I recently aquired a 60's Varsity. In tailoring the bike to my needs I have ran into a problem and seek advice. I need to replace the handlebars to 48cm Nitto Noodle 177 road drop bars. The Problem: The stem has a 25.44mm (1 inch) opening and the bars have a 26.0 mm center. The quill for the stem is 21.15.......whatshould I do?

Check with the BMX people. They've got lots of stuff that's half Schwinn and half Asian.

It's a Varsity for God's sake, why must it have only 48cm Nitto Noodle 177 drops?

Revise your expectations and work within the restrictions of the bicycle as it was
originally manufactured or get another bike. Everyone runs into interchangeability
issues working on old Schwinn bikes. Get used to it.

Get this one or one like it. You can't be real picky trying to make a Varsity into what they are not.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Dia-...item3cbf761b48

List it for sale on your local CL in the Boat section...

Actually, (IMO) Varsitys are lightweights when compared to a Raleigh Reliant.

Thx for the advice. To answer the why ? Just cause I'm 6-6 doesn't mean I can't enjoy a good ole varsity

It sounds like it doesn't fit you well. you will probably be better off finding a c&v that fits you better. Changing the bard may help a bit, but the bike will never feel exactly like it should. I have had a varsity before and it rode great, but there are many other bikes out there with better components, and that will fit. You knees, and back will thank you. At 6'6" you'll probably find your best fit from 63-68cm.

Mines is a 66cm

sneakywrist, don't be put off by the occasional snarky comments, there actually is some valuable information and knowledgeable people here more than happy to help out, but you get the fun answers when questions are a little vague. Your question seems to be that the bar diameter is too large for the stem. Is the stem steel or alloy? If it's steel pry it open a little, 0.56mm is a very small dimension and steel should be able to take that. As for the quill, is it to small or large for the fork steerer tube? Either way it is the wrong size and the correct size is readily available, probably in many of the boxes of crap hoarded by the people here.

Point taken ATMDAD....I'm new to this forum but not others. The information here is very valuable. Back in the good old days if we wanted a different size handlebar we just opened the stem a little. Thx for your advice I will use it to resolve the problem

The quill is the correct size so no worries there

Come to think of it, I think I put a BMX stem in the Box Of Crap that's getting passed around at the moment. It might have the right sized ends but it was a TIG welded thing and didn't look very classic.
Have the current BOC holder take that out and send it to you.

Thx for the offer. PM

Schwinn frame measurements are center to top, which is inflated about 1" (2.54cm) over the center to center measurements used by some others. With that in mind, up until 1970 the largest Varsity frame size (according to Schwinn) was 23" (58cm). For 1971 the largest available Varsity frame size increased to 24" (61cm), and from 1972 through 1982 the largest size was increased to 26" (66cm). Finally from '83 through '85 the largest size was reduced to only 22" (56cm).

From the size it would look like you have a '72 through '82 model.

You are correct after looking up the serial number code. I was going off info from the seller. Guess I should have researched the code before my original post!

Sneakywrist, post some pictures of your '60s Varsity. Have you nailed down the year? The early ones are somewhat rare.

Dating a Schwinn Varsity is easy. The first letter of the VIN # corresponds to the month of build (A=JAN, B=FEB, etc). The second letter is the year (beginning with '65 as the letter A, '66=B, etc). However, "I" and "O" were not used, as they could be confused with the numbers "1" or ""0".

This link is to vintage Schwinn catalogs and dating/production number help.

As for frame sizing, Schwinn used a dimension from the center of the BB to the top of the seattube. This dimension is irrelevant, when it comes to proper fit. The effective toptube dimension is more important. On a 24" Varsity, the ETT is 59cm. On a 26" Varsity, the ETT is 62cm. I have one of each size. If yours is a 26", it's probably pretty close on proper size. There are some options to gain more cockpit room.

As for your handlebar dilemma, compatibility is an issue, anytime you're trying to add new parts to the mix. The stem adapters here are for 22.2mm ID fork tubes (Varsity is 21.15mm). I haven't tried it, yet, but one could machine the fork ID to the 22.2mm necessary to fit an adapter. The Varsity steertube is incredibly thick, compared to other bikes. I wouldn't be afraid of doing that, as my English bikes are 1" steertube with a 22.2mm ID. Using such an adapter would allow one to use a plethora of modern stems, in multiple lengths/angles, with a 26.0mm clamp. Original is 93mm length and -14deg angle. Browse the catalog I linked above.

Also, Truvativ makes an adapter to allow one to use a modern, sealed-bearing BB and crankset. Wheels Manufacturing makes a shim to allow one to use a modern, front derailluer. The rear derailluer hanger will accept modern, rear derailluers, as it's metric threaded. Tektro offers model #556 long-reach, dual-pivot calipers that'll work. Modern, 700c rims slide right in. Wald offers a seatpost that is flared to 7/8", at the top, to allow one to use a modern, seat clamp. Modern, sealed, traditional-fit, 1"-threaded headsets are available. Only your imagination and wallet limit the scope of your project.

I hope that helps with your endeavor.

I will post pictures soon. Thanks to all for the valuable information.

Yes it does. thx for taking the time to provide very valuable information!!!

I found the bars and stem I needed. Changed the pedals and seat and it rides likes a champ. Not bad for a 33 year old bike.

Looks nice, sneakywrist. Keep an eye out for the World Sport as well. They made some of those in huge sizes. I'm 6-3 and one was too big for me

Wish I would've known that was the stem you'd go for, as I would've just sent a clean, used one to you for the cost of shipping.

How about more pics? The bike looks clean.

Thx. My computer is down however I will post pix as soon as I can. Do you still have that stem. I just acquired two Schwinn Varsitys for 41 bucks. Oe is a. 66cm that I'll restore. Send me a PM if you want to sell it

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI...ht_12010wt_952