I was driving down the road today on my way to a party when I notice a road bike parked next to a mailbox and a pile of closet doors, sporting a FREE! sign. I pull over immediately and run across the street hoping to find something worthwhile. I can tell it's a Schwinn because that's the only part of the decals that are instantly readable. I pop off the front wheel, wedge it in the backseat of my car, and go on my way.

Now, this is where it gets interesting. I just brought it into the garage and decided to figure out what it is. This is a TALL bike, black, non-original seat, non-original tires. Unfortunately, the model name decals on both sides are absolutely unreadable. All you can piece together is SCHWINN in the 80's font. The head badge (oval shape, not round) is gone. The serial number is FU*****, which seems to date it at 1983. There's also a sticker from the bike shop it was purchased at, which celebrates the 35th anniversary of the store in 1983. The only other decals that are readable are Continental emblazoned on both sides of the top of the frame. Were Continentals even made in 1983? I can't seem to find evidence that they were, and it seems like all the serial number databases end at 1982. I'm just assuming FU means 1983.

What do I have here? I'll post some pictures when it's not the middle of the night and I can get it out in the sunlight. The only problems seem to be some dust and cobwebs from sitting in a garage, the missing head badge, some rust, and a back wheel that's definitely out of round. At the very least, if the frame isn't too tall, it'll be good for parting out.

Pics?

FU is June, 1983. I'd be interested in seeing pictures. Schwinn shipped the equipment used to make electroforged frames to Murray Ohio's plant near Nashville, TN, in late 1982/early 1983, and contracted with Murray to build Varsities in Tennessee at lower cost than in Chicago where the Schwinn plant had become unionized. The problem was that customers wouldn't pay a $20 - $25 premium (even with reduced production costs in Tennessee) over lugged bikes Schwinn was importing from Giant on Taiwan for a heavy electroforged Varsity, so the deal with Murray to build Varsities in Nashville was short lived. I don't recall seeing any electroforged adult "lightweight" bikes (Varsities, Continentals) in Schwinn catalogs after 1982.

OK, took some photos yesterday. Anyone know what I have here?

Full set:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/2962889...7621750834421/



It seems to me the fork doesn't match. Also, I've got this hanging out on the frame, taped with hockey stick and duct tape, which obviously served some purpose at some point.



Anybody have any clue?

Well, that is a strange one. The "Continental" decal on the top tube is in the same font used for the model names on the bikes in the 1984 catalog. Now I'm really curious (and confused).

The chrome fork is original. It had star stickers on it at the begining of its life, one long one on each side. the thing hanging off the frame is a pump holder. there should be 2 of them and the pump goes inbetween, or 1 and a peg, or 1 and the pump had the fancy holder end on it. Yours looks just like one I have.

It looks like a Continental whose fork has been replaced.

What do you think you'd like to do with it?

Thanks everyone. I didn't think Schwinn made Continentals in 1983, and the decals seemed to say something other than Continental (aside from the top tube). It's clear this bike was pretty heavily ridden and there were a lot of things replaced over the years (the cables are more contemporary Shimanos).

noglider, not really sure. I'm thinking I might flip it after I work it over a little bit. It's waaaaaay too tall for me. the top of the frame comes up around my waist. Even with the seat adjusted, I doubt I could even get on it. And I would have to replace the back wheel anyway, it's bent so far out of whack it won't move. It's a shame, because it seems like a great bike.