bab2000

I have a 1973 (GJ8--161), 26" Cool Lemon Super Sport that I am prepping to be my newest road bike, to share duties with my 80 Continental.

The bike was received in good condition, and has cleaned up very well.

The only item I question if original or not is the rear derailleur. The unit mounted is a SUNTOUR GT, 4532 is the only number marking on the hanger bracket.

This was out of adjustment when received and it appeared was taken for a ride in that condition as the spoke protector is marked fairly deep on the outer edge where the unit over extended.

It adjusted correctly into place, yet this question has been hanging in the back of my mind.

Any insight will be appreciated.

Also, I am installing new brake and derailleur cables, black casings instead of original grey, as well as new brake pads, and of course tires.

I am considering removing the present brake handles and replace with single lever type and would appreciate any suggestions.

I have a new set of Continental Ultra Sports that was planned to be used on another project, yet am considering moving to Continental Gatorskins or another quality tire. Thoughts

I use Ultras on my 1980 Continental and they ride well, yet the Super Sport's plans will include some longer distance road rides as well as my normal MUP bike rotation shared with my other bikes.

This was received with original Brooks B15, in good shape, plan to swap with my B17 Imperial.

Also, have NOS lemon bar tape, but also considering a cork wrap, bought Cork Bar Wrap in the Black/Yellow Splash scheme. I have been riding my steel frames with gel gloves, so tape is for finish look more than comfort.

Am I doing the ride wrong deviating from original to much? The cool lemon was a great color (IMHO) and shouts Schwinn when observed.

Ideas are welcomed, as presently I am divided which approach to take on this vintage bike, so thank you.

With luck I am hoping this to be my transportation with Tom S' team at the 2009 Tour de Cure in Indy.

Thank you

pastorbobnlnh 

I found a '71 Burgundy Super Sport at the dump a year ago. It had this Suntour RD on it which shifted very well. I sold it to a guy in Ft. Wayne this summer who posts on Schwinn Forum.



Weinmann and DiaComp both made levers without the extensions. Just keep an eye on ebay or post a wanted in the sticky.

Use the bartape you believe looks the best. IMO, the yellow/black splash is distracting. A solid color would look best with Kool Lemon, all black or yellow. Any plans for your B-15? I'll trade you a set of NOS Weinmann levers!

Best of luck!

bab2000

I know where that SS landed and he (72Bluebeetle) is delighted with it. He still has that orange 26" SS frame, (- stem and bar), and I may relieve him of it for a tourist build I am planning.

The B15 would be applied to the 80 Conti, it is in very good condition, and was received broken in, with same sit bone fit as I, comfortable as is.

Thank you for the insight on the bar tape, I bought the cork splash before locating the yellow NOS from (new) friend on the other side. Black was back up choice if the right yellow could not be found.

Would cork improve hand/wrist comfort much? Could exchange yellow splash for white or black and apply to my 86 winter mint Traveler to learn myself, practical experience from others will be appreciated.

pastorbobnlnh 

As far as hand comfort goes, gel to me is uncomfortable, whether in gloves, on bar tape or under the rump on a saddle. It just doesn't work!

I like the feel of Botranger cork tape and have used it on many of my bikes (but I must confess I'm a little vain about the fancy "B" inscribed in the end plugs). For not much more, you can upgrade to elkhide covers, which I used on Sporty. Just as comfortable!

sykerocker 

I'd say no. I'm remembering all Super Sports in the first part of the 70's equipped with Schwinn Approved rear derailleurs, aka Huret All****s, er Allvits.

What you've got is a very common period upgrade, however.

FrejusFred

I looked at a Lemon Yellow Super Sport last month at a garage sale. I am not that familiar with Schwinn, but I noted this bike had a Schwinn RD, B15 saddle, and cromo tubing. The owner bought it new in 1973, and still had the owner's manual. The chrome however was very bad and peeling. I made a lowball $20 offer to get some bidding going, but he apparently thought it was worth a couple hundred dollars, and said I insulted him.

wrk101

I would suggest you try the vintage Schwinn site, there is plenty of info available there. My 1973 Supersport has a Suntour GT RD and a Schwinn Approved FD. I would guess my bike has maybe 100 miles on it or less, given the condition of the original B15 seat, the Schwinn tires, toe clip straps and cables. But I do not know that this derailleur combo was original. Everything else on my bike is original.

cudak888 

Did he force you to make an offer? I would have gladly flipped him off if that was the case.

-Kurt

Bikedued

The lever extensions are as easy to remove as changing the "dots" as Schwinn guys call them. It requires taking the levers all the way apart of course. They can be found on almost any old Schwinn lever, so as long as you can find those you're in business. You can also remove the extensions, carefully grind the extra material off, and install a set of reproduction Cane Creek hoods.

I guess I was lucky? I found my SS for ten bucks with the Brooks still attached, and a long cage Shimano Crane derailleur.(Ancestor of Dura Ace level) Shifts like a dream. I spent way more than ten bucks fixing it up.

I believe natural cork wrap feels way better than gel in my opinion, and can be ordered online from Nashbar. It used to be anyway. The weirdest part about it, is that after about 3 months or so of riding the edges of the tape gradually begins to fade away. You can still see them, but they cannot really be felt at all.,,,,BD

Here's mine all custom painted, polished, and ready to ride. An extremely comfortable bike.

Sierra

Hmmm....did you upgrade the crankset with a bottom bracket adaptor?
That Nervar crank looks like what came on some of the Sports Tourers.
Are you sure your bike is not a Sports Tourer(a step up from the Super Sport)?
I see that the rear der. uses a "claw" though, so maybe not.

Bikedued

The crank came off of an old Falcon I picked up last year. Yep, I did use a BB conversion, and a cartridge BB. The cranks are smoother than all get out, hehe. The frame also said Super Sport when I got it, which is a dead giveaway. I wish it was a Sports Tourer.,,,,BD

bab2000

Very nice version of the SS.

With the bar end shifters do you also convert to index RD and chain the rear gear set?

Bikedued

Nah, they're friction shift. No need to change anything.,,,,BD

It also got a Schwinn generator light set a few days ago. The front light is the one that looks like a miniature sealed beam
car headlight..... Wow, did I just date myself or what, lol.

sykerocker 

That Schwinn Approved FD is definitely a Huret Allvit - so I'd expect that your rear derailleur was a swapover. I'm not surprised, as we did a lot of them back in the day. The only benefit to the stock derailleur was that it was virtually armor plated against a right side fall. On a Varsity, that was a big deal, given the usual ownership.

Sierra

Nice looking bike!
What color did you paint it?
It looks quite close the the Terra Cotta color that was available on the '64 models.

bab2000

I truely appreciated all the input I receive.

For the bars I did locate NOS HuntWilde Cool Lemon bar wrap, and for comfort I first wrapped the bar with a cork wrap, and then finnished with the NOS wrap.

I removed the SunTour GT (it worked well), when I found a LeTour GT300 at a bike show, (I believe this is the same RD as Bikedued has pictured on his SS), and was familiar with it as it is the same as the RD on my 76 Superior.

Fitted Schwalbe Marathons to the rims. These ride smooth and are quiet to my dimmished hearing.

The original B15 and seat post is under wraps presently, I mounted a modern seat post with a gently used B17 that is being broke in for my 76 Superior project. (the B17 is pictured.)

I am pleased with the ride and end results of the rebuild, as I did attempt to recapture the past with the Cool Lemon of my stolen Continental a few years ago.

Finally made time to to snap some photos of the bike standing still, (it likes to pose apparently!)

Thank you for the assistance and enjoy the pictures.

Bikedued

Nice looking lemon!!! My RD is a Crane, which was on the bike when I got it from the thrift store. Honestly I think the only real difference was the name. It looks very close in all other respects.,,,,,BD





Sorry, never saw this post, so I'm a little late responding. I mixed it myself, hehe. It's a 2004
ford color, used on some Focus's and other small Ford cars. Towards the end of the mix, I added a little
more yellow instead of finishing up with the final color of the formula.,,,,BD

bab2000

Thank you.

Regarding the RD - Yes, you are correct, I had found that information here on this site - https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/Site/...erailleur.html and select the GT-300 because it was period correct for 1973, even though not fitted to the Super Sport at time of manufacture.

I learned the SunTour GT was considered an upgrade by some shops of the period, yet I preferred the look of the GT-300 hanging on the Superior project and when I saw on your SS, I just kept my eyes open for one at a swap or show, and got lucky.

Scooper

FWIW, the 1973 Specifications list the Schwinn Approved GT-200 (Huret), p/n 20 480 as the RD for the '73 Super Sport (see Parts & Accessories catalog pages below).

Coincidentally, I received an eBay '73 Super Sport (CJ809208) yesterday, and it came with a Shimano "Eagle GTO" RD that appears to have been original equipment.