67tony 

After collecting components for over a year, and practicing on several other vintage restorations, my 1973 sunset orange Schwinn Super Sport is finished. This is one of the Chicago-built fillet-brazed Schwinn frames, which Sheldon Brown found pretty special and described here:
https://sheldonbrown.com/schwinn-braze.html

A component list is below, the only thing original to this frame is the headset, stem and skewers!

Serial # CJ810260 (on bottom of head tube)

Suntour Sprint FD, 9000 RD
Suntour Sprint hubs, crank, pedals, levers
Suntour barcon shifters
Suntour 53t/42t chainrings
Suntour Pro-Compe 14-24 freewheel, silver, 6 speed
KMC Z8 silver chain
Tektro R559 long-reach brakes
Trubativ BB adapter
Shimano UN-55 BB
Mira SS LL toe clips
SR stem
Brooks B-17 Special saddle
Sakae SR World Randonneur bars, D-81, R420
Kalloy 26.8mm seat post, with DKG 31.8mm clamp
Sun Rims M13II rims
Panaraver Pasela 1 1/8" tires
Custom leather bottle holders and toe straps

67tony 

More...

Chrome Molly

I like it. Really clean, and nice custom parts.

Scooper

Looks great, Tony!

I just checked the serial number on mine, and it's CJ809208. Ours were both made in September, 1973.

Metacortex

CJxxxxxx frame serials means the frames were made in March 1973, however the bikes were probably built a month or more later.

WNG

Nice build! You must be one-legged.

jjames1452 

Very, repeat VERY Sweet!

pastorbobnlnh 

Tony well done! Very beautiful SS! While I can't decide whether I liked the brown bar tape with the white hoods or the white bar tape with the white hoods better, I'm still diggin' it!

I especially like the leather bottle holders on the saddle. Very clever way to solve this challenge. I currently have one bottle cage mounted to my SS's handlebars, but if I go for a long ride I need to stash an extra somehow or stop for a refill. Did you make these or are the available somewhere? I could probably convince rootboy to make me a set.

I see you used the original headset. But it looks as if you have a notched spacer in there to take up the space of the original shifters? If you ever need to replace the headset and can't find an original Schwinn, look for ones labeled "Old School BMX" sized. As far as I know, Chris King is the only manufacturer still making these. This is what I'm running on "Sporty."


As you can see, it is impossible to read the serial number because the paint is so thick. IIRC, it was a '72.

qcpmsame 

Tony, that is a very beautiful build you have done. Well executed with some thought put into what is on your bike, I like your work.

Bill

auchencrow

Beautiful resto Tony, and the creamsicle color combo looks good enough to eat!

Gdando

Tony,
Beautiful bike. Who made the bottle holders and where can I order mine?
Does the FSA tape provide more cushion that the Deda?

Fahrenheit531 

Bee-youteefull.

Scooper

Yep; doh! I'm getting senile. I obsessed on the "J"...

PedalTraveler

That is an absolutely gorgeous build, I've wanted to do something like that myself for some time, very well done!

Grand Bois

It's interesting the way you lined up the rim and tire labels.

dokydoky

Those looking for something that won't break the bank should look to the Tioga Beartrap.

dddd

That's actually a very good idea, especially for tires that are appreciably wider than the rim, since you are looking downward and the tire label flashes up to your eye almost directly and at the same time as the rim label is at bottom-dead-center.

So it perfectly positions your Presta valve at 12:00, where you can easily access it and where gravity can only assist with the valve's closing.

Ahhh, but as for the bike, that's one clean machine, with a particular classic look!

The white tape will take on a decent patina over the next couple of thousand miles if you can studiously avoid getting any chain grease or other stains on it. No chocolate GU packs while riding, no nose-bleeds, etc.

Those Sprint parts are quite nice, and that Sprint rear derailer sure is an effortless and smooth mechanism on my PX10, I have to say.

I would probably cut the rear housing at least an inch longer before trimming the inner wire to final length.
And I would put thick, clear protective tape over the painted areas that contact any cabling. The rubber housing cover sleeves that some folks install only stop vibrating noises, they still allow the paint to abrade away quickly.

BTW, extra points for ditching that leatherette tape imo.

oddjob2

Great job Tony, a work of art! Enjoy Florida with it. I hope you are hauling it inside your vehicle and not on top or behind it.

Curious as to how many total hours you think you have invested between the rebuild and fine leather handiwork?

Michael Angelo 

Nicely done. Great attention to detail.

rootboy 

Great looking bike Tony. I like your leather work.

67tony 

Thank you all so much for the compliments. Coming from this bunch of meticulous veterans, owners of so many beautiful vintage bikes, it really means a lot to me.

Well, the pics at the beginning of this thread have been modified, since I was able to install the brown hoods. They look better (imo!) and seem to be a better quality item - more material and better ergonomics. I pulled the levers off the bars to get them on, although very snug this worked well.

PastorBob, you (and so many others) are incredible. To be able to spot the headset spacer that replaces the brake hanger is astonishing to me. Nothing gets by you guys! Thanks for the specifics on a possible headset upgrade, including size and brand. The bottle holder was made by me, and was actually pretty easy. I have an inexpensive Tandy tool that cuts leather into strips (your choice of widths), and then used rivets I already had from re-purposing toe strap clips. The design was my own, simple but effective. I must add, Pastor, that your beautiful SS, Sporty, provided me with much motivation. In an earlier thread I indicated I would be happy with creating Sporty Lite - kind of a poor man's version of your outstanding Super Sport renovation.

dokydoky, thanks for the Tioga Beartrap headset suggestion. The original was in good shape but I'll keep this reasonable-priced item in mind. With Schwinn's odd tubing sizes it might be a challenge to find an exact headset match, so I'm hoping not to have to do that anytime soon!

dddd, good eye noticing the too short RD housing - it has since been lengthened. Also, great suggestion to use clear tape where the housing touches the frame, I have several spots with that issue.

oddjob, yes, Florida should be nice, we are looking forward to it. While working winters were tolerable, but in retirement we notice a bit of cabin fever setting in! So, the climate in FL will be much appreciated, especially considering how cold it has already been in Michigan - as you know! Total hours spent on this project would be near impossible to estimate. Much time was spent perusing epay searching for Sprint components and other needed parts. Once all was accumulated the buildup didn't seem too bad. My LBS helped on a few things, for instance the Truvativ adapter was too deep and had to be milled. He also aligned my dropouts, tapped the buggered-up threads on one of the crank arms, and gave the drive-train its final tune-up.

Gdando, the FSA tape does seem more cushioned than the Deda Elementi. Also, with it being longer and stretchier, I was able to overlap it more, providing even more cushion. Right now, the bottle holder is a one-off job, with no plans to replicate it. But, I should never say never, right?

Kactus

Those hoods look perfect! Great job on a beautiful bike.

sykerocker 

This is a group of orange '73 lovers. Mine's also a CJ serial number. Now, if you want to try something interesting, build a second set of wheels - sewups. It's amazing how that frame handles with sewup wheels. And I'm still (temporarily) running the original Ashtabula crank.

pastorbobnlnh 

Tony, thanks for the compliments.

BTW, what part of FL are you heading to? My wife and her family have a small place in the Panama City Beach area. I'm guessing in another few years we'll spend more time there.

67tony 

We're landing on friends in the Apalachicola/Eastpoint area for a short while, then down to Bonita Springs for a bit. For February we share a condo with my bike-riding brother over in Wabasso/Vero Beach. I hope my Sporty Lite can keep up with him!