bikemig 

That is a great piece not just on the history of the Varsity but also the role that bike and Schwinn played in the rebirth of cycling in the US. It is worth a read but it didn't convince me to buy one.

The last paragraph has a great line:

"I think ultimately the Varsity is THE great 1960's American road bike that happened to get produced until the mid-1980s."

Whit51 

Historic bike, but you may find it frustrating to source parts that fit, and, when you’re done, you have a heavy entry level bike intended for novice recreational riders 50years ago. But I certainly understand building something up just because it’s appealing. Maybe watch for an older Japanese bike?

tkamd73 

I get what you’re sayin, I’ve yet to buy anything used that I didn’t at least have to replace the tires, and saddle, which for me would be at least 200 bucks right there.
However, its obvious you’re also responding from the point of view of someone who just doesn’t like Varsitys or probably any EF Schwinn. Reading the OPs post I don’t think he is one of those, along with other responders, and myself. Looking at the pic the OP posted, it looks like a pretty nice example, it won’t need all the stuff you mentioned, plus the OP stated he’d be happy just looking at it.
We have all thrown way more money at old bikes then they could ever be worth, or at least I have, so what, it’s a hobby, it’s fun! Personally, I think trying to break even, or come out financially ahead, would ruin any hobby for me.
You have a point though, if you don’t care for EF Schwinns, and or what they represent, and are worried about putting any money into one, he should probably pass.
Tim

SirMike1983 

I love that Varsity article on Sheldon's site, and the electroforge page with the little illustrations is also an excellent read there. The only addition I would suggest is a note that there was also a "Varsity" known also more fully as the "World Varsity" produced by Schwinn starting around 1952, and running for several years in the 1950s. The first "Varsity" was actually a 3 speed "lightweight" (light compared to a balloon tire cruiser) type bike akin to the Raleigh Sports, before the 10-speed "Varsity" that everyone is familiar with. Schwinn had been trying to popularize adult biking again in the US since the late 1930s (the article is correct that Schwinn persisted, yet never seemed to have a lot of success with this). I've always wanted a pristine, black, blue or dark green 3-speed Varsity from that 1950s series of bikes.





1952 Schwinn World Varsity - Dave's Vintage Bicycles

Jeff Neese

Actually, my first "10 speed" was a Schwinn Continental, and several of my friends had a Varsity. I have fond memories of both. We went everywhere on those things.

Road Fan

Nothing wrong with making it work right and see how you like it. As a kid I can’t say I ever saw a friend’s bike which shifted well, but I actually would like to ride one.

ollo_ollo

Afraid I agree with most. The Varsity negatives outweigh its positives. Suggest you raise your sights just a a bit. Look for a "Schwinn Super Sport" of same period. Not made in great numbers, but it has a Brooks leather saddle, fillet brazed, Chrome Moly frame, painted in the same colors as the Varsity and Continental, very similar decals, overall a true look alike of the Varsity. Many Super Sports are for sale at very optimistic prices. They are still heavy but very light compared to a Varsity, plus their superficial Varsity resemblance means you may find at a yard sale one that's dirty, with flat tires, adried out leather saddle and $40 price tag.(offer $25) You don't want the one that's already renovated and polished up, you want "that old Schwinn in the corner". Good hunting

Schweinhund

I say build your Varsity. They ride nice and even better if you swap out the 27" steel wheels for aluminum. swap out the steel crank for an aluminum 3 piece number.
All the parts you collect for this will fit a supersport should you happen across one.

Smaug1

It doesn't appear to need any parts, but we'll see! I'm not interested in an older Jap bike; there's no nostalgia there for me, so not worth it. I do hope you're wrong in case I need to source parts.

I don't even remember how I happened on this one. I think it was when I was looking for a road bike in my other thread, and I searched for "road bike" near me in FB Marketplace. This came up and I was like this → I wound up buying a Trek Domane AL3 Disc, but couldn't get this Varsity out of my mind. If I came across a nice good-looking Super Sport at a low price, I would consider it, but not if I had to pay more. (since I don't need it to begin with!) Thanks for the tip though. I can tell it's one of those things I'll remember for the rest of my life.

Hopefully, there's not much building needed. Getting a set of wheels and crank is going to really jack up the price, and it won't look right either. I hope the wheels aren't bent.

This might also be a good bike to ride with my wife. We went out for a ride tonight and it was excruciating. She was going like 5 mph. A 40 lb. Varsity with 40 psi in the tires would make it more bearable than the relatively light & efficient Trek Verve 3!

SkinGriz

Maybe parts might be a little hard to find if you’re keeping it period correct.

But if not, I think the only parts that are really unique on it are the shifters/cables, fork and stem diameters, and seat post diameter.

Looking at the shifters on my wifes suburban, I think they’ll need cleaning but I don’t see them wearing out.

I think people file the end of a normal brake cable to fit the shifters.

There are millions of one piece cranks around to cannibalize. Is the width different than a beach cruiser or kids BMX bike? Idk.

SkinGriz

You should ride something more like a single speed MTB or klunker. It will slow you down and at the same time you can hop up and down curbs and mess around while you wait for her.

ralphs

That looks exactly like my Varsity that was stolen in the early 80s. I would be on that in a heartbeat, just to keep looking at it.

TiHabanero

Having owned and ridden extensively both the Varsity and the Super Sport, I can say the Varsity is not all that different from the Super Sport in terms of ride quality. Bought the Varsity new back in 1971 and used it for commuting and short weekend trips. The Super Sport I bought new in 1975 and again used it for commuting and week long tours. Both good bikes requiring little maintenance to keep running well. The SS was about 8 pounds lighter than the Varsity, but it was not noticeable when riding or going up hill.
Today, should the opportunity present itself to get either one of these models, I'd do it just for the fun of it, but the price needs to be such that I could resell for the same money.

joesch

Agree.
Plenty of lighter better riding classics including Schwinn's out there and hunting is learning.
I recently found a $40 Schwinn X-tra Lite Road Bike 1020 lugged tubing that only needed cleaing up and lube.

Kabuki12

Seeing that bike brings back some memories. I bought a used root beer brown Varsity when I was about 16 and rode the heck out of it until I was 20 or so. Indestructible is a great description as I was curb jumping in those days and that bike just kept on going. Some time after I hit my twenties I got into more serious cycling and bought a lighter bike to ride. A 50 mile ride up north killed the joy of having such a heavy bike.

Schweinhund

Well crap, if that's what the problem is, get her a pedal assisted bike.
she can enjoy your passion without being very passionate about it

Sedgemop 

Sounds like you want to buy the Varsity. It's $40. Got the original matching bar tape even. Buy it, already.

tcs

Schwinn Varsity, the movie

Smaug1

It was in about the shape I was expecting, so I bought it. Either the front wheel or tire has a flat spot. Brake pads are hard as rock. Cables are a bit rusted, but nothing seems to be beyond hope. I might be able to just use the cables as-is, if I just put a drop of oil into the sleeves every day.

Getting a seat that fits might be more of a challenge than I thought; I didn't know the seat posts were a non-standard diameter.

It's an EH prefix in the S/N, so it was built in May of 1972.


Frame's the right size for me.

In all it's glory

Maybe I can sell this to a collector and use the proceeds to buy a comfortable seat

Head badge looks good!

Smaug1

These fonts just knock me out!

...and the metallic lime green?!

Heavy crankset

daverup 

Nice pics! Much better than the average 72 Varsity!
The spoke on the rear wheel looks like the only thing visibly wrong.

SurferRosa

It looks like you're easily able to put your left foot down flat-footed while still seated, which is not a popular height to ride a road bike. Cruiser, sure.

Smaug1

You're 100% right there. I didn't adjust the seat because I don't intend on keeping it anyhow. Once I get a decent seat and get the issues sorted out, I'll raise it up.

I will say that a lot of kids in the 80s rode them like this though. The geometry on these bikes is a bit more relaxed than modern road bikes. They're not to be taken too seriously, as "road bikes" in my opinion.

Kabuki12

Cool! Have a good time with it, make it yours. The seat you choose will be a great start. It is in really nice shape for a 50 year old bike , I mean , really.

Nokton

Nice bike! It looks like it's in fabulous condition for its age and it's a lovely color.

There's absolutely no reason you can't enjoy riding and working on a bike like that. If you add a Pletscher rack or a saddle bag and some way to carry a water bottle it would be a fantastic recreational rider and a practical errand runner.

Congratulations!