Originally Posted by
Koyote
Since you weren't around in 1971, you may be forgiven for not knowing that the Schwinn Varsity was a piece of junk, as
unterhausen has explained. Take it from someone who has actually ridden one.
No need to forgive, I've got a 1970s Varsity hanging on the wall of my garage. It's a good beater, and I stand by what I said about it's durability.
I'll give a couple more examples from that same garage: My son (born in 99) has an '84 LeTour that cost $229 new (about $550 in today's dollars). Smooth ride, relatively light weight, chromoly frame, Sugino cranks, Suntour ARX derailleurs, Weinman rims - all decent, durable componentry and built in the U.S. from a mixture of domestic, European and Japanese parts. There's no way you'd find that quality today for a comparable price. Whenever he brings it to campus he makes his classmates all jelly.
I also have an '84/85 Schwinn Voyageur SP - top of the line touring bike in its day. Cost about $450 new, or $1,100 today. Columbus tubing, Suntour Superbe and LeTech parts, Super Champion Touring Rims, Cinelli bars and stem - all first rate parts for the time. Again, you're not going to find anything close to that today for a grand.