Schwinn World
 

I've been checking CList for vintage, used bikes, for a few reasons.
I like old road bikes, I want to learn to work on bikes, and I would like to have one as a commuter.
I've seen a number of old (80's, 70's) Schwinns. Each time I find a new model, i do a bit of research. I've seen quite a bit about the '80's Schwinn World Sports etc.
Today, there are two different Schwinn World's listed.
I checked the bicycle catalog site and as it turns out, the Schwinn World was quite different from the Schwinn World Sport or other models. The Schwinn World was usually the entry or lowest level bike (high tensile vs chromo 430).
My question - Is the Schwinn World worth the $ time and effort?
One is a 1985 (Black) all original well maintained, nice looking,
listed at $150. The other (Red), I don't know the year appears to be in very nice condition and is listed at $140.
Any tips, or helpful hints or information would be greatly appreciated.

They would need to have aluminum rims, alloy seatpost, alloy stem, alloy bars, and have been fully refurbished for me to consider that a good price. And by fully refurbished, I mean all components clean plus wheels spinning true plus all bearings serviced.
That is a lot for a lower end bike that hasn't been fully serviced and updated.

good feedback, thank-you.

Schwinn Worlds are good value bikes. Even early models had lugged frames, cotterless cranks, & chrome steel wheels. Sometime in the 80's they came equipped with alloy wheels & better components. The reason they're unappreciated is due to the numbers produced. Kind of like Toyota Camry. A good value but pretty ho-hum to collectors. I've owned & ridden several. They're very nice bikes. Easy to repair & maintain. And, one of the most durable bikes ever made.

Even Schwinn's last "World" that I found from 1986 still came with a steel seatpost, steel bars, and a steel nutted rear hub. At $140-150 they are overpriced and better bikes can be found with full aluminum components and partial or full chromoly frames.

"One of the most durable bikes ever made" is a meaningless statement since millions of other lugged hi-ten bikes were made in a similar fashion. There is nothing special about the durability of the World model in particular.

Schwinn catalogs, 1981 - 1990 (306 of 456)
Schwinn catalogs, 1981 - 1990 (312 of 456)

As you discovered, there is considerable difference between the "World" and the "World Sport." The World was one of Schwinn's cheapest bikes, similar to the Caliente. Often they did not even bother to include the specs of the World on the catalog spec sheets. No one should really be paying more than $50-75 for these.

The World Sport, OTOH, was a better bike and the later 1980s models are worthwhile. They came with partial 4130 chromoly frames, forged rear dropouts with integral derailer hanger, mostly/full alloy components and wheels. $100-125 is a fair price range for these. Maybe $150 if it's in really great shape and you're in a hot market.

Thank-you all for the great information.
I have a very basic question (still learning) how can I tell, if the bars, seatpost and stem are alloy? What is the alternative? I know that CF is an alternative on newer bikes but what am i avoiding on these old bikes. Aluminum?

Yes, instead of steel they will be aluminum alloy. Aluminum alloy is often shortened to "alloy" in the bike world although this is not a good use of the technical term (steel is also an alloy.)

I can usually tell based on appearance, as steel components from this time period are almost always chromed while aluminum components usually have a dull silver color instead. If you want to be sure you can use a magnet. Steel is magnetic, of course. Aluminum is not.

You want aluminum components, not steel. By the 1980s steel rims/stems/bars/seatposts/cranksets/hubs/etc only came on the cheaper/heavier/cruder bikes.

A magnet will tell you if something is aluminum or steel. it wont stick to aluminum.
The bike would have come with steel everything. If its all original- its a terrible deal as itll be heavy, dull, and expensive to overhaul and/or update.
If updating has been done thru the years and those steel parts have been replaced with al alloy, its still an expensive option but it is at least closer to worth the asking price.

To specifically answer your question- look for aluminum rims, seatpost, stem, and handlebars. That will make a lighter bike and will typically mean its a bike from higher up in a brand's line.
Alloy chainrings(the things up front connected to the crank and pedals) are also a general sign of a higher end bike since they usually came on mid-range and up bikes.

This explains a lot. I wasn't associating aluminum with alloy and I know that steel is an alloy. Thanks!

This helps, I def want to avoid the weight of all steel. Thanks.