My '76 Schwin Superior
 

I know this isn't the greatest bike in the world but it is in exceptional condition. I inherited it from a great aunt that bought it new. For some reason it has the wrong pedals on it but I have a set of the correct ones on the way. Something else I would like to ask of the Schwinn experts here. Is the seat on this Superior correct and if not what does the correct one look like and how difficult are they to find?

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...e/P1010109.jpg

Nice looking bike. The saddle appears to not be the stock one.

http://www.geocities.com/sldbconsume.../76ccpg14b.jpg

Mmmm, fillet brazed. Great bike thanks for sharing. This bike deserves a Brooks saddle just like the ones Schwinn used on the seventies Super Sports & Paramounts. A new B-17 would look right at home on it.

That lower reflector on the seat stay looks like it could come off.

Whataya mean, "not the greatest bike in the world".
You might have to defend yourself on that one.
I suppose it would be better if it had a 23" frame.

I'm pretty sure it's has 22" frame. I've ordered a new Brooks B17 Champion saddle. I'm not sure which saddle it had on it original but I'm sure the Brooks will do. I have a very nice set of Atom 440 9/16 pedals but I don't have a wrench to install them with. Does it take a special wrench?

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...cle/108a_1.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...cle/16878a.jpg

I think there is enough width on the wrench flats that you can use a standard 15mm open end wrench to tighten the pedals on.

Here is a '77 model which I just recently received.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/DSCN0023.jpg

I think it's pretty much original.
The saddle is some no name thing. I agree that the bike deserves a Brooks.
I tried to mount an older B15 that I have, but the rail spacing was too wide on the Brooks. Was this something that changed at some point? I'll have to look into it as I would really like to put one on the bike.

Regards the pedals - be aware that the left-hand pedal is a left-hand thread. In other words, it tightens counter-clockwise and loosens clockwise.

Looks more like a 20" frame. Nice machine too.

-Kurt

Just squeeze the saddle rails together a bit and mount it on the seat post. Pretty much always need to do that with a Brooks. Roger

Yep, I re-measured it and it's a 22"er. That is if I'm measuring from the correct points. If I remember right, isn't the measurement from the center of the crank to the top of the seat post?

Another picture with the new Brooks saddle and a set of correct pedals. Now I need the correct crankset.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...e/P9280002.jpg

Brooks saddle looks good on there.

Good bike thanks for sharing.
But,BMX Race Bikes over $5000 are still my 1st choice

Looking good so far! Who says that they aren't the greatest?!

You can't go wrong w/ a hand-fillet brazed Chicago Schwinn.

If you were to walk into a shop and request a fillet brazed build today, you'd be looking at 4 figures.... That's if you could even find somebody who is competent enough to do that type of a quality build.

The fillet brazed Schwinn's will continue to become more and more sought after and more rare. Hang on to that bad boy!

These are terrific bikes. They were hand-brazed, sometimes by the same handful of people who brazed the Paramount models. Schwinn built them up with reliable, tough, durable components, so they were five pounds heavier than many of the imported bikes in a similar price range. But, BECAUSE of that, may of the Schwinns are still on the road...many of the imported bikes lasted only a summer or two before frustrated owners put them into a far corner of the basement.

Thats funny, "you know this aint the greatest bike in the world."


Looks pretty damn good to me. I'd park it right alongside my other bikes where they stay warm and fuzzy in my living room. :D

I would check that stem for the minimum insertion line. Yours looks like it's awfully far up!
If that puppy breaks at the wrong time it can put you in your grave.

Bike is looking good!

Welcome to C&V and thanks for posting. It looks as if your Aunt barely touched the bike. You are most fortunate to have received it in such a condition.

If it were me, I'd not worry about the correct crank as much as achieving the type of gearing you might need for the riding conditions in your area. So if you need extra hill climbing gears, now would be the time to add a triple. If not, go for a nice Campy, Sugino, or Dura Ace crankset from the late '70s era. Has your Aunt told you how she ended up with that crank on that bike? It looks very simular to the original one that came on my '79 Schwinn Traveler.

Best of luck with your Superior.

When I inherited it from my aunts estate, it didn't have a crank at all. Nobody has any idea as to where the original crank went. The current crank in the picture is one that a nephew gave me until I find one that I need.