I'm not posting this in the appraisal forum because frankly I know what this bike is worth. Probably less than $100. Maybe a tiny bit over if it's in fantastic working condition.

It's a relatively low quality schwinn from the 80s ish.

But here's the thing.

This bike is cherry. Other than a dirty chain and freewheel, the bike is immaculate. Paint has nary a scratch or chip on it. DS chainstay has MAYBE one or two dings in the chainstay protector.

Now, I already have a larger old univega rigid MTB that I use for a winter commuter when it's super icy outside (puts me lower to the ground and with wider tires than my 700c commuter) but I was considering setting this bike up as a cruiser of sorts. (Of course keep all of the original parts, and I wouldn't dare modify the frame at all. I like to preserve bikes (while setting them up to be useful for me), not ruin them.)

Basically I've been looking for a frame to put a recently built, brand new SA, 2 speed kick shift 26" wheel on and this one came into the shop yesterday. It's just so... pretty! (I'm a sucker for clean, simple, pastel paint jobs. I'm also trying to build a literal "rainbow" of bikes in my garage (for fun of course!). So far I have ROY and this bike would make B. (Out of ROYGBIV: colors of the rainbow))

As a mountain bike, it's too large for me. I couldn't get the saddle out of the way enough to make it useful for me off road, but as a commuter/cruiser? It's a perfect size. It measures the same as my road bikes, gives me about a fistful of seatpost when adjusted correctly.


Anyway, enough rambling. I, once again, fail with my serial number year identification. The sites I look for for old serial numbers only go up to 1983 ish and I think this one is very slightly newer. So, can anyone quickly identify the year of this bike? I'll go ahead and look through some schwinn catalogs in the meantime. And yes, I couldn't quite remember the convention for the 4 digit date code stamped into the headtube badge, and I forgot to take a picture of it.

Serial number reads: CZ846087

From that I think it's an '88 or '84, but I was pretty sure schwinn used a different logo in the late 80s (the really cool looking striped logo.) (EDIT: Looks like it's probably an '88? The '85 catalog doesn't mention the Woodlands (even in the ATB section) but the '90 catalog does.) It just seems a little "new" to have a 5 speed on it...

Oh and pics!

The "chip" on the top tube is just some grease.

Post a close-up pic of the 4-digit number stamped in the headbadge. Also post a pic of any country of origin sticker/decal, which would most likely be found on the seat tube.

The reason I ask about the mfr. sticker is that I believe this is one of the first Schwinn bikes produced in Hungary by Csepel Zrt. (note the "CZ" in the serial number) for Schwinn: https://articles.chicagotribune.com/1...-venture-bikes

According to the book "No Hands" 20,000 Woodlands models were recalled because "the studs holding the front cantilever brakes had a tendency to fall off." The book stated that the problem cost Schwinn at least $1 million.

It's an '88.

Good catch!

The CZ-prefix of the S/N may just be a coincidence. Prior to 1989, the first alpha character in the Csepel format indicated the frame style, with C designating a city bicycle with a 24" or 26" wheel. The 2nd alpha character was the year indicator, with Z designating 1986. So, this should be a 1986 model or a 1987 model manufactured in late 1986. Given the similarity to the 1988 model, I'm leaning towards the latter. Are their extant 1987 Schwinn ATB/City catalogues to confirm?

The first year for the Woodlands was 1988 and Schwinn production with Csepel didn't begin until that year according to the "No Hands" book as well as the following article: Talking Deals - Schwinn Is Building Bikes The U.S. Way in Hungary - NYTimes.com

I thought I remembered an '87 Woodlands, but I guess not. There is no Woodlands in the '86 ATB catalog.

The 4 digit code on the headbadge is 3638. (Yes, I looked VERY closely, the last digit is an 8, not a 6.) Great, it was made on the break between christmas and new years. That's a "friday" bike if I ever saw one. (Made the day before new years eve, last day of work for many big corporations.) I didn't find any "made in" stickers (typically on the seat tube somewhere, although I looked over the whole bike), must have been removed. It's interesting that the bike, called a "Woodlands" is a city bike. Who the heck would call a city bike "Woodlands?" Regardless, it rides nicely, so I can't really complain. The welds GENERALLY look ok. The BB weld is VERY messy. (Giant splotchy blob.)



And since I've VERY hesitant to disagree with T-Mar, I took some more pictures. Here's a link to all three full sized pictures. I know it's hard to see where the "8" would connect, but there are other differences. The 6 has a left side that is STRAIGHT. The 8 is rounded the whole way.

Also some more pictures are in that link as well. The front derailleur is an FD-AX50, which velobase says was only used to '86. I'm confused.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6...TFwY1dmeDR5NDg

I don't think the term "city bike" was used by Schwinn in 1988. Schwinn called them "All-Terrain Bicycles."



Same for '87.

Velobase isn't always correct. The AX-50 is the derailleur listed in the '88 Schwinn catalog specs [MENTION=38510]Scooper[/MENTION] posted for the Woodlands.

EDIT: The '89 catalog shows the same paint/decals as '88 and the specs are virtually the same except the rear derailleur changed to a Shimano 552 SIS with indexed shifting, while it still retained the same AX-50 front. My guess is that based on the mfg. date your bike is actually an '89 model. What rear derailleur does it have?

RD is a RD-R552 and the bike has indexed shifting.

That's good detective work, Metacortex.

Agreed, the head badge stamping and rear derailleurs point towards a 1989 model. Still, Csepel totally changed their S/N format in 1989 and a late 1988 manufacture should have had a CB-prefix. Based on the S/N, it is a 1986 frame. It's a bit perplexing, as I wouldn't expect old stock or rework to be hanging around for at least two years and a mis-stamp would also typically only be one year off.

Schwinn may have considered this an ATB, but it clearly has more in common with a city bicycle. With a hi-tensile frame, only a double chainring, upright handlebars and unsealed, entry level components, this bicycle is clearly not suited for much more than occasional, light duty, off-road riding. It is suited primarily for street use and this is clearly the target market segment with phrases like "city management " and "urban jungle". I can appreciate Schwinn wanting to appeal to a wider market by marketing it for road and trail but it is clearly more appropriate for the pavement.

Interesting. I have a frankenbike! Cool history nonetheless!

I found out today that it has the original (or schwinn branded replacement) schwinn tires on it. They're really dry rotted, but still thought it was funny.

Hello corrado33,

I would suggest that the serial number of your Schwinn is GZ846087. (Not starting with a "C", not Csepel.)

This is a Giant of Taiwan serial number. The stamping and location are Giant.

The first digit "8" is the year of manufacture. The second letter "Z" indicates the end of the year.

The badge date 3638 confirms this.

As this Woodlands was made so late in the year 1988, it maybe a 1989 model.

I have seen one other 1989 Woodlands. Serial number in the exact same place, GN9xxxxx. Same colour and decals.

Great info. I had put my serial number into some Schwinn serial number sites and it came up as a 1950s model. I bought it new in April 1988. Looks to be a late 1987 model, which makes sense because it was the floor model. I also remember that 1987 photo that came with the bike manual. Also didn't know about the number on the headbadge. Even after looking for it, it was difficult to find, but I found it.