Columbus Tenax Schwinn Super Sport
04-15-11, 02:56 PM
#26
aka Tom Reingold
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Yeah, the pink looks great. Most of this series of bikes is not very handsome in my opinion. That's what makes them sleepers. They are an excellent value, as they give a fantastic ride. They were the last dying breath of the old Schwinn company. Too late for them, but a nice try.
If I were in the market for a bike like this, I would grab it.
If I were in the market for a bike like this, I would grab it.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
04-15-11, 03:08 PM
#27
Keeper of the SLDB
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04-15-11, 05:07 PM
#29
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04-15-11, 05:25 PM
#31
No, your OTHER left!!
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Just to clarify my 1st post: Nothing wrong at all with Tenax Schwinns!! They are great bikes IMO and i would own one of every color combo, if they were cheap enough and near enough to obtain!! I ride my prelude on a daily basis...is it super light, rare, or desireable??? NO. is it a great bike to ride?? Yes 
Go get one!!
andy
Go get one!!
andy
04-15-11, 06:21 PM
#32
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Please see this old post by Scooper:
https://forums.roadbikereview.com/sho...1&postcount=11
Mix of SL & SP
https://forums.roadbikereview.com/sho...1&postcount=11
Mix of SL & SP
Makes me wonder if the seat tube is straight gauge 1mm. Or maybe double butted 1.0 - 0.7 - 1.0
04-15-11, 07:23 PM
#33
Senior Member
The seat post size is probably a good indicator of whether the Tenax is SP (26.6) or SL (27.2).
Last edited by southpawboston; 04-15-11 at 07:26 PM.
04-15-11, 07:24 PM
#34
Senior Member
Not sure, but my '88 Voyageur is definitely Panasonic-built. The giveaway is whether the fork and stays are Tange or Tru-temper. The Panasonic-built ones all used Tange chromoly.
Last edited by southpawboston; 04-15-11 at 07:27 PM.
04-15-11, 07:29 PM
#35
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Relabled tubing? I don't think we should just blithly say that Columbus did that. There was a time they were very cautious about supplying replacement tube decals.
I recall Tenax as being a seamed tube....Unlike the seamless SL.
And SP was not a tube. I have a Basso Gap that is an SL/SP mix...Basso did that on bikes 57cm and larger. The SP was to give taller,heavier riders a little more stiffness in their racing bikes. I also have a Schwinn Voyager SP, and that bike is all SP tibing. But SP isn't a "touring" tube.
I recall Tenax as being a seamed tube....Unlike the seamless SL.
And SP was not a tube. I have a Basso Gap that is an SL/SP mix...Basso did that on bikes 57cm and larger. The SP was to give taller,heavier riders a little more stiffness in their racing bikes. I also have a Schwinn Voyager SP, and that bike is all SP tibing. But SP isn't a "touring" tube.
04-15-11, 07:30 PM
#36
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04-18-11, 09:23 AM
#37
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Some other giveaways of a Panasonic/Japan built frame:
1) There is a serial number stamped into the bottom of the head tube lug above the fork.
2) The headbadge says anything other than Schwinn Chicago. Usually instead of "Chicago" the name of the model will be used.
And in my subjective opinion the frames coming out of Greenville had paint and clearcoats that did not age as well as ones coming from overseas (including Taiwayn).
04-18-11, 09:30 AM
#38
Senior Member
SP seat tube is single butted 0.7/1.0. (HTML) My understanding is the thick end is brazed to the bottom bracket.
04-18-11, 10:02 AM
#40
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Relabled tubing? I don't think we should just blithly say that Columbus did that. There was a time they were very cautious about supplying replacement tube decals.
I recall Tenax as being a seamed tube....Unlike the seamless SL.
And SP was not a tube. I have a Basso Gap that is an SL/SP mix...Basso did that on bikes 57cm and larger. The SP was to give taller,heavier riders a little more stiffness in their racing bikes. I also have a Schwinn Voyager SP, and that bike is all SP tibing. But SP isn't a "touring" tube.
I recall Tenax as being a seamed tube....Unlike the seamless SL.
And SP was not a tube. I have a Basso Gap that is an SL/SP mix...Basso did that on bikes 57cm and larger. The SP was to give taller,heavier riders a little more stiffness in their racing bikes. I also have a Schwinn Voyager SP, and that bike is all SP tibing. But SP isn't a "touring" tube.
Whatever it was, by the 1988 catalog, Schwinn lists it as "Columbus Tenax Seamless". By 1989 the Tempo is listed as "Columbus Tenax SL Seamless".
I'm not sure what your point about SP is. It's a thicker tube set, less prone to flex. It seems like a perfect match for touring frames, sprinters/track, and larger sizes.
04-18-11, 10:04 AM
#41
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https://www.equusbicycle.com/bike/col...umbuschart.htm
04-21-11, 08:53 PM
#42
Riding like its 1990
04-22-11, 10:27 AM
#44
whether man
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I'd love to have a 55cm.
I'm looking to replace my road frame with something solid... these are right up my alley, hopefully I can find one around.
I'm looking to replace my road frame with something solid... these are right up my alley, hopefully I can find one around.
09-30-16, 10:25 PM
#45
Junior Member
Schwinn vintage steel road bikes
Sorry to discover this conversation about 5 years later but I've been reading all your posts and looking at your awesome pictures! Thanks for the insights guys because I have my eyes on an 87 White/Magenta Schwinn SS right now. At first I was focused on finding a vintage Italian Steel road bike, but after doing a little research, I'm really interested in some of the Centurion and Schwinn road bikes out there. I'm hoping that I won't run into problems finding replacement parts though. I know this bike I found will need new tires for sure. I haven't actually seen the bike in person yet, only a picture of it. It looks like its in decent condition though.
Last edited by cb400bill; 10-05-16 at 07:02 AM.
09-30-16, 10:27 PM
#46
Still learning
Sorry to discover this conversation about 5 years later but I've been reading all your posts and looking at your awesome pictures! Thanks for the insights guys because I have my eyes on an 87 White/Magenta Schwinn SS right now. At first I was focused on finding a vintage Italian Steel road bike, but after doing a little research, I'm really interested in some of the Centurion and Schwinn road bikes out there. I'm hoping that I won't run into problems finding replacement parts though. I know this bike I found will need new tires for sure. I haven't actually seen the bike in person yet, only a picture of it. It looks like its in decent condition though.
Last edited by cb400bill; 10-05-16 at 07:02 AM.
09-30-16, 10:32 PM
#47
Junior Member
I ride a 58 cm frame size. the seller fo the Schwinn SS says the seat tube measures 23 1/2 inches C to C and the stand over height is 32 inches. It sounds about right.
09-30-16, 10:39 PM
#48
Junior Member
Beautiful bike! Great condition for almost 40 years old!
09-30-16, 10:44 PM
#49
Junior Member
Can anyone share their opinion on a Centurion Le Mans 53 cm 12 speed with Araya rims? Worth looking into? What info should I ask the seller to determine if its worth owning?