What was the best production year for Schwinn, bar none, for bike desirability?
06-22-18, 08:48 PM
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What was the best production year for Schwinn, bar none, for bike desirability?
So, from the minds of the Schwinn aficionados out there... what year do you think Schwinn hit their peak? We are not talking production numbers, but as far as entire lineup featuring the best classic/vintage bikes now?
06-22-18, 08:54 PM
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1987.
No, wait! 1986.
Well, then there's 1988...
No, wait! 1986.
Well, then there's 1988...
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● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
06-22-18, 08:56 PM
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Road bikes or Schwinns?
06-22-18, 09:33 PM
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Mid 1960s.
06-22-18, 10:06 PM
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06-22-18, 10:18 PM
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Schwinn hit its peak in the mid-'70's: multiple well-developed models, several construction methods (electro-forged, fillet-brazed, lugged), multiple sources (Chicago and Japan). If I were looking for rarities, I would try to find the 1976 "Bicentennial" models with their unique decals and paint.
My personal grail bike is a 1977 Schwinn Superior in Flamingo paint. This color was only offered for the first half of 1977 and I've never seen one in person.
My personal grail bike is a 1977 Schwinn Superior in Flamingo paint. This color was only offered for the first half of 1977 and I've never seen one in person.
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06-23-18, 07:57 AM
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1972. Chrome Paramounts.
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06-23-18, 08:02 AM
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1987. Great year for Tempo, Super Sport, Voyageur, Prologue, Paramount. Circuit. One year away from the Peloton.
Doesn't hurt that 87 was a banner year for components, too.
Doesn't hurt that 87 was a banner year for components, too.
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06-24-18, 07:02 AM
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For mountain bikes, 1988-89. 
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
06-24-18, 07:06 AM
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Schwinn hit its peak in the mid-'70's: multiple well-developed models, several construction methods (electro-forged, fillet-brazed, lugged), multiple sources (Chicago and Japan). If I were looking for rarities, I would try to find the 1976 "Bicentennial" models with their unique decals and paint.
My personal grail bike is a 1977 Schwinn Superior in Flamingo paint. This color was only offered for the first half of 1977 and I've never seen one in person.
My personal grail bike is a 1977 Schwinn Superior in Flamingo paint. This color was only offered for the first half of 1977 and I've never seen one in person.
06-24-18, 07:11 AM
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I'll actually adjust my "best year" to the late 1960s/early 1970s. I was thinking the Krate line of bikes (which came out in 1968), which command higher pricing now than a similar era Paramount. While most here are road bike oriented (including me), there are other Schwinns that were more valuable and more collectible.
Growing up in that era, all the rich kids in the neighborhood had Krate bikes. They then moved on to Honda Minitrail 50s and 70s (also collectible). Me, I had some Huffy Stingray clone.
From a road bike quality perspective, I would pick late 1980s: Paramount of course, plus Prologue, Circuit, the full Tenax line, and more.
To me, the Krate line was the last Schwinn product where they were the market leader, every 12 year old boy wanted one. All of their competitors mimicked and copied them. While their late 1980s road bike line was nice, many of their competitors made similar to better bikes.
Growing up in that era, all the rich kids in the neighborhood had Krate bikes. They then moved on to Honda Minitrail 50s and 70s (also collectible). Me, I had some Huffy Stingray clone.
From a road bike quality perspective, I would pick late 1980s: Paramount of course, plus Prologue, Circuit, the full Tenax line, and more.
To me, the Krate line was the last Schwinn product where they were the market leader, every 12 year old boy wanted one. All of their competitors mimicked and copied them. While their late 1980s road bike line was nice, many of their competitors made similar to better bikes.
Last edited by wrk101; 06-24-18 at 07:47 AM.
06-24-18, 07:27 AM
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Without a doubt, 1987!!!
Circuit, Prologue, and serial #1 for 1987 Paramount
Tempo still waiting it's Ultegra triple build up
Head tube badge has a 1987 number but the frame is a Jan 1988 number so I'm confused.
Circuit I found local for my son.
Nice!
Circuit, Prologue, and serial #1 for 1987 Paramount
Tempo still waiting it's Ultegra triple build up
Head tube badge has a 1987 number but the frame is a Jan 1988 number so I'm confused.
Circuit I found local for my son.
Nice!
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Last edited by jamesdak; 06-24-18 at 07:30 AM.
06-24-18, 08:58 AM
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Gonna have to go with last '70s. Bought a '78 Le Tour III. Pretty much a weeks pay at that time.
06-24-18, 09:02 AM
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Schwinn hit its peak in the mid-'70's: multiple well-developed models, several construction methods (electro-forged, fillet-brazed, lugged), multiple sources (Chicago and Japan). If I were looking for rarities, I would try to find the 1976 "Bicentennial" models with their unique decals and paint.
My personal grail bike is a 1977 Schwinn Superior in Flamingo paint. This color was only offered for the first half of 1977 and I've never seen one in person.
My personal grail bike is a 1977 Schwinn Superior in Flamingo paint. This color was only offered for the first half of 1977 and I've never seen one in person.
06-24-18, 09:13 AM
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In fact, I post times on the Circuit that I have not been able to beat on anything else I have.
I've got several higher end bikes that feel amazing on the road yet have never beaten what I can get out of the Circuit. I think the mid/late 80's was their peak because they were clearly competing with the world, just a little too late for them by then.
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06-24-18, 09:46 AM
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See... I don't have the first hand experience with these years/models, thus, why I don't consider myself and expert or aficionado. Someday, maybe, I'll be lucky enough to come across something. My only input would be that the Schwinn logo paint seems to be quite fragile from this period... I've seen many almost devoid of the Schwinn logo's on the forks.
06-24-18, 10:10 AM
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See... I don't have the first hand experience with these years/models, thus, why I don't consider myself and expert or aficionado. Someday, maybe, I'll be lucky enough to come across something. My only input would be that the Schwinn logo paint seems to be quite fragile from this period... I've seen many almost devoid of the Schwinn logo's on the forks.
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06-24-18, 02:00 PM
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Late 1940s to early 1950s - excellent three speeds, many of which had hand fillet brazed frames, and lots of monogram touches unique to Schwinn.
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Classic American and British Roadsters, Utility Bikes, and Sporting Bikes (1935-1979):
https://bikeshedva.blogspot.com/
Classic American and British Roadsters, Utility Bikes, and Sporting Bikes (1935-1979):
https://bikeshedva.blogspot.com/
06-24-18, 02:00 PM
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~>~
1963: "The original Schwinn Stingray was made between 1963 to 1981."
https://bikehistory.org/bikes/stingray/
https://bikehistory.org/bikes/stingray/
06-24-18, 10:49 PM
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I'll agree that the late '80's Schwinns were probably the best "real" Schwinns (before the company lost its grip), but then there were many similar bikes from other manufacturers.
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06-24-18, 11:46 PM
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1935-1955.
Aerocycle
B-6
Phantom
Straightbar Hornet/Panther
Aerocycle
B-6
Phantom
Straightbar Hornet/Panther
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06-25-18, 09:01 AM
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06-25-18, 10:38 AM
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A worked at a dealer in that era and still maintain "Flamingo Caliente" is among the coolest names for a bike ever.
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Larry:1958 Drysdale, 1961 Gitane Gran Sport, 1974 Zeus track, 1988 Masi Gran Corsa, 1974 Falcon, 1980 Palo Alto, 1973 Raleigh Gran Sport, 1974 Legnano. Susan: 1976 Windsor Profesional.
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