Onions

Got this off of CL this evening for $20. How'd I do?

https://s562.photobucket.com/albums/s...nn%20Traveler/

ColonelJLloyd 

Could be photo distortion, but . . . . .

Michael Angelo 

Oooops.......

that_guy_zach

Yeah...Umm

Peacob

If you like it, or plan to give it to someone as a gift... then if it was worth it is really up to you. Personally, the bike isnt great, or sought after and i probably wouldnt have wasted the 20$.

ColonelJLloyd 

On a positive note I am a big fan of onions. I know a girl who has a severe onion allergy. I can't imagine. What a boring diet that must be.

frenchbikefan

I spend so much time looking for bent forks now, I hardly have any time to ride my bike...

TheOtherGuy

Same here; eat 'em every day, often with killer-hot peppers and garlic.

Oh- and I used to have a Paramount that color bleu. Nice bikes, some of those old Schwinns.

Onions

I know it's nothing special, but it does seem like a very sturdy frame, and for a couple of bucks, makes a nice campus cruiser for me or my brother. Any advice on figuring out when and here it was made?

ColonelJLloyd 

It's late 70s and I'm afraid that your fork is bent. That doesn't make it unrideable, but it does make it less than ideal.

frenchbikefan

I don't think your fork is bent, I think the camera angle is a little off center and gives the illusion of a bend. I think you did well, repack everything with grease. new tubes, tires, cables, and housings and you have a pretty darn good looking campus cruiser and pretty much bulletproof.

Onions

How can you tell that the fork is bent? It is the same on both lines, and there are no signs of stress in the chrome or paint.

MrEss

I think it looks pretty sweet, though I recognize it as a project rather than a ready-to-ride bike. If the fork is actually bent, no big deal if you're mechanically inclined.

Is that one of the ones that's full unpolished chrome under the paint?

I, too, like onions. Mmmmm.

ColonelJLloyd 

True that.

No.

Puget Pounder

The fork looks to sweep back. It should be in line with the head tube. It could be photo distortion though.

Onions

My research says yes to the chrome, but I like the color, and already have a matched rattly can and some clear coat for touching up. I just measured, and as far as I can tell, the fork is not bent.


It's distortion. It's perfectly in line with the head tube.

ColonelJLloyd 

It's pretty easy to tell if the frame is painted over chrome. You would have noticed while doing the touch ups. That bike may be early 70s. Now, I'm not so sure. There are catalogs online.

Onions

I haven't done any touching up yet. I'll probably start cleaning it up next week.

monsterpile

Its not anything special, but if the wheels are true or able to be trued then its easily worth that. It looks like everything is there and it just needs cleaning up, new tires (ok maybe jut the front one since the back looks newer) etc and you have a solid bike. How much work you put into it is obviously up to you, but I wouldn't get too picky about making it perfect.

dahut

For $20 bucks, you can hardly go wrong. It looks intact and just needs some mechanikin'.
I wouldnt get at all excited over pedigree or that sort of stuff, though. Get it running right and ride it like you stole it.

Onions

My sentiments EXACTLY!~

Teon

Completely agree!!!

Too many people here seem to think that pictures are the be all tell all, when, in fact, a bad flash, angle, or just a pocket camera or lousy phone camera can throw the whole picture into weird distortions that make some here think that you bought something handled by Mothra. Heck, there are many examples here on this very forum of craigslist bike trash that is beautifully photographed, but is not worth 1/2 what you just picked up.

In my lowly, unknowledgeable, and noobie opinion, I think that you did well for 20 bucks. Heck, that thing will get a hell of a lot more use out of it than tickets for two to the movie theatre or 4 large lattes at the local coffee brew shop.

20 bucks well spent, imo. Well done!!!! Worst case scenario.....you could part it out and break even. But, personally, I'd clean it up and relube it, and not spend more than a few bucks on it and ride the heck out of it, or sell it to some student for 40-50 bucks, if you want. (In my area of the country, you could clean and regrease it and easily sell it for $100-150.....I know, ridiculous, but that is the pacific northwest and bikes)

Onions

I could actually do the same thing here. I could just do a KDO flip and make over a hundred bucks, easy. But, either my brother or I will get a lot of use out of it. It's a pretty good fit for both of us, and after I rebuild it, we'll bareknuckle box to decide who gets it. :3

Teon

Excellent idea, imo....ride the crap out of it, as that is what it was originally intended for.....

Onions

According to https://re-cycle.com/History/Schwinn/SwnB_Serial.aspx this is a 1976 model. Just noting for future reference.