What's wrong with a Varsity? The frame is 7.6 pounds. About 2.5 pounds more than an average Bike store aluminum bike. Thats a 2 full water bottles disadvantage compared to a modern $600 equivalent. A whole Schwinn Varsity NEW in 1970, is still 90% the weight of a Big Box store bike today. They ride nice, track well, and have a lively feel compared to the harsh buzz and stifness of aluminium.

The thing that kills them is the component weight. In that regard, yeah, they got a bad rap, but apples to apples both a Varsity with modern components and a modern bike at an equivalent (inflation adjusted) price point you'd be hard pressed to find a more comfortable ride.

Everything is a race bike now...even the Walmart ones for 6 year olds have flame stickers and checkerd flags.

What's wrong with a recreational touring bike engineered for comfort?
This kind of bike is the bread and butter of every frame build shop I've ever walked in to.

I would've thought that if anywhere would think frame modification would be cool, this would be the place.