Help identify this vintage Schwinn mountain bike
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Help identify this vintage Schwinn mountain bike
I'm hoping someone can help identify this as either a Schwinn High Sierra , Sierra or some other model. The date code on the Schwinn head plate reads 1138 . So I believe this was manufactured the 23rd day of April. I'm not sure if this was left over stock from 1987 due to the only pictures on line show 88's as having the cantilever brake under the chain stay. I've searched for hours online on numerous vintage wed sites and no 87's match . Are there any original component lists to positively identify?
Last edited by jzr756; 10-30-23 at 12:26 PM.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 948
Bikes: 1968 Raleigh Super Course, 1972 Raleigh Professional, 1975 Raleigh International, 1978 Raleigh Professional, 1985 Raleigh Prestige, 1972 Schwinn Paramount, 1980 Schwinn Voyageur 11.8, 1960 Carlton Franco Suisse Peugeot PX10, 1972 Motobecane Le Champ
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 326 Post(s)
Liked 697 Times
in
355 Posts
Well the pics don’t even show the entire bike but from what I can see it looks like a black chrome Schwinn Sierra from the mid/late eighties to me. Others here are better experts than me though.
Last edited by Pcampeau; 10-30-23 at 01:14 PM.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: SoCal
Posts: 2,507
Bikes: Cuevas Custom, Cimmaron, 1988 "Pinalized Rockma", 1984 Trek 510, Moulton custom touring, Raleigh Competition GS, Bridgestone Mb-2 & 3, 1980's Peugeot - US, City, & Canyon Express (6)
Mentioned: 28 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1169 Post(s)
Liked 4,096 Times
in
1,979 Posts
Clear pictures of the whole bike, would help us, help you. Clear pics of remaining decals.
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Thanks Pcampeau. .Tried posting more pictures . Not sure if I reached my max for additional pictures? not posting? The paint is pretty chipped. No labels any where aside from the components and Schwinn head plate.
#7
Forum Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Posts: 20,801
Bikes: Fuji SL2.1 Carbon Di2 Cannondale Synapse Alloy 4 Trek Checkpoint ALR-5 Viscount Aerospace Pro Raleigh C50 Cromoly Hybrid Legnano Tipo Roma Pista Vitus 979
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3137 Post(s)
Liked 6,840 Times
in
3,907 Posts
Pic Assist
__________________
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: se MIch.
Posts: 2,373
Bikes: 1938 claud butler,1983 Basso,teledyne titan,teocali super,nrs,1993 stumpjumper fsr,Paramountain,Paramount Buell(sold),4 banger,Zaskar LE,Colnago Master Ibex MTB,1987ish,.etc....
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 824 Post(s)
Liked 3,082 Times
in
1,536 Posts
date codes+cateloge scan.
match the shimano date code then look at that year of schwinn cateloge.A = 1976 A = JANUARY B = 1977 B = FEBRUARY C = 1978 C = MARCH D = 1979 D = APRIL E = 1980 E = MAY F = 1981 F = JUNE G = 1982 G = JULY H = 1983 H = AUGUST I = 1984 I = SEPTEMBER J = 1985 J = OCTOBER K = 1986 K = NOVEMBER L = 1987 L = DECEMBER M = 1988
N = 1989
O = 1990
P = 1991
Q = 1992
R = 1993
S = 1994
T = 1995
U = 1996
V = 1997
W = 1998 https://waterfordbikes.com/SchwinnCa...inn_1981_1990/
N = 1989
O = 1990
P = 1991
Q = 1992
R = 1993
S = 1994
T = 1995
U = 1996
V = 1997
W = 1998 https://waterfordbikes.com/SchwinnCa...inn_1981_1990/
#9
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Thanks cb400bill, I seem to be finding alloy handle bars and stem. as opposed to a solid black stem and steel bars. Pretty cool vintage bike . just like to know what it is.
Last edited by jzr756; 10-30-23 at 02:06 PM.
#10
Forum Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Posts: 20,801
Bikes: Fuji SL2.1 Carbon Di2 Cannondale Synapse Alloy 4 Trek Checkpoint ALR-5 Viscount Aerospace Pro Raleigh C50 Cromoly Hybrid Legnano Tipo Roma Pista Vitus 979
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3137 Post(s)
Liked 6,840 Times
in
3,907 Posts
1988 Catalog Pic
#11
Junior Member
Thread Starter
AWSOME!!! cb400bill. Thanks so much. What Level bike was this back in it's day" entry? mid level?
Last edited by jzr756; 10-30-23 at 02:22 PM.
#13
Forum Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Posts: 20,801
Bikes: Fuji SL2.1 Carbon Di2 Cannondale Synapse Alloy 4 Trek Checkpoint ALR-5 Viscount Aerospace Pro Raleigh C50 Cromoly Hybrid Legnano Tipo Roma Pista Vitus 979
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3137 Post(s)
Liked 6,840 Times
in
3,907 Posts
Appears to be towards the lower end of that year's lineup. Here is a link to that catalog. https://bikehistory.org/catalogs/198...pand_article=1
__________________
#14
Tinker-er
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Mid-Atlantic
Posts: 514
Bikes: 1956 Rudge Sports; 1983 Univega Alpina Uno; 1981 Miyata 610; 1973 Raleigh Twenty; 1994 Breezer Lightning XTR; V4 Yuba Mundo aka "The Schlepper"; 1987 Raleigh "The Edge" Mountain Trials; 1952 R.O. Harrison "Madison"
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 186 Post(s)
Liked 326 Times
in
213 Posts
Lower end 1988 MTB model probably means this bike will still be reliable transportation a few decades after all the hydrocarbons run out; that is to say, keep it lubed and it will run forever. Cool bike!
#15
Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Oregon
Posts: 203
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 66 Post(s)
Liked 288 Times
in
111 Posts
Great find! Since it looks to be mostly or entirely originally equipped, I’d be tempted to restore the components and repaint the frame to something like one of the factory colors, and either source or make new decals for it. To me, old Schwinns are fun to work on and fun to ride.