new Schwinn "Willy" 7-Speed (looks a classic "Collegiate") for $199? Any good?
02-10-11, 08:18 AM
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new Schwinn "Willy" 7-Speed (looks a classic "Collegiate") for $199? Any good?
https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...0_10000_202636
02-10-11, 10:07 AM
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It piques my curiosity, but the Nashbar copy is short on details. I presume any new bike will have index shifting. The wheels/tires must be 700C, but they are said to be wide. Okay, what's the tire size? The chainring is 38T, so I guess the 7-speed is geared closer to a roadbike than MTB?
The chainguard looks a bit goofy in the picture, but paint might fix that. It might be the perfect campus bike, given that it's not a prized vintage/classic bike.
My bottom line: My Raleigh Superbe cost me half that price, has most of those amenities and is without doubt of better quality. If I had a kid going to college, I'd buy 'em the Willy and selfishly keep the Superbe for myself.
The chainguard looks a bit goofy in the picture, but paint might fix that. It might be the perfect campus bike, given that it's not a prized vintage/classic bike.
My bottom line: My Raleigh Superbe cost me half that price, has most of those amenities and is without doubt of better quality. If I had a kid going to college, I'd buy 'em the Willy and selfishly keep the Superbe for myself.
02-10-11, 10:11 AM
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They've had that frame built up in a variety of drivetrains (coaster, 3spd, derailleur) for a couple of years now at Performance. For someone looking for "the look" of a vintage ride, it's probably not bad. If I remember right, it's a hi-ten frame/fork so the weight is going to be closer to that of the original than a modern commuter.
02-10-11, 10:55 AM
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You gonna eat that?
It shows as a $299 msrp at SchinnBikes.com for a single speed, no rack or fenders. The 7-speed version includes the rack and fenders and has a $399 msrp. Looks like Nashbar must have them overstocked. It is at SchinnBikes.com which means its a "Schwinn Select" as opposed to the X-mart Schwinns of lower quality.
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02-10-11, 01:24 PM
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My wife and I ride the cart paths and quiet streets around a nearby golf course.
I can see paying $199.99 to do that. Sometimes we go a whopping 10 miles.
I can see paying $199.99 to do that. Sometimes we go a whopping 10 miles.
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02-10-11, 03:41 PM
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I always thought they looked nice... lets be honest; the originals, although indestructible, were not exactly high end either. I seem to remember getting a bit of heckling for liking this bike a while back.... why all the love now?
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02-10-11, 04:09 PM
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A full rear fender would be a great feature on that bike. Nice looking bike, it reminds me of my Raleigh Sprite 5-speed. She was a joy to ride, but being a little too big for me, I had to let her go.
