1988? Schwinn Aluminum Pro 1.86kg MTB
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1988? Schwinn Aluminum Pro 1.86kg MTB
Hi Bikeforums,
I recently acquired this bike and am having trouble identifying the year. From what I have been able to identify on the forums, this bike was made in the late eighties, but it doesn't seem to match the color scheme of the only other of this model I can find on the internet. The Schwinn catalogs online have left me empty handed, as has a google image search. Anyone have any idea what year this bike was made/price it was sold at, perhaps someone with a Schwinn MTB catalog from those years? It is undoubtedly a super nice bike with full six speed Deore XT components (though front wheel is not original).
Thanks,
Juan
I recently acquired this bike and am having trouble identifying the year. From what I have been able to identify on the forums, this bike was made in the late eighties, but it doesn't seem to match the color scheme of the only other of this model I can find on the internet. The Schwinn catalogs online have left me empty handed, as has a google image search. Anyone have any idea what year this bike was made/price it was sold at, perhaps someone with a Schwinn MTB catalog from those years? It is undoubtedly a super nice bike with full six speed Deore XT components (though front wheel is not original).
Thanks,
Juan
#2
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Did you buy that from some kid on Facebook named Ian? I messaged him about it a month ago and never followed up on his response. Nice price.
#3
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What is the small 4 digit number on the headbadge?
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#6
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Velobase.com lists the 6spd XT as '86-'89: VeloBase.com - Component: Shimano SL-M730, Deore XT M730
They also list 7spd XT as starting in '89: VeloBase.com - Component: Shimano SL-M732, Deore XT M730
So probably '86 or '87, maybe '89 if the two groups overlapped for a year? Some parts might have cryptic date codes, cranks are probably the easiest to find them on.
I have an orphan XT front wheel with wide old school rim, what rear rim is on there?
They also list 7spd XT as starting in '89: VeloBase.com - Component: Shimano SL-M732, Deore XT M730
So probably '86 or '87, maybe '89 if the two groups overlapped for a year? Some parts might have cryptic date codes, cranks are probably the easiest to find them on.
I have an orphan XT front wheel with wide old school rim, what rear rim is on there?
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The 4 digit code is stamped onto the headbadge. Often it is faint, so angling your point of view may be necessary to get the light to shine just right and help you ID it.
Vintage Trek for date codes. Shimano was/is great in that they stamp two letter date codes on all their components (month/year). That should get you on the money or dang close.
Schwinn Catalog Scans. Pure gold...except for the fact that it doesn't show MTBs at all pretty much. Dang. Well, for roadies, it's gold. Sorry, man. The first two ID methods should get you there.
Vintage Trek for date codes. Shimano was/is great in that they stamp two letter date codes on all their components (month/year). That should get you on the money or dang close.
Schwinn Catalog Scans. Pure gold...except for the fact that it doesn't show MTBs at all pretty much. Dang. Well, for roadies, it's gold. Sorry, man. The first two ID methods should get you there.
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That rear brake was only popular for a short time time and is typically seen on '86 models but that's not to say it couldn't be carried over to '87.
So without a date code I'm thinking '86.
So without a date code I'm thinking '86.
#9
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Try asking your question on the Schwinn Alumnium bicycle Facebook group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/169247033130212/
#10
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scooper posted 89 mtb specs here, i cant seem to download the file but it's viewable. components are not xt though
https://photobucket.com/gallery/user/...MjQ2Mw==/?ref=
FRAME looks like this one. but with a replacement fork. owner says 88 sco
https://bikejournal.com/images/kayakadopro.jpg
https://photobucket.com/gallery/user/...MjQ2Mw==/?ref=
FRAME looks like this one. but with a replacement fork. owner says 88 sco
https://bikejournal.com/images/kayakadopro.jpg
Last edited by Chris Chicago; 12-14-18 at 10:14 AM.
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RiddleOfSteel, you and Tranmain were right! I took a closer look with a flashlight and the code is either 3008 or 3608. SUPER faint. Also wesmamyke, ChrisChicago, and OTS It does look like an earlier model than the 1989- the fork looks super similar to a 1988 Cimarron.
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A cursory glance of the date code says this means the bike was made in 1988, cool! I wish there were a catalog or something to confirm but it seems the scans are missing online. Wesmamyke, the rear rim is indeed XT.
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Here is one that looks quite similar on eBay listed as a Paramount model.
It has a Paramount sticker on the DT .
Does yours have Paramount sticker?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-1989-S...&ul_noapp=true
It has a Paramount sticker on the DT .
Does yours have Paramount sticker?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-1989-S...&ul_noapp=true
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You may have seen this one but here's the link in case you haven't.
myretrocycles: 1989 Schwinn Paramount Pro Aluminum
myretrocycles: 1989 Schwinn Paramount Pro Aluminum
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GREAT NEWS!
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Thanks to everyone who has helped on trying to identify this so far. Cooperryder, thank you for linking these- both similar but slightly different from mine. Mine does not have a Paramount sticker and has a different paint color, seat tube decal, fork, and groupset than both of these bikes. What I have been able to gather from other threads describing oddball '88-'89 Schwinn ATBs on the internet is that Schwinn was kind of a mess at this time as it was in a tailspin to bankrupcy. This apparently resulted in a lot of "frankenbikes" on dealer floors, even on some of the most expensive models such as this. While this makes it harder to tell much about the bike, it is pretty cool that I may have stumbled upon a really rare/one-off bike the Internet has never seen before!
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Yeah, the lack of catalog coverage on these is tragic. Though it may not have a Paramount decal--or more accurately, a "Paramount Design Group" decal--it's still a PDG (Paramount Design Group) bike in design. As to if it was made in-house or contracted out, I don't know that, so someone with more aluminum Schwinn knowledge in this area is gonna have to help us all out here. Regardless, it's a cool bike and rare/uncommon. You still have the original and un-cracked quill seatpost!
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Aw man, sad to hear. :/ You could take a page from the downhill mountain bikes made today and go with a mile of seatpost! What size bike do you generally fit? Did trying to fit this one give you a good enough idea with regard to future searching? I hope so!
Man, Schwinn's ice blue paint color is going to be missed, isn't it? Not many other makers had that color, or at least as nice. Schwinn, to me, has had a number of underrated paint colors/finishes.
Man, Schwinn's ice blue paint color is going to be missed, isn't it? Not many other makers had that color, or at least as nice. Schwinn, to me, has had a number of underrated paint colors/finishes.
#20
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Here's a link to the ad with more pics
https://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/bop/d/chicago-1988-schwinn-aluminum-pro-186kg/6789622423.html
https://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/bop/d/chicago-1988-schwinn-aluminum-pro-186kg/6789622423.html