Schwinn Suburban, could this set-up be original?
 

Hi folks, I saw this Suburban with a front light set-up and a rack, do you think this could be original from Schwinn? Furthermore, what production year it could be ? I asked the owner but he doesn't know. 3rd question, this is a 22" frame, I'm curious to know what is the standover height. Counting with the other Suburban fans on this site. Thank you.

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Sure it's original.

Hello custermustache, I just read your thread on the 1974 Suburban, congrats on yours, beautiful one. Thanks for the feedback, I was not sure if Suburbans came with the rack and the light from factory, I know the seat was replaced but I believe that I can find an original one on e-bay. How is your Suburban, still riding well?

Yes it is original, I have a similar one in the barn. I don't think they came from the factory with the racks and lights. However those would have been Schwinn Approved add ons at the dealer.

Aaron :)

Looks like a late 70's blue, hard to tell much from such a tiny picture. Do you have the serial number?

looking at the catalogs from back then, the Suburban didn't come stock with a rack or lights, here's a link to the old catalogs:
http://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1...0/1977_10.html

Thank you for the catalog, great information. I don't have the serial number.

No, not original, but likely era correct Schwinn accessories that many people put on their bikes.

Hi everybody, thanks for the reply. The bike is looking great, I saw it during lunch time, however, it's kind of small to me with a 22" frame. I will hold until I find a 24" frame, but those seems to be more difficult to come by.

Mine rides fine, and is my tractor to haul my daughters trailer. I sold my turn signals because I never got them working right, sadly.

The accessories are not factory installed, but they are correct for the bike/period. Mine has worn the same rack and headlight since it rolled off of the Schwinn dealers floor.

+1. I worked in a Schwinn dealership from 1979 to 1984. Suburbans did not come from the factory with racks or lights, but Schwinn sold a large number of "Schwinn Approved" accessories. From what I can see, the rack and light are genuine Schwinn Approved.

FWIW: the seat is not original.

Please excuse me for bringing this thread back to life but it came up in the search engine and seemed recent enough to add a comment to. I recently acquired a rootbeer colored Suburban that included a Pletscher rack and front generator light that still works.

I haven’t restored a bike in quite a while but there is something about this old girl that has reinvigorated my desire to get my fingers greasy.

If I might steal this thread briefly, I have a few questions:
-Where is the serial # located?
-I’ve never rebuilt this type of BB, is there anything that I should be looking out for?
-The one I have doesn’t have a seat post, what size seat tube is it?

1) The S/N is at the base of the head tube
2) The Ashtabula Cranks are marvelously simple, and requires only basic tools.
3) Mine measures .800" . It's a 1974.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...rbanrrISOa.jpg

^^^
The one I have doesn’t have that crank or chain guard, but everything else seems spot-on. These are the roughest frame welds that I have ever seen and probably the heaviest bike I've laid hands on, but it does throw me back to the mid-70’s when I got my first “real” bike, a yellow Continental. I’m going to treat her right and do a complete restore. It will be nice to be back in the refurb game again.

Hi Auchen, you got yourself a nice suburban there! Congratulations, how do you like it? Is it a 23" frame? Thanks.

It's a 24" (my best size) and believe it or not, it was trash-picked years ago, just as you see it here (except for a layer of dust and dirt and new rubber).
. . . Those were the days. . .

It's really a pleasant neighborhood cruiser, and much like my Raleigh Sports, it feels much lighter than it is once underway (it weighs just about as much!).
-It won't win any races and I don't much care to attack the hills with it though!