talleymonster

I've been dying for a road bike for a while now. I have a 1974 Scwhinn Suburban project bike in my garage. I am wondering if it can be converted into a road bike of sorts? Swap in some drop bars? Would the geometry work? It may be a dumb question, but it never hurts to ask...

Would it be sacrilege for me to even consider doing this to this bike? It's not in bad shape, and everything is original....

amckimmey

Quick way, just flip the bars. Not really the best bike to be a road bike, but just flipping the bars to be drops will give you more downward aggressive fell.

don't forget to flip the brakes and grips, maybe take the generator off, lot of weight, the fenders can stay.

It would give you the real vintage road bike look.

shubonker

Should probably work, i would strip most of the stuff off and replace em. STI SHIFTERS!!!!!!

anthegreat1

I commute on a Suburban. n The bars were flipped when I got it but I picked up some Bullhorn handle bars for it. I also replaced the stock pedals with clips and straps because they are horrible. The seat sucks too.

(BB)

If you do you will have a relaxed and very heavy 5 speed road bike.
You can swap out rims drop the fenders to lighten the load, but the ashtabula cranks, make it tough to upgrade the drive train.
They are great town bikes/grocery getters. I have a 71' that gets regular use.
Personally I would clean it up, ride it like you got it and keep looking for a more suitable road bike project.
Oh, and +1 on the saddle being a bummer.

anthegreat1

you can upgrade the cranks. Harris Cyclery has the BB adapter you need.

sonatageek

A lot of work and expense to achieve an about 30 pound road bike. I wonder if the geometry of the suburban was any different than the Varsity or Continental, which were (really heavy) road bikes?

envane

The most important thing is to lose the dork disc on the rear wheel so other roadies don't make fun of you.

bigbenaugust 

yeah, that thing looks like a Marie Callender's pie plate... or a super-rare 11-42 tooth Shimano cassette.

walterk46

It wouldn't be sacrilege. Schwinn offered several of its models in "tourist" and "sport" versions. The "sport" versions had drop bars. I had a 5-speed Suburban in the "sport" version. It was an odd mix, with drop bars, stem shifters, and a chainguard.

I put a lot of miles on the old girl, in several different iterations. At one point, I built it up with a modern wheelset, an 8-speed cassette in the back, and a bar-end shifter as a winter bike. I liked it so much I rode it all the next summer, too. But after a while, I got tired of the extra weight and the flexy-frame. Its back in the basement now.

huhenio

m520 that thing and roll ...

bab2000

I think the disc provides character to the older vintage bikes.

And since this is about Commuters, why would roadies care about such a heavy frame bike. The disc is there for equipment protection, removing only exposes you to a possible issue that will liekly occur at the worst possible time.

The Suburban is heavier, even heavier than the Continental and Varsity. Have never notice frame flex. It should ride like being on rails, yet gear range is limited for hills with only the single front gear.

The stem should accept drop bars, but I do not think worth the effort to add different brake levers.

Flipping bars would be my choice as well. Did so many years ago to my trusty Huffy, made ride up the big hill from ball practice easier and also, easier to straddle bat across the handle bar as well. Did not not understand the whole geometry thing then, but it did improve the styling as well, to a 11 year old at least.

anthegreat1

I'm am upgrading mine even though most consider it a waste. In truth the only thing that won't transfer to another frame is the $20 BB adapter. So when it's all said and done and I find a better frame only $20 is invested into the frame.

I just upgraded the wheelset and am actually converting it into a fixed gear. I have mine below 30lbs now. I know it's still heavy that just means when I can afford a lighter more modern bike I'll be fast as hell.

ItoDoeblin

Dude - we're going to be creepy vintage 70's bike twins. I have a 70s huffy sana that is my project bike - basically the same bike, but w/o the generator and dork disk. Waiting for the drop bars and suicide kit to come in the mail, and then it'll be ready to roll

cg1985

It's a perfect fram to convert to a fixie :-)

pathdoc

I just look for an inexpensive road bike. The relaxed geometry and weight makes this less than ideal frame for a road bike.

talleymonster

What?