U5512

Yellow is my favorite color so when I spotted the yellow bike in this picture from the Craigslist ad, I called the seller to inquire about the yellow bike. Seller told me the yellow bike is a Schwinn 10-speed from 1978 or 1979, he wasn’t sure. He said it’s all original and wanted $75 OBO. Forty-five minutes later and $70 less in my pocket, I own my FIRST EVER SCHWINN bike!!! I know it’s not a screaming deal at $70 bucks for a SCWHINN VARSITY with all original parts, but I am looking forward to clean her up the best I could and start riding!!! I am SURE those fenders will have to come off the bike permanently!!! I just looked up the serial number and the Varsity was born in 1971. I am a newbie to bikes and or bike riding. Thanks for reading and HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!

The Golden Boy 

Congratulations!

If that bike fits you, it'll be a smooth riding machine. Enjoy it for what it is.


When it comes to the point that you're going to think you'd like to replace parts to make it lighter- you're better off looking for a different bike.

Congratulations and enjoy that ride!!

Scooper

Schwinn Varsities were the first "ten speed" bikes for millions over a couple of generations, so for that reason alone the Varsity is a classic.

Read about the unique way they were built HERE.

U5512

Thank you "The Golden Boy"!!! The bike fits me perfectly and I am very happy that I bought it. I intent to clean her up as best as I can, and keep it all original and not replace any parts except for new tires and tubes. I will remove the fenders from the bike but won't be throwing them away.

U5512

Good reading about EF frame manufacturing by Schwinn....thanks!!!

CroMo Mike 

Incredibly good condition, considering its age and the hard use most Varsities got.

67tony 

IMO, the fenders look pretty cool.
And...they serve a useful function if you get caught in a rain.
Use some Mothers Aluminum Polish and make 'em shine!
Then use Maguires Scratch-X on the frame, after cleaning it with WD-40.

It's a heavy bike to start with, the fenders only add a bit more...

pastorbobnlnh 

Plus one on the fenders.

Be careful around the decals and the front fork darts. Meguires Scratch X does a great job on old Schwinn paint but can make those details vanish. (says the one after a first hand experience )

cradom

+1 on the decals coming off if not careful. And I was using Simple Green.
Mine didn't have fenders tho. And a different stem.
Do your self a favor, lose the suicide levers.

dddd

Good find!

I use rubbing compound on my old Schwinns, and the decals can be buffed to have clarity where the clear portion may have discolored.
Pay close attention to the "progress", however.

Yours looks like pre-1976 to me. Note that the cables going down along the downtube are disposed 180 degrees apart, later varsities had both cables atop the tube, running side-by-side.
And your shift levers look to be pre-1972 or so. Note the "tip" portion of each shift lever is only mildly oblong, the part with the "S".

Varsities fit "small" due to the frame geometry/angles, so best if your bike feels somewhat on the big side of "comfortable".

These bikes, though heavy, are high-quality throughout. Yours is a fine example, worthy of long use and detail improvements over time.

Delmarva

Congratulations on that classic yellow Varsity. It has to be among the most popular road bikes built.

noglider 

That's the first Varsity I've ever liked. Do not take those fenders off! If you find yourself riding a lot, you'll collect a fleet of bikes, and you'll pull this one out on rainy days. You'll love it for what it is, even if you become a racing bike aficionado. Those fenders look fantastic with the bike. Schwinn used some superior chrome.

The bike is in amazing condition. The worst thing is the hubs. You can polish them with some elbow grease and some metal polish.

aixaix 

It is a known fact as yet unexplained by science that removing components from a Schwinn Varsity actually makes it heavier. Teams of physicists have had no luck explaining this phenomenon, their task complicated by the less puzzling but contradictory fact that adding components also causes the Varsity to gain weight.

And another thing...

The fenders make the bike. Remove them and risk drumhead court-martial by the C&V tribunal.

Congrats!

U5512

After owning the bike for a couple of days, I have to admit the Varsity does look GREAT with the fenders ON and they will stay ON!!! I've ordered "fine and medium" bronze wool pads to begin the process of removing rust specks from the chrome parts. I am really excited about restoring this Schwinn Varsity!!! Thanks for your comments!!!

Michael Humes

echmmm so cool bike...

elguicho 

I started learning how to work on bikes on a Schwinn traveler. Those old Schwinns are simple, functional and they'll probably outlive you and your grandchildren. Enjoy!