I was fortunate enough to snag an '82 Schwinn Superior on Craigslist last year. Getting serious about overhauling it. Nice bike, low end Campy group, gorgeous Nervex lugs.

Needs work, progressing slowly. Only original once.. thinking about a color change though..

With those lugs it doubtless deserves a nice paint job, but have you seen it in the sun washed and waxed? I'd wait until you give it a nice shine before deciding to change it up.

I can't wait to see it all done, regardless of color
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Give that grey paint a good once over with some polishing compound to bring out the sparkle and you just might change your mind.
Brent

Great job polishing and cleaning the brakes Danny S . Nice pictures too. These are the type that we tend to like here at Bike Forums. I'm kind of with you on the color. I know what you are saying about the lugs almost disappearing. Campus Green, is a really nice color. I don't know if Schwinn offered the Superior in that color or some other green. I also think it is your bike, do as you please with it.

Repainting a frame is a big project even on a bicycle. As Piff and others point out, it might be worth it to put some effort in to polishing the frame and see how it looks.

certainly not an iconic color scheme.. you have my permission for what its worth.

Full frame pics pls!

Beautiful bike and nice job so far.

Before you commit to repainting, consider painting only those awsome lugs a contrasting yet complimetary color. Red, Maroon, Navy Blue, Battleship Gray, Black, etc. While you're at it, add a 8 inch band of the same color on the seat-tube and apply a Schwinn decal to the band from ebay.

Permission denied.

Permission granted.

81 to 83 Superiors are tuff to come by, mabey a 1000 of them. Platimun Grey ones are harder ot find, than orange ones. I'd think twice about painting it if paint is good. If I know a bike I am looking for has been repainted I pay less

​​​​​​Like this idea. Vintage feeling, distinctive but still retaining some originality.

May consider powder coating as well?

All 1000% true. ..

I'm always of the opinion that MY comments about YOUR bikes should be taken as seriously as YOUR comments about MY bikes. And in that regard, I do what pleases me.

Bikes interest me more than owners (except for a few friends and regular acquaintances).
A shiny new paint job on any vintage bike tells me more about the owner than the bike - usually. (Exceptions for frames with paint/chrome that is thoroughly, completely trashed.)
A bike with lots of patina, touched up gently - screams of the bike's history and travels, not the owner (except when the owner bought the bike new).

It's all about the originality = except,....except,....except!

Ride On!

Still waiting for full frame pics. If you've painted a bike as nice as your Superior before and were always happy with your decision, then do it again. I did it once and the result looked great, but after a few months, while it still looked great, I wished that I'd never painted it. And the paint was really bad before. So you have my permission.

I won't paint this one.

If going powder, then at least find a powder coater with LOTS of experience with high-end vintage lightweight bikes.
In Puget Sound area, a quality blast + single color paint (not powder) with decals costs $700+ USD. Powder a fraction of that estimate.

Did you say this is a relatively hard-to-find Schwinn Superior???

I would keep it in the original metallic grey. If I were to change the color, it would be paint rather than powder coat. I have never seen powder coating that could even come close to the quality of a proper paint job. It is your bike, though!

Guess I'll rub out original finish 1st. Full frame photos later.. (yard work first)

I was thinking a spruce up along the looks of Classtime’s bike. Red or blue on the head tube +/- some lug lining. That being said, a tired metallic gray is truly underwhelming and I get your desire for a little more oomph to your project. My Heron Randonneur came to me in a very beat up metallic gray and I had it powdered in British Racing Green by Groody Bros in Kansas City. Gugie has at least one Raleigh redone at Groody and I’m sure he’ll be along once his Raleigh spidey senses start tingling about this thread.

BTW, very nice work on the brake rehab!

Bike is SO original, it still has an inspection sticker on the frame. Came outta the box that way, whoever set the bike up was in a hurry, didn't peel sticker off.

I like the motto "Better to ask for forgiveness than permission". That said, I rarely ask for either.

If you go for a color that works with the later yellow headbadge and decide to swap, let me know. I've got a burgundy metallic '82 Superior that could use it - I think it has been wearing a Paramount headbadge ever since someone repainted it from orange.




-Kurt

Funny thing. The Platinum Grey '83 Superior came w/ a red headbadge.



Gotta get this project buttoned up shortly, having a hard time not tearing into recent finds. Just picked up matching Sports Tourers from the original owners.

I'd line the lugs with a paint pen in either gold or black. They'd pop.

The frame definitely needs attention.

Since you need to do some painting - go for what you want.

My sole suggestion is - consider lug lining. It can make a huge difference in appearance.

Recently heard about a local who's doing old school hand pinstriping. This is some of his work.