Originally Posted by
Road Fan
High-ten was cheaper. It was mainly featured on low-priced bikes. CrMo is today seen as cheep, but back in the '60's until lately it was a more premium product. Also being stronger it allowed thinner tubing walls which in turn allowed a better-riding frame, which was a usually marketed as a feature of more costly frames that were built up with better parts.
It doesn't make too much sense to evaluate high-ten against the best that is or was out there. But from a product design point of view (utility, durability, performance AND cost) it could make a superior product at a price point...
One really noticeable benefit of the thicker and straight-gage main tubes is, for me, a very noticeable improvement in stering precision and steering response.
This from a 145lb rider.
I picked up an unused-but-dirty-and-corroded 1988 Schwinn Traveler yesterday (for Goodwill's third-time discounted final price of $71).
The straight-gage, albeit CrMo-maintube frame on this 26lb bike has exceptional steering precision and response such that I returned to goodwill today buy a vacuum cleaner and was able to haul it a few miles home over hilly terrain, and in traffic, but with total confidence in the bike's composure riding it one handed. Angles are quite steep on this bike, yet it felt extremely confidence-inspiring even with the 8cm stem that itself surely takes something away from the stability.
No "before" picture unfortunately, but here after 7hrs of work:
