Mrb14k

Came across this Schwinn aluminum 564 paramount design. I am wondering if it is worth the $250.00 price tag I'll provide a link to the craigslist ad https://tallahassee.craigslist.org/bik/5017445800.html

cb400bill

Moved from C&V to Appraisals with a three day re-direct.

Steve Whitlatch 

It is worth $250 if the wheels are straight and it is in good working condition. I would still try to talk him down though.

RoadGuy

The 564 was one of the last USA built Schwinns. Gary Klein advised Schwinn on building the 3XX, 4XX, 5XX, 6XX, 7XX, and 9XX series welded aluminum bikes and a close look at the frames show the Klein influence.

The frame is light and stiff. The fork is steel, and relatively light for a steel fork, but the lawyer lugs on the fork may drive you crazy if you need to remove the front wheel frequently (as I do) to carry the bike on your car. You could grind the lawyer lugs off (or replace the fork with an aluminum one like I did).

The frame takes standard parts in contrast to earlier USA made Schwinn bikes and wears modern parts well if you decide to upgrade. My Schwinn 754 came with Suntour GPX which was a fine group on it's own, but I chose to upgrade to Shimano RX100 and stay with downtube shifters. If you look at bikes in the late Schwinn Thread, you can see other Series bikes that have been upgraded to more speeds and STI brifters.

The only thing you have to be aware of is the quill type seatpost. If it cracks, they are difficult to replace. As far as I know there is only one company currently still making quill type seatposts, and the guy on eBay who is selling them is asking $150 each.

Go see the bike and check to see if it fits. If the bike is in good shape, then it's worth the $250, but as it's being advertised on CL, I'd try offering a lower price to see what happens. If you have to, I'd probably pay the $250.

wrk101

Worth it. +100 Make sure quill seat post works flawlessly. I had to buy one of these bikes just to get a replacement seat post! Obviously, I did not pay $249 for the donor bike.

zukahn1 

If the frame and quill seat post are good well worth the asking price. I really like these some off if not the prettiest aluminium frames I have seen I think they under valued and will likely increase in value. This is the model I would look for if I was in the market for a vintage aluminium bike. Also as others have said they take modern parts upgrades nicely modern STI's or a nicer carbon fork would not be out of place on one of these.

Mrb14k

Thank you all for the quick and fantastic responses. I have one more questions being that the bike is a 21.5" frame will the bike be too small for me since I am 5'11? I know this is a 54cm, and I need a 56cm-60cm. But could I not just raise the seat? Or is the frame in general too small for me?
Thanks again!

zukahn1 

I would say the frame is going to be to small for you. Also just raising the seat post may not be a good idea since the bike has a quill post which can't be changed and would limit you to about a fist full of post give or a take a little.

RoadGuy

Don't go by any sizing information in CL or eBay ads. The Seller is very often wrong about the stated size. The Schwinns came in 21" and 23" sizes. No 21.5" or 22". Judging from the photo, the bike for sale is a 21" frame. What is your bike inseam (close to but not the same as pant inseam? I'm 5'10" with short legs (about 29.5"), and my 21" Schwinn 754 fits me well well with about 4" of seatpost showing.

The only way to determine whether the bike will fit is to go and try it on.