Schwinn Prologue - who made it?
11-19-19, 07:47 PM
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Schwinn Prologue - who made it?
Were these made in Greenville, or Panasonic made?
11-19-19, 08:08 PM
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One of the experts will chime in soon to correct everything I type, but I believe all of the Prologues were made by Panasonic.
The top road bike to come out of Greenville was the Circuit, I recall.
The top road bike to come out of Greenville was the Circuit, I recall.
11-19-19, 08:08 PM
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What's the serial number?
11-19-19, 08:11 PM
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11-19-19, 08:49 PM
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Panasonic. The serial number will be on the headtube
11-19-19, 09:37 PM
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Yep, they were Panasonic bikes, very nice ones.
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11-20-19, 12:57 AM
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Hand-brazed by the folks at Panasonic from 1987 to 1989. Best-in-the-business Tange Prestige tubing, with great paint schemes (black/grey/black is my favorite BTW). Sold as a frameset only, and completely worthy of literally any period-correct or newer Dura-Ace groupset. A true gem of a frame, both to admire and to ride.
Here is mine (with Ultegra Di2), it is pleased to make your acquaintance.
Here is mine (with Ultegra Di2), it is pleased to make your acquaintance.
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11-20-19, 08:57 AM
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Yep, they even have a Panasonic serial number on the head tube. And not to be a snob, but I find the fit and finish of the Panasonic Prologue to be so much better than any Schwinn Greenville bike I have ever owned.
I've had five of them pass through my hands, the two that are my size stayed. They came in two color combinations. Thus the REQUIREMENT to own TWO! They also had a time trial version, but those are too crazy for me.
fullsizeoutput_91b by wrk101, on Flickr
93rd day of 1987 on this one:
IMG_4501 by wrk101, on Flickr
49th day of 1987 on this one:
fullsizeoutput_91a by wrk101, on Flickr
I've had five of them pass through my hands, the two that are my size stayed. They came in two color combinations. Thus the REQUIREMENT to own TWO! They also had a time trial version, but those are too crazy for me.
fullsizeoutput_91b by wrk101, on Flickr
93rd day of 1987 on this one:
IMG_4501 by wrk101, on Flickr
49th day of 1987 on this one:
fullsizeoutput_91a by wrk101, on Flickr
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11-20-19, 10:14 AM
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Hand-brazed by the folks at Panasonic from 1987 to 1989. Best-in-the-business Tange Prestige tubing, with great paint schemes (black/grey/black is my favorite BTW). Sold as a frameset only, and completely worthy of literally any period-correct or newer Dura-Ace groupset. A true gem of a frame, both to admire and to ride.
Here is mine (with Ultegra Di2), it is pleased to make your acquaintance.
Here is mine (with Ultegra Di2), it is pleased to make your acquaintance.
11-20-19, 11:52 AM
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The Schwinn I've always wanted (grey version), but never found in my size and price range.
Last edited by CO_Hoya; 11-20-19 at 12:49 PM.
11-20-19, 04:18 PM
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I never realized they were Tange Prestige. My 92 Paramount is of that tubeset also.
11-20-19, 04:21 PM
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I bought a Prologue back in 1987 and built it up with Dura Ace and Shimnao 600. One of the best bikes I ever had as far as versatility and quality. I ordered the frame thru the telephone(no Internet back then) and had it shipped to me. Yes I was still running Toe Clips and Straps.
This is it in Kaneohe Hawaii after a long training ride. Wish I still had it.
This is it in Kaneohe Hawaii after a long training ride. Wish I still had it.
11-20-19, 07:04 PM
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I bought a Prologue back in 1987 and built it up with Dura Ace and Shimnao 600. One of the best bikes I ever had as far as versatility and quality. I ordered the frame thru the telephone(no Internet back then) and had it shipped to me. Yes I was still running Toe Clips and Straps.
This is it in Kaneohe Hawaii after a long training ride. Wish I still had it.
This is it in Kaneohe Hawaii after a long training ride. Wish I still had it.
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11-20-19, 08:22 PM
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I'm not sure if your theory on the build date is correct. I have 0497 on my headbadge as well. Maybe the date schwinn put their badge on it. On the other hand it could be a really cool coincidence.
11-20-19, 10:08 PM
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@Bik3head I see you have some Sante on there! 
@uncleivan I think that's super cool to have the same date stamping as another 1) Schwinn owner 2) a Schwinn Prologue owner no less! The brotherhood is small with regard to these bikes, though very enthusiastic! I'd be happy to find another (in my size).
@uncleivan I think that's super cool to have the same date stamping as another 1) Schwinn owner 2) a Schwinn Prologue owner no less! The brotherhood is small with regard to these bikes, though very enthusiastic! I'd be happy to find another (in my size).
11-20-19, 10:53 PM
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Too lazy to take it down for pics, but here are a couple older pics when I had it on the stand. White saddle, white hoods, white tape... full suntour sprint. I had just received the saddle and wanted to see how it looked....thats not where I sit, haha.
12-31-20, 09:00 AM
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0497 Must Have Been Prologue Day @ Panasonic
Having started to rehab the Prologue, I found it interesting while researching the S/N and head badge dates on the forum that my Prologue's head badge number matched that of Unicleivan's and Wrk101's Prologues. So, when asked on the Panasonic floor that particular date back in 1987 "What are we making today?", the answer was obviously "Prologues!". Or, the alternative theory is, "What are we going to do with all these 0497 head badges"? "Slap them on all the Prologues in the corner!"
12-31-20, 12:01 PM
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I bought a Prologue back in 1987 and built it up with Dura Ace and Shimnao 600. One of the best bikes I ever had as far as versatility and quality. I ordered the frame thru the telephone(no Internet back then) and had it shipped to me. Yes I was still running Toe Clips and Straps.
This is it in Kaneohe Hawaii after a long training ride. Wish I still had it.
This is it in Kaneohe Hawaii after a long training ride. Wish I still had it.
You can only ride so far on an island before you start coming back
Cheers.
12-31-20, 12:25 PM
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One of the most irritating bikes I ever bought was a Greenville-built Schwinn Circuit
I'd traded a guy a set of Campy tubular wheels for it at the end of the day at our local bike swap. Clean and original with it's Suntour Sprint group.
Until I started disassembling it. I don't think they used any grease on any threads. Had to spend a day trying to get the crank dust covers only to find the crank bolts seized. Got one with a 5ft breaker, ended up having to cut through the bb spindle. Then I got to impact the cups out, a la Kingsberry tool. All in all, I got the frame/fork,headset, seatpost/saddle, and brakes. Even the derailleur adjustments screws were seized and unsalvagable.
Until I started disassembling it. I don't think they used any grease on any threads. Had to spend a day trying to get the crank dust covers only to find the crank bolts seized. Got one with a 5ft breaker, ended up having to cut through the bb spindle. Then I got to impact the cups out, a la Kingsberry tool. All in all, I got the frame/fork,headset, seatpost/saddle, and brakes. Even the derailleur adjustments screws were seized and unsalvagable.
12-31-20, 07:58 PM
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01-01-21, 02:22 PM
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The Prologue is an excellent frameset. Worthy of any parts that are on it! Enjoy the ride.
JJ
JJ
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