*Lugged* Schwinn High Sierra?
 

A bike like this has made itself available to me, and I wanted to know why it was lugged. Most of what I could find on the High Sierra didn't show compact lugged frames. It seems newer than the traditional-frame High Sierras, but I thought lugged bikes became fewer as time went on.

Any thoughts on this bike, or how it's different from the regular diamond-frame High Sierra?

-Nick

Like this, but...

http://gallery.mtbr.com/data/mtbr/10...um/high_04.jpg

The stem on mine is different. I thought the shifters seemed cheap, but it also has Biopace, which I thought was a little nicer. It seems all over the place.

With those roller-cam brakes and the high flange hubs I would estimate the bike in the picture as around a 1987 model, give or take a year.

I can't say specifics, but there were a few lugged mountain bikes made. A fellow work commuter has a lugged Diamondback.

+1 Early MTBs were often lugged. My 1992 Trek 950 has a sweet lugged frame, while my 1994 Trek 950 does not. Lower end MTBs were less likely to be lugged, and almost anything newer than the early 1990s is not lugged.

I am pretty partial to lugged steel: 2003 Colnago Master Light (lugged steel), 1995 Giant Kronos (lugged steel), 1992 Trek 950 (lugged steel), 1987 Miyata 215ST (lugged steel), 1986 Basso (lugged steel), 1984 Lotus Classique (lugged steel), 1984 Centurion Lemans 12 mixte (lugged steel).

The only non-lugged bikes in the keeper fleet are my wife's Trek 950 and her Giant hybrid.

I think I see a pattern....

Can you tell us the component group? Your bike is probably '86-'89. Mid-High end Schwinn MTB. Later models came with triple butted frames at some point they were TIG welded and higher in the hierarchy. For that era (based on your crank) they came with the 500M group (Shimano Exage 500LX), which is a great group. (The shifters do not look 500M to me, though, more like 300M). Any frame stickers?

I don't know yet. Give me a day or two, or three, and I'll get back to you. The bike has yet to be dropped off at my house.

I'll post lots of pictures then, I promise!

-Nick

(I'm really excited for this one, I've been wanting an old hardtail MTB for a while.)

custermustache has a High Sierra with roller cam brakes on it (or at least did last year and I don't recall hearing that he'd sold it). Don't recall his being a compact style frame though. perhaps the smaller framed versions had a more compact geometry to them?

I think it is just the frame size that makes it seem like a compact geometry. I bet the chain stays are touring bike long.

+1

++1 . I remember building up some MTB's in the early '80's from imported lugged framesets. Very similar to that High Sierra, although the Roller Cam brakes tag the HS as being from 1983-1986-ish. Compared to more modern MTB's, it'll have a very high BB, a very long top tube, and very laid-back front end geometry.

Most High Sierras I have seen from the smoked chrome era are fillet brazed at the head tube, and tig welded everywhere else. I would say that
is an 87. My 88 lemon had black rims and hubs, roller cams, fillet brazed head tube, and Deore components. I don't think those are the original
bars, as the stem would be a black/faded to rootbeer color anodized alloy type, with two bolts clamping the bars.,,,,BD

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/DSCN4025.jpg

On a second look, that is the stem! The most faded one I have ever seen though. The only lugs they had in my experience, are the seatpost clamps
and fork crown.,,,,BD

Here's another, with the SECOND most faded stem I've ever seen, hehe.,,,,BD

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=561929

I am in error!
 

It was a '91 Schwinn High Plains.

Lugged.

Kinda cool, but I know nothing about it. I'll take some "finished" pictures sometime Tuesday, but for now, here it is, halfway through being built up.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...1/DSCN3348.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...1/DSCN3347.jpg

I also have an early 90s trek 930, that i love and is lugged.

I have a '91 Schwinn CrossCut, and it has a lugged Chrome Moly frame. Good commuter.

I have a lugged Schwinn Frontier that rides very nicely.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...nnFrontier.jpg

I can't tell you anything about the High-Sierra, but I bought my bike to flip but ended up making the mistake of riding it in the parking lot and fell in love with it. It's too small, but it's my go-anywhere bike. I don't do any technical Mtn bike riding, but I would have no hesitation taking this bike out on trails & two-tracks. Here's another pic to give you an example of what punishment I inflict on this bike just by being 6' 4" & 285-ish lbs in this pic from a year ago.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...innandTrek.jpg

Umm not to be picky or anything, but? Both of you guys helmets are being worn incorrectly?,,,,BD

I do have a huge Panasonic(25" I think?) that might would fit you pretty well?:D

Hey! That's mine!!

The bike was lent to my sister in law for a year and it spent a winter on the back porch- uncovered. It faded to that bronze look, which actually compliments the "black chrome" finish quite nicely.

In 1987 the high end MTBs in the Schwinn line were the Paramountain- fully lugged and built in Greenville, the Cimmaron, Fillet Brazed in the front, lugged in the back- built in Greenville, and the High Sierra, Fillet brazed in the front, TIG welded in the back and built in Taiwan by Giant.

Sorry, they do fade, and I have seen them from black all the way to rough silver, like the one in the OP. Just
a fact of life. They do like nicer once they fade a little, I agree %100 there.,,,,BD

With my sick velo warped mind, I have envisioned...A black chrome High Sierra, with gold anodized
components. I think it would look very nice

I have a "spare" 19" High Sierra in black chrome with rollercam brakes if you want to start putting those anodized parts on it. High Sierras are fillet brazed, and are very nice bikes.
My curent ride is a 21" frame with bullmoose bars on it, and man it is sweet, even though I am using it as my baby hauling tractor. I need to post new photos.

Man you're really giving me ideas now, hehe. I was thinking of some of that gold anodized look spray paint, on a set of chrome bullmoose bars. That would
be beyond sweet!,,,,BD

I think that real anodizing can be had very cheaply if you do a large lot.
I'm just up here in Dallas, if you are really interested.

Anodizing is pretty easy DIY, you could do it.

I was just reading up - it sounds like you could do it at home. Plus, I think red anodized would look pretty sharp too.