. If restoring it is for sentimental reasons, I say go for it. Varsity parts aren't scarce and you could still put a lot of miles into that bike.

I also have an '82 World Sport, and I know nothing about it, but I can say I picked it up for $25.

Ablaut

A few links that may interest you:

"Inside the Varsity"
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/varsity.html

"The Schwinn Varsity (1960-1986)"
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/varsity-shaddox.html

And finally, a very helpful website by a very helpful man, concerning all things bicycle:
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/

I tried locating some catalog pages for your Vars, but failed. I know, however, that there are some Schwinn experts in this forum who will be along soon enough!

DavidW56

And, as someone here will be along soon to say, "it didn't happen unless you have pictures".

pastorbobnlnh 

kolo,

Welcome to C&V. Here's a catalog page for your '73 Varsity:
https://www.geocities.com/sldbconsume.../73ccpg15.html

I have a '73 Kool Lemon Varsity in the basement that I'm working on. It will go to a kid at the church. I found it at the dump and it looked like this when I hauled it home.


Here's a catalog page to a 1990 World Sport, which was a 14 speed, and looks to be a nice bike. Significantly different from your old Varsity. And yes, pictures please!
https://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1...ad_Cat_30.html

Esteban32696

A nice Varsity around here can bring +- $150, also. But, you have to find the right buyer looking for that ride. If you can do a lot of the work, yourself, it would be a good project. Rust on the rims may be your biggest issue, but these can clean up suprisingly well. Tires, tubes, liners, cables, grease, elbow grease, & wax can do wonders. ENJOY!

roccobike

I'll pass on the Varsity because others have way more to share than I do. However, you really got my attention when you mentioned a 94 World Sport. That has to be one of the last World Sports before Schwinn was taken over after filing for bankruptcy or it was one of the first from the new owner of Schwinn after the take-over. Either way, IMHO, the World Sport is sort of the Rodney Dangerfield of the Schwinn nation. It doesn't get the respect it deserves. To be sure it's an entry level bike, but somewhere around 1985, Schwinn changed the steel on the World Sport frame to Chromoly and from that point on, several of us began to appreciate the quality of this unloved bike. I had a 1986 that I foolishly sold before I learned how to adjust a bike to make it fit better. A 1994 World Sport would be an index shifting bike, have a chromoly frame, possibly double butted and would be a desirable bike for commuting or just entry level road biking. I'd really like to see pics of your World Sport.
OK, I'll turn this back to the Varsity folks.
Edit: In ready to ride condition, with good tires, chain etc, need no repairs, a nice, index shifting World Sport can go as high as $150 around here, $100 is a quick sale. Needing minor repairs it will still bring $50-$80.

wrk101

Nice ready to ride rust free Varsity around here is about $100, maybe $125. Fixing up an old bike yourself for sentimental reasons is a great idea. I did it myself with my 1975 U08 that I bought new in college. Doing all the work yourself, and buying any needed parts right (donor bike, internet parts houses, etc), you can do a lot of work on a bike for $40 or less. But take the bike to your local dealer, and you can quickly spend $200 or more. Its all about the labor charge. The dealer's service department should be paid for their time. Doing the work yourself, you will probably log many hours into the project.

I enjoy working on bikes, so I don't mind absorbing my labor. Go to the park tool site and they will show you how to do just about every job on your bike. And start picking up some good bike specific tools.


As far as World Sport, my 1984 World Sport has a cromoly frame. I think 1984 was the first year for the cromoly frame. It also has alloy rims and a three piece alloy crankset.

mstrpete

See? I told you the brigade would be right along!
Now, about those pictures...

Ablaut

Wrk101 mentioned the park tool website... excellent source of info. On top of that, check out bicycletutor.com, they have video tutorials that may be more helpful if you're very visual-oriented.

kolo

Thanks everyone for the info. Sorry so late reposting, we are currently touring the country in an RV and my connectivity is spotty at best. Any way of distinguishing the year on the World Sport to be sure?
I will take and post a picture of the world sport as soon as I can. I had wondered where it fit in the Schwinn picture. Honestly all I remembered from my childhood was the stingray, replaced by the Varsity for me and the fact that the varsity was heavier and less expensive than the continental. Which was probably good for me because I didn't have the money for a continental and I was VERY hard on my bike as a kid and I seriously doubt if the continental could have stood up to it whereas "old Yeller" did just fine.

Pompiere

The World Sport should have a four digit number stamped lightly in the Schwinn badge on the head tube. The first three digits are the day of the year, the last digit is the last number of the year. You have to figure out the decade, which should be obvious from other info you have or style of components on the bike. For example, 1234 could be the one hundred twentythird day of 1994 or 1984, but if the bike has 7 gears, it is most likely 1994.

Another way do check the date, if the bike has original components, is the Vintage Trek website. They have date codes for most of the component makers. Shimano uses a two letter month/year code that is usually stamped on the back side. Dates later in the year mean the bike will be for the following model year.

ohjonnybegoode

Here is my 1990 World Sport that I bought new from my local Schwinn dealer. As previous posters have stated...CroMo frame, 14 speed...Shimano SIS index shifting. It may be unloved by some, but not by me...I love this bike and will never get rid of it...