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Is this a 1974 Schwinn Continental?

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Is this a 1974 Schwinn Continental?

Old 01-07-23, 09:27 PM
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Lbxpdx
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Is this a 1974 Schwinn Continental?

I picked this up for the pedals, which I know may sound weird, but it has on it an exceptionally clean pair of 80’s KKT bear claws on it. I’m trying to figure out what model the bike is so I can get back out into the wilds of Portland. I think it is a Continental from 74 as it has center pull brakes, 10 speeds, quick release skewers and Araya red label 27” wheels. It has no labeling on it, just pinstriping. It looks like it may still have the original tires on it and if it has been ridden, I can’t tell.

serial number starts with DK.

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Old 01-07-23, 10:20 PM
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Looks like it's been repainted(?).
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Old 01-07-23, 10:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Lbxpdx
I picked this up for the pedals, which I know may sound weird, but it has on it an exceptionally clean pair of 80’s KKT bear claws on it. I’m trying to figure out what model the bike is so I can get back out into the wilds of Portland. I think it is a Continental from 74 as it has center pull brakes, 10 speeds, quick release skewers and Araya red label 27” wheels. It has no labeling on it, just pinstriping. It looks like it may still have the original tires on it and if it has been ridden, I can’t tell.

serial number starts with DK.

Nothing weird about it, those are awesome.
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Old 01-08-23, 07:01 AM
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If it were mine, I would add toeclips and convert from TwinStik to barcon shifters. The tubular fork is the other giveaway that it is a Continental, rather than a Varsity.
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Old 01-08-23, 07:21 AM
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Originally Posted by Lbxpdx
I picked this up for the pedals, which I know may sound weird, but it has on it an exceptionally clean pair of 80’s KKT bear claws on it. I’m trying to figure out what model the bike is so I can get back out into the wilds of Portland. I think it is a Continental from 74 as it has center pull brakes, 10 speeds, quick release skewers and Araya red label 27” wheels. It has no labeling on it, just pinstriping. It looks like it may still have the original tires on it and if it has been ridden, I can’t tell.

serial number starts with DK.

The fork is identical to my 1974 LeTour fork.
If it's a continental, it's a electroforged steel frame with an upgraded fork which yours appears to have.
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Old 01-08-23, 08:06 AM
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A Continental would have had different pedals. The red cage is a nice touch.
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Old 01-08-23, 09:14 AM
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The pedal looks like a KKT Lightning, not a bear trap. I bought an 80s Traveler for those pedals and a Brooks Proffessional for a decent price.
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Old 01-08-23, 10:11 AM
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Araya rims on a '74 Schwinn? Doesn't sound original but I'm no expert
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Old 01-08-23, 11:25 AM
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The barrel adjusters on the levers were not on other early ‘70’s Continentals that I own or owned. Those range from ‘71-‘72, with maybe a ‘73 in there. I’d assumed they were from a super Sport or higher level Schwinn. If not an add-on. I do have them on an otherwise stock Schwinn repaint that I haven't yet figured out the year of production on, or the model. Iirc it’s older because 1/2” pedal.

Maybe someone knows whether or not they became standard on Continental by 73-74?
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Old 01-08-23, 11:52 AM
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Originally Posted by Lbxpdx
I picked this up for the pedals, which I know may sound weird,
It isn't weird if it makes sense. I bought a bike for the caps because it was cheaper than I could have got the caps for on eBay.
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Old 01-08-23, 11:53 AM
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It's a Continental fer sure. The Super Sport has more pointed seat stay end and the rear brake braze ons are different. The Continental also did come with the adjuster barrels on the brake lever. 'Agree that Araya rims are not original. One of the previous owners that put them on did good. This is the best upgrade for Varsities and Continentals.

I like the paint job. It looks good in the pictures. This looks to be an excellent rider. Ride and enjoy. By the way, I kind of like the Twin Stik shifters, but I can understand swapping the shifters to suit what you like. One minor problem with the Twin Stik shifters is that the cable is difficult to find. The solution is to get a "sport" shift cable and file it down to fit.

Please get the wheels on it, take it for a spin and get some more pictures and an impression of what you thought about it.
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Old 01-08-23, 12:24 PM
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Here's a web site to confirm your Schwinn date of manufacture : https://bikehistory.org/serial-number.html

They give you a nice little window of confirmation with a catalog picture like this one for my '75 Continental



Originally Posted by Velo Mule
It's a Continental fer sure. I kind of like the Twin Stik shifters, but I can understand swapping the shifters to suit what you like.
I also like the Twin Stik levers, It's one of the unique traits of old Varsity's & Continental's and a few others....but I'm wierd as I also like the steel rims. The Conti will never be a performance bike, so I've only taken off the turkey levers and added a better seat, and hose clamped bottle cage. This thread inspired to get mine out for a Sunday ride


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Old 01-08-23, 11:27 PM
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I agree that it's a Continental. The differences between a Varsity and a Continental were: centerpull brakes (with adjusters and QR's on the brake levers), tubular fork, QR front wheel, and aluminum stem. Otherwise they were identical. The Araya rims and KKT pedals are definitely non-stock.
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