Let's see your vintage Schwinn Cimarron
07-15-20, 03:26 PM
#426
Junior Member
Not sure I can post pics yet but I did take the headset apart and, yeah, the bearings and the bearing seats are toasted! Surprisingly it was roller bearing on the bottom AND the top, when I was expecting a caged bearing at the top. I think the wise thing to do is replace it with a completely new headset from tange/IRD, though I was not rushing to spend $100 on this bike quite so quickly! It's possible I can find new roller bearings and races, but idk.
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07-16-20, 07:01 AM
#427
Newbie
OK I think I am b a c k i n t h e g a m e!
So I did go to my very local bike shop, which said it did have an extra headset lying around... and it was a black roller bearing headset! Roller bearing bottom, caged bearings top. They were sure that it'd fit my bike, I had a feeling it was ISO not JIS, but for $50 all told I figured they could figure it out for me and do the hard stuff. Sure enough, they got to filing my fork to clearance it, and struggled for a while to seat the 30.2 cups in the 30.0 headtube, but eventually they got it in. The bike is back on the road!
So I did go to my very local bike shop, which said it did have an extra headset lying around... and it was a black roller bearing headset! Roller bearing bottom, caged bearings top. They were sure that it'd fit my bike, I had a feeling it was ISO not JIS, but for $50 all told I figured they could figure it out for me and do the hard stuff. Sure enough, they got to filing my fork to clearance it, and struggled for a while to seat the 30.2 cups in the 30.0 headtube, but eventually they got it in. The bike is back on the road!
07-17-20, 09:04 AM
#428
Newbie
Another thing I'm wondering is figuring out if I can tell if this bike was made in Greenville or Panasonic. (I've been kinda hoping Panasonic, as that's where my Voyageur was built... or at least as I've always thought.)
My Cimarron's serial number is C734710, stamped on the bottom of the bottom bracket, stamped front-to-back not side-to-side. (My Voyageur's is H808614.)
I've looked at this post talking about Japanese-built Schwinns, which would imply both my bikes are Japanese-built, the Cimarron from March 1987, the Voyageur from August '88. That post figured that the date code did match up with Panasonic.
Another post contradicts it, however: the Asian Serial Number Guide. The guide says it's not 100% accurate but also says that Panasonic serial numbers had the year number then the month letter code, not the other way around like they are on my bikes.
Bridgestone bikes, however, do follow the month-then-year serial number format, and I didn't realize that Bridgestone built some Schwinns in the '80s! At least, this other forum post says that Bridgestone did. Moreover, supposedly Panasonic bikes had serial numbers stamped at the bottom of the headtube and.... neither of my Schwinns do!
The other question is of Greenville serial numbers. Supposedly most of them started with an S, as this post notes, but also there's agreement that Greenville bikes were a bit all over the place.
Is it possible that both my bikes are Bridgestone-built?
My Cimarron's serial number is C734710, stamped on the bottom of the bottom bracket, stamped front-to-back not side-to-side. (My Voyageur's is H808614.)
I've looked at this post talking about Japanese-built Schwinns, which would imply both my bikes are Japanese-built, the Cimarron from March 1987, the Voyageur from August '88. That post figured that the date code did match up with Panasonic.
Another post contradicts it, however: the Asian Serial Number Guide. The guide says it's not 100% accurate but also says that Panasonic serial numbers had the year number then the month letter code, not the other way around like they are on my bikes.
Bridgestone bikes, however, do follow the month-then-year serial number format, and I didn't realize that Bridgestone built some Schwinns in the '80s! At least, this other forum post says that Bridgestone did. Moreover, supposedly Panasonic bikes had serial numbers stamped at the bottom of the headtube and.... neither of my Schwinns do!
The other question is of Greenville serial numbers. Supposedly most of them started with an S, as this post notes, but also there's agreement that Greenville bikes were a bit all over the place.
Is it possible that both my bikes are Bridgestone-built?
07-17-20, 09:56 AM
#429
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Man I can't believe you had such a horrible time with your Voyageur. I got mine the other day and set it up in about 30min, original brakes and pads and all. The wife absolutely loves it and has taken it on every Thursday night ladies' gravel ride since I gave it to her. It's almost flawless..
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07-17-20, 11:28 AM
#430
Newbie
The Voyageur wouldn't have been bad if I wasn't so hard-headed and tried to make it (a nice 27" touring bike) into something it never was designed to be (a 700c woodsy bikepacking rig).
08-15-20, 02:08 PM
#431
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1987 Cimarron
I bought this in 1988 after realizing my King Sting could not keep up with the other bike club members in San Diego. Much lighter for climbing the stairs to my efficiency apartment in Mission Beach. Ah those were the days! Still have her and all original except for tires and tubes. I'm a bit older now and riding a step through but still love occasionally taking Smoky Pearl out for a ride just to relive the good ole days. I was told by someone who should know that this was from the Mississippi plant and a smoked specialty paint job. Original paint as from the factory.
Last edited by Fernleaf; 08-15-20 at 02:18 PM.
08-15-20, 03:26 PM
#432
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08-15-20, 05:38 PM
#433
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I'm not sure what kind of seapost that is. It came on the bike. And it could have been purchased in '89 as I moved to San Diego in the fall of '87. Strange that I had the paperwork and manual for the King Sting when I sold it but a cross country move and 11 years in this house, it is here somewhere!! I just remember being crazy about this bike when I first saw it and never hesitated, although it was probably out of my then price range. Would love to be cruising LaJolla again. Times have changed though!
08-18-20, 08:22 AM
#434
Newbie
When I first saw one of those paint jobs I was sure someone had spray painted over a white Cimarron--blew my mind it was a factory color! Looks wild.
08-18-20, 08:48 AM
#435
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It definitely caught my eye as soon as I went in to this huge bike shop in Mission Beach. I still love it and have considered selling it as it as I have a step through I ride now. I do still ride it on occasion and yesterday decided I was just going to keep it. I feel silly having two bikes but then I have six acoustic guitars lol. No rhyme or reason when you get into your sixth decade i guess.
08-18-20, 08:54 AM
#436
Full Member
really enjoying this thread, thanks everybody. Are any of you running a 135mm rear hub? Anybody doing it without cold-setting?
08-21-20, 10:05 AM
#437
Full Member
I just purchased a smoky red Cimarron on ebay. I can't post photos yet. It's an 89, I believe. Serial number is B961628. Can anyone point me towards original spec sheets or catalog scans? I don't have money for getting it "catalog correct" but any guidance would be great. Thanks!
08-21-20, 11:04 AM
#438
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I just purchased a smoky red Cimarron on ebay. I can't post photos yet. It's an 89, I believe. Serial number is B961628. Can anyone point me towards original spec sheets or catalog scans? I don't have money for getting it "catalog correct" but any guidance would be great. Thanks!
Had never seen a smokey red or any smokey paint job on a Cim.
Nice pick-up.
Looking forward to your build.
I can't help with the specs.
but I am a Cimarron fan.
08-21-20, 01:04 PM
#439
Full Member
I just purchased a smoky red Cimarron on ebay. I can't post photos yet. It's an 89, I believe. Serial number is B961628. Can anyone point me towards original spec sheets or catalog scans? I don't have money for getting it "catalog correct" but any guidance would be great. Thanks!
, serves me right for being cheap, good for you. Yes its an 1989 (Feb frame), check the begging of this forum thread for a mint 1989, the hard this is the black RM-20, there's a set on sale but they are about what you paid for the frame.One question, as the headbadge is dated. I thought that headbadge date indicated date of complete bike built, being this a frame only, would that mean this was guarantee fix frame or did the stamp did not apply to non-Chicago Schwinns?
08-21-20, 02:49 PM
#440
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RIP this 1987 Schwinn Cimarron
https://jalopnik.com/i-finally-took-...s-a-1844773918
Less than a mile into the trail, I crossed over a little plank bridge, over a small hump and then KERSNAP. I knew something was wrong, it just took me a minute to realize that two rather important parts of my bike had completely detached.
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08-22-20, 11:14 AM
#443
Junior Member
08-22-20, 11:17 AM
#444
Junior Member
https://www.bikeforums.net/framebuil...-bb-shell.html
I'll post here with updates! As I said in the Framebuilder's thread above, "This frame ticks all the boxes for me, and it was a long search to find it. Plus, after parting it out, I only have $75 in it. It's worth another few hundred bucks."
Cheers,
Oliver H.
08-22-20, 11:30 AM
#445
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Re-attaching seat stays is certainly not beyond the abilities of a competent and experienced frame builder. May be an opportunity to improve that attachment, actually.
08-22-20, 05:00 PM
#446
Full Member
So you took it from me , serves me right for being cheap, good for you. Yes its an 1989 (Feb frame), check the begging of this forum thread for a mint 1989, the hard this is the black RM-20, there's a set on sale but they are about what you paid for the frame.
One question, as the headbadge is dated. I thought that headbadge date indicated date of complete bike built, being this a frame only, would that mean this was guarantee fix frame or did the stamp did not apply to non-Chicago Schwinns?
, serves me right for being cheap, good for you. Yes its an 1989 (Feb frame), check the begging of this forum thread for a mint 1989, the hard this is the black RM-20, there's a set on sale but they are about what you paid for the frame.One question, as the headbadge is dated. I thought that headbadge date indicated date of complete bike built, being this a frame only, would that mean this was guarantee fix frame or did the stamp did not apply to non-Chicago Schwinns?
08-22-20, 05:13 PM
#447
Full Member
89 Cimarron
08-22-20, 08:48 PM
#448
Full Member
It was a nailbiter of an auction. This is my first Cimarron so any help you could provide would be appreciated. It's just a frameset so I need a lot: stem and seatpost are my first priorities as I have some bits lying around that will do until I can afford nice things. Anybody have seatpost or stem for an 89 Cimarron? The post is 26.6, right?
Last edited by Santuri32; 08-22-20 at 08:48 PM. Reason: typo
08-22-20, 08:55 PM
#449
Full Member
That's very kind of you! Thanks!
08-23-20, 07:10 AM
#450
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I posted this in the Looking thread but the ad is still up, for all you Cimarronistas. Not cheap.
https://richmond.craigslist.org/bik/...172366736.html
bicycle frame material: steel
bicycle type: mountain
frame size: 49 cm
wheel size: 26 in
All original . Nitto bars and stem. Full deore xt even pedals and hubs. Great condition from 87
https://richmond.craigslist.org/bik/...172366736.html
Vintage schwinn cimmaron beautiful timecapsule mtb mountain bike - $450
bicycle frame material: steel
bicycle type: mountain
frame size: 49 cm
wheel size: 26 in
All original . Nitto bars and stem. Full deore xt even pedals and hubs. Great condition from 87