zonova

Hi all! I'm brand new to bikes and trying to find a used bike around $300. It's actually proving more difficult than I had thought to get something that I feel will last a while. I found this Schwinn Paramount online going for $350, would you all recommend it for that price? I appreciate your time!

edit: It seems I can't post pictures of the bike until I've made 10 posts. Is there an alternative way I might be able to get your opinion on it? The paint seems to be in good condition, and the wheels are new. It has full shimano RX 100 components.

katsup

zonova's Gallery
https://www.bikeforums.net/g/user/542094

How tall are you?

coolkat

I had one and thought it was an excellent riding frame, but the limited tire clearance was a real downer (25's max iirc). Too much money imo, they're not that special, especially with the original mid range components.

bikemike73 

I have one of these in color RWB

VERY SMOOTH AND FAST !!!!!


I paid 300 for mine last March.

Bike is all original and in a 9 condition out of 10.

I would BUY the bike,.!!!

You will not be sorry !!!

zonova

I'm a tiny bit over 5'11! And thanks for pointing out that link!

plonz 

Nice bike that at $350 is toward the high side of the acceptable range IMO. Not outlandish, I’d just rather see it at $300. That said, prices are still wacky in many locations and you could wait a long time for the next deal to come by. If you’re fine with the outlay, I wouldn’t feel guilty about buying this bike and enjoying it.

You may already know this but the size looks to be 56cm to 58cm. You should be fine at 5’11”.

jamesdak 

I think that's a 1991 model. I've got one of these and can do nothing but praise it. It is one of my heavier bikes but it is also one of the faster ones and despite the heft one of my better climbing machines. It just seems to transmit my meager power to the road better than most bikes. I like mine so much that I kept it over a mint 1987 Waterford built Paramount that had better components. The PDG was just always faster over the same route. I'd get it for the frame alone and then start upgrading parts when you can.

One thing to consider though is as mentioned above, tire clearance. It does have tight tolerances. I cannot run my preferred Conti GP4000s II 700 x 25 tires on it without the front rubbing. A true to size 700 x 25 might fit though.


How mine is configured right now.

cb400bill

Pic Assist

zonova

That is a beautiful bike! And thank you for the assist! So, in terms of a long term investment, do you think it will continue to be possible to get parts that fit this bike? Or is it likely that some parts, like wheels that size, will be difficult to get?

3alarmer 

...if you can do your own mechanical work, those components are pretty standard for that era.
Whether the exact same parts are available at the time you need them might be an issue, but in general it's not difficult to keep something like that running.

As an investment, bicycles are probably a poor choice, but if you take care of it, and nobody steals it, you probably won't have trouble reselling it for about that price.

If you take all your repair work into a professional shop to accomplish, many of them will tell you to just get something newer, and offer to sell it to you.


It's very hard to give advice, given the various levels of mechanical sophistication possessed by people asking questions here. The PDG Design numbered series bikes are usually solid Asian made products, marketed by Schwinn, and they were bargain priced for what they were when sold new. So they usually fly under the radar in terms of vintage/resale prices, because collectors aren't smitten with them, and the people who want to go fast on a road bike are all buying something newer, made from CF reinforced plastic, with more rear cogs and brifters instead of down tube shift levers.

It's a solid bike, and that's not a tremendous amount of money to be asking for it. But you're a lot safer buying something this old if you understand what can wear out and how to fix it yourself. Those look like standard 700c wheels, which are ubiquitous.

jamesdak 

There's nothing special about the parts on it. It's the normal modern spacing for the wheels so you could even buy a fully new modern kit today and install it with no real issues. Mine came with lower end components on it also that I upgraded to get a little better performance.

zonova

I ended up getting the bike! I'm excited and nervous to start biking, but thank you all for the help!

3alarmer 

...a little nervousness will help you to stay alert, and it never hurts to be alert on a bicycle.

DMC707

Memories. I had a lady friend in the mid 90's who had the same model PDG with the same color scheme

I have one similar to jamesdak 's as well

I purchased it because of the color scheme and because i actually like those PAnasonic built Paramounts from that era. You didnt get hurt at $350 and the frameset is worth keeping around and either keeping it as is or throwing some mild updates at it even. This one is destined to feature a Dura ACe 7800 groupset i have in a box when i get around to it

You've got a classic machine in my book

zonova

Thanks again for all the support everyone! One last thing, would you all have any recommended bike locks?

3alarmer 

...depends on where you live. Around here where I live, nothing in the way of a lock is safe for more than ten or fifteen minutes out of sight, unless in a public place with people passing by regularly. You can buy a protable angle grinder that will cut through anything in about two minutes. Take it inside with you, when you can.

bikemike73 

Agree....take the bike inside with you

ramzilla

I never take a lock when I'm out on my drop bar race bike. It's because I'm going out for speed and distance. Wearing goofy looking tight kit. And, if I do stop anywhere along the way I keep the bike in sight.

xiaoman1 

OP,
IMO parts will be continue to be easy to source but if you are thinking of this hobby as in an investment, best buy gold.....few bicycles will yield you any significant return on the 300. spent. Buy it to ride it, the investment will be in your future health and well being.
JMHO, Ben

carldrost

Just bought 2 bikes in a deal. One was set up as a fixie but i am trying to figure out what it was to begin with. I think it is a schwinn PDG series 2. Serial number on BB 2A01354. From what i have read thus far i think it is a Asain built bike and am assuming the first digit of '2' in the s/n is for series 2 but i really am just guessing. The bike has Campy Omega 19 wheels, Crank, Head unit, Cinelli grooved bar and stem. The other bike i think is a similar PDG series bike with NISI wheels, ^00 crank, Dia-Compe brakes, etc. I bought the bikes just for the Campy rims and maybe other parts to rebuild an old 'Le Velo De Merceir' i have but these bikes are interesting to me know so wanting to know more of what they are, etc. Thanks. Have pixs but i am a newbie and therefore cannot post, that is kinda stupid of this site to do.






for any help.

Clang

The no pictures for new members is an anti-spam measure. You can add pictures to your albums in your profile and someone can post them for you. Schwinn catalogs are online https://waterfordbikes.com/SchwinnCa...000/index.html Your bike was probably built by Panasonic in Japan.

carldrost

Thanks for the reply. I think i am determining that the few campy parts are of the Stratos line. not great but it is what it is. I paid $80 for both bikes. The fixie has a Cinelli 64-38 grooved bar in excellent shape with Cinelli stem. So i think if i use the Campy Omega 19 Wheels and sell the rest, all will be just fine. Funds will help pay for the Mercier. Again, thanks for the help and semi-confirmation on the Panasonic Paramount. I do like them but the frames are way too small for me to keep and use.

carldrost

Just though i would add some picture of the bikes i bought now that i can post pixs.

Mad Honk 

xiaoman1,
I have one of those that needs a repaint to repair some under paint damage. Are you suggesting that I get it done in Gold? Smiles, MH