Schwinns!
 

I find myself inundated in Schwinns. None particularly high end, nearly all of them more than 25 years old. All enjoyable for different reasons. Didn't set out to be this way, but I guess I've become a Schwinn guy...

And, I'd love to see YOURS too. Post 'em up. I didn't see such a thread already, apologies if I missed it.

'73 Varsity Single Speed conversion
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...92d7659a_b.jpg

'88 Woodlands
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1e34cec1_b.jpg

'88 Predator Aerostar - about exactly the same spec as my first ever bike
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...06086a82_b.jpg

My son's '86 Predator Aerostar, with my '88 Woodlands behind it. Shame he's already outgrowing it, but such is life.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8235d2b7_b.jpg

Son's December 1980 dated 24" wheeled Sprint. The 24" wheel sprint didn't show up in the catalog until '82, guess they made too many 24" wheel Varsity frames in '80...
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...54fc3037_b.jpg

'01 Mesa GSX that I converted to more of a townie. I bought this bike new. It's the LAST of the actual Schwinns before they got sold to Pacific and the only Mesa to get a full Deore group. Since the Woodlands has arrived, I'm thinking of putting more aggressive tires back on it and altering my positioning on it. Will still keep it rigid though, as good suspension is way more expensive than the bike is worth, although I did not discard the original Manitou Magnum fork. Maybe I'll look into a rebuild kit instead...
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...705f968d_b.jpg

There's a Continental I saw on Marketplace that I want pretty badly but I really can't... I'm out of space, would need to sell something else.

That is quite the variety of Schwinns!

I've wanted to build a Varsity like that with a two-speed hub, for my hilly terrain. I think I'll go with green, maybe start with the Collegiate frame I have in the 24" size.

That sounds like a great build.

I would like to try my Varsity as "stock", considering that it's always been a single since I had it. I think that's why I want a Continental so much. It's the nicest of the Varsity type framed bikes.

And I think I convinced myself to go back to the stock fork on my Mesa. I'll run some Chromoly BMX cruiser bars on it instead of the tall uncut steerer. The frame is a touch too small for me and that will solve my issues in a different way. But, I've had it this long, I probably put more miles on it than any of my other bikes, and worst case my son can hop on it when he's a bit older. Not about to let it go.

Quite the nice collection of Schwinn bikes!

Mine are all road models with the exception of one lone late '80s High Sierra. It can be embarrassing to list them all, here in chronological order:
'39 New World, '63 Continental, '71 Paramount P13 & Super Sport, '72 Ladies Super Sport, '75 Sports Tourer & Voyageur II, '83 Paramount, '89 974.

I've also owned in the past; a '60s Super Sport, Collegiate, and a '70s Varsity and another Super Sport.

I'll only bore you with one picture. The '75 Voyageur II with the faux Gator leather treatment. It's running a '50s Sturmey Archer AM rear 3-speed hub.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6da006b36c.jpg
The "Gatorcet" saddle turned out to be a real booty hatchet, so I went back to a Brooks Pro.

I have too, later in life after my decision to not purchase a Schwinn Varsity in my 1st bike store purchase in 1982. I was given good advice by the salesman at Winter Park Schwinn in Wilmington NC that a Fuji Supreme was a much better buy for around the same money so I went with the Fuji. I was on a limited budget, so the nicer Schwinn models were not an option, still I always liked Schwinn because it was an historic American brand that stood for quality and I liked the Campus Green color of the Varsity.

So after becoming empty nesters and getting back into cycling in 2014, I went with a Pacific Schwinn hybrid from a big box store (Target). I knew this was not a real Schwinn but it still looked like what I needed at the time, and wasn't a bad looking bike
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...be7d7c62ab.jpg
I put a lot of miles on it, but it didn't take long after joining Bike Forums that I realized I was not too old or stiff to get back on a road bike, so I got my Fuji Supreme back out and cleaned it up. Joining a friendly local bike club led to wanting more road bikes and especially more steel bikes with horizontal top tubes thanks to the C&V community here. I was lucky enough to come accross a '75 Continental in great shape, and I wanted to keep it as it came off the showroom floor other than the seat. It wasn't Campus Green but the copper colored Chestnut was my 2nd favorite historic Schwinn color.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c372a304e7.jpg

My other Schwinn is an '89 Le Tour that came with some upgrages from earlier models like the True Temper Chromoly frame
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bc8b558517.jpg

Klein-patent 564


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...29d0f6a23b.jpg

594 next in the queue for refinishing
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f6b29d4328.jpg

'74 Superior moved on to a rider who fit it.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9fd9e5d0fe.jpg

'89 Tempo looking for a good home

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f5de6f0779.jpg

'73 Super Sport, tweaked a bit.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...22e8f85521.jpg

There's also a '65 Super Sport out in the barn I don't have images of on this device.

Top

My last Schwinn project was this '89 LeTour acquired for $15 from FB Marketplace and eventually sent on for $60. Before -

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...66eb29fed.jpeg

- and after -

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0838ea724.jpeg

I will note that I may acquire a '92 World Sport in the next few daysfor $45 or so because ... well, just because.

I found this '88 Le Tour at a local flea market a few years ago.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7e0ba0d99a.jpg
1988 Schwinn Le Tour

I bought this Sierra in 1986, after reading a review in Bicycling magazine.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...aa2d462ad6.jpg
1986 Schwinn Sierra

Out in the barn, I also have a 24 inch girls Caliente and his and hers Collegiates.

I've owned many old Schwinn bike, and still have about a half-dozen, dating from the 1930s to the 1960s.

There is no shame liking welded frame Schwinn bikes. Price and ride quality are only imperfectly related. Some of the best riding bikes I've owner are welded Schwinns. One of the worst riding was a higher-end 1970s fillet brazed Schwinn. I've also owned some wonderful 1940s era fillet brazed Schwinns from differing price ranges. Of the Schwinn bikes I've kept of those many bikes, all but one are welded or at least partially welded frames.

Here's a sampling of a few.

1959 Traveler (still have it, great rider):

https://blogger.googleusercontent.co...0/SAM_0453.JPG

1964 Traveler (still have it, another good rider):

https://blogger.googleusercontent.co...630_165529.jpg

1947 New World (still have it, skip tooth gears):

https://blogger.googleusercontent.co...614_180939.jpg

1941 New World (sold it to another collector):

https://blogger.googleusercontent.co...621_180913.jpg

1950 Superior (still have it, fun bike):

https://blogger.googleusercontent.co...405_175558.jpg


1947 Continental (sold):

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Srg4uN3Zv...916_164437.jpg


1954 Traveler (sold, cool color)

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8eQLyBQvo...802_193019.jpg


1942 New World (sold to a WWII collector)

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FoimWKnBg...0/IMG_3098.JPG

My first bicycle was an early 1950s Schwinn American with paperboy handlebars, 26x1-3/4" tires, and a 2-speed Bendix coaster brake hub, with a gearshift that resembled a handbrake lever.

The newest bicycle in my fleet, at 35 years old, is my 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10, which is my main transportation ride, also great for patriotic holiday parades.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...58c8c51c88.jpg


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9f3ae0eebd.jpg

Man... I think I need a 1944 or older one now too. In nearby Reading, Pennsylvania every year is a World War II re-enactment. I'd definitely consider bringing one out to that.

I am keeping an eye out for one of these to show up locally. It's the polar opposite to my '88 Woodlands, being the halo model for the mountain bikes that year and my bike is the cheapie.

I hope you can find a KOM Project, either the red-white-and-blue KOM10 complete bike like mine or the monochromatic KOM20 frameset. I have heard that total production in Greenville MS in 1988 and 1989 was only about 2000 units. (I suspect the 1986-87 Paramountain is very similar, with Tange Prestige II tubing, etc.) I bought mine around 1996 from a San Diego firefighter, who told me Schwinn had replaced the frame under warranty after the first one broke. (He is a big guy, very strong and athletic. Wimpy little I have broken two road bike frames, a 1971 Nishiki Competition and a 1973 Peugeot UO-8.) My fork is probably from a very early production run, hence the RollerCam up front instead of the more conventional cantilever brakes I have seen on every other KOM10.

The issue with the pre-war and war era ones is they take some parts that are difficult to find (the special wire fender braces, certain bottom bracket parts, glass reflectors, etc.). If you go pre-war or war era, it's best to buy a complete bike, unless you're willing to chase harder to find parts (or use later parts as stand-ins). Post-war Schwinn parts are generally much more plentiful.

Beautiful bikes. I’ve recanted from my one piece crank hate and have grown to appreciate their simplicity.

Since you asked....
 

Like so many of my generation I stated out liking Schwinn. I had a 24" wheel Typhoon to get around when I was a pre-teen. Then the bike boom and everyone wanted European bikes including, maybe even especially me. I ended up working in a Schwinn dealership in my early 20's and sold as many non-Schwinns as Schwinns. BMX was hot at the time and Mountain Biking was just beginning on the east coast.

Between my more mature perspective on bicycles, my experience working at a Schwinn dealer and the sometimes under-appreciation (affordability) of some of these Schwinn bike, I have a collection. All have been made in the US.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5fe205036a.png
This Heavy Duti was built when I was working at the Schwinn dealership and had access to Schwinn's catalog's. The decals were available from Schwinn at the time. The fork is a King Sting and the rear rack is from Schwinn. It also has Schwinn Westwind tires that are cracking.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5b58745c36.png
1972 Super Sport

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7bfbb26c0f.jpg
1980 Continental. This was repainted in the color of my choice. Campus Green.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...290812cc7a.jpg
LeTour Luxe. The Lux had shift levers on the stem instead of the down tube, so it had braze-ons for the shift cables on the down tube. Bonus for me since I wanted bar-end shifters.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0034d36bf5.jpg
This may sound a bit incredible , however, I had a Serotta Club special back in the early '80's. It was a great bike built by a great framebuilder. This Traveler feels a lot like the Serotta Club Special. They do share double butted tubing, with the Serotta having an Italian tubeset with a dove decal and the Schwinn having True Temper. I had/have regrets selling the Serotta, but for the ride and feel this Traveler is a good substitute, it is just lacking the panashe that a vintage Serotta has.

I have a Varsity and an American waiting to be built but I would need a bigger garage or get rid of some bikes for that to happen.

That SS is Super cool.

I recently brought home the 1964 (I think) Traveler. I haven’t ridden it yet, still freshening it up but it’s my 5th(?) Schwinn. Accidental fan…


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7de7086ab.jpeg

Various others have included ‘72 Super Sport, Circuit and some I can’t remember…

I have a neglected 90 voyageur sitting up in the attic as my next project.

1986 Voyageur I picked up a couple of weeks ago. Close to half the stainless steel spokes on the rear are rusted badly. After I sort that out I plan to change the handlebars to wider ones, the stem to a taller one, seatpost for a longer one, maybe bar end shifters and a different saddle. 1986 but I can't quite understand why the rear is 122mm.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ff1eefbc64.jpg

I finished getting my '84 Schwinn World up and riding. I thought about going gumwalls but didn't. Went with Bontragers instead.



https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...259f7e694c.jpg

1981 Superior

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...5a143331_k.jpg

I’ve just got this chrome Paramount P-13 from 1972 and it’s my only remaining Schwinn. It’s a forever bike for me though. Previously I owned a 1980 chrome Voyageur 11.8 (which I really loved) and a 1978 Varsity in the chestnut color (which I really didn’t).
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b4cad6c61.jpeg

Y’all are facilitating my addiction…
(JK… my wife facilitates my collection. She’s prettier than me, too.)

My first bike was a Sting-Ray, bought at the local Schwinn shop. That led to a 3-speed Collegiate, a 5-speed Collegiate, a Le Tour III… then I went to work at that same Schwinn shop. That led to a fillet-brazed Superior and a career in the bicycle business. (I eventually got out and got a real job.)
Two careers later, I now have:
A 5-speed Suburban awaiting restoration.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ohpv/albums/72177720297311905

A 3-speed Super Sport townie.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ohpv/albums/72157670249022375

An all-XTR Superior restomod.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ohpv/albums/72157642470085394

And a bunch of non-Schwinns…

All my Schwinns
 

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c355f1f155.jpg
My first Schwinn, a 1978 Superior that I bought new in 1979, and still have it.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bd8e274e29.jpg
I also still have this 1980 Super Letour that my grandfather won in a raffle. He was too old to ride so he gave it to me. Completely original including tires and bar tape.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a514d13ee9.jpg
My 76 Super LeTour 12.2 that I've owned for at least 25 years. One of my favorite bikes.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3dc8945040.jpg
My 78 chrome Super LeTour 12.2. Built up with Shimano Arabesque components.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...af767ec154.jpg
This 80 chrome Voyageur 11.8 was bought from the original owner who said he rode it less than 50 miles, then put it in the basement and never rode it again. The large chain ring and three of the cogs on the cassette had never been used. The bike is now part of @jjhabbs collection.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4f3547d5fc.jpg
Another favorite, a 77 Volare.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...df4446f784.jpg
I inherited this 67 Varsity Touring from my uncle. Near mint condition. I thought it deserved to be part of @jjhabbs collection, so that's where it is now.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...335461c728.jpg
This 88 Tempo started with just a frame, but I built it up with Dura Ace and Campagnolo components. Another favorite.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b32e9fcd9e.jpg
This 72 Super Sport is still a work in progress. I've decided to let this go a couple times now, but then I take it for another ride and change my mind. It's such a pleasure to ride.