He or she would assess your piece based on the set of factors they believe would truly show it. And probably do comparisons of previously made sales of similar vintage bikes. Knowing when your vintage Schwinn bicycle was manufactured will help a lot in finding its value. For instance, the black phantom bike which was released in 1949 has more value in the vintage bike market than newer models such as the stingray. During the company’s early years, the production of both adult and children’s bicycles was the market focus. However, until cars started to get a lot more affordable to the middle class, sales began to drop.
The SC 5 bike combines user-focused features, best-in-class biomechanics and a high degree of adjustability to deliver the optimal bike fit for riders of all shapes, sizes and abilities. To maintain uncompromising quality ride after ride, the SC 5 features a patent-pending bottom bracket that exceeds industry standards, rust-defying materials and rock solid construction. Our patent-pending, durable, threadless Morse Taper design keeps the pedals fastened tightly to the bike and prevents breakage. Another problem was Schwinn’s failure to design and market its bicycles to specific, identifiable buyers, especially the growing number of cyclists interested in road racing or touring. Instead, most Schwinn derailleur bikes were marketed to the general leisure market, equipped with heavy “old timer” accessories such as kickstands that cycling aficionados had long since abandoned. More and more cyclists, especially younger buyers, began to insist on stronger steel alloys , responsive frame geometry, aluminum components, advanced derailleur shifting, and multiple gears.
The Sanctuary is ideal for cruising neighborhoods and city streets, not for off-road or challenging race courses. Some professional adjustments may be necessary for maximum benefit, but adult riders should have no problems riding this old-school cruiser model. While it’s a mountain bike, it performs well on casual neighborhood rides. For two decades, Bikexchange.com has helped people from around the world make informed decisions regarding cycling-related products such as bikes, gear, trailers, bike racks, and so on. The Schwinn road bicycle line even includes electric models with pedal assistant systems that go up to 20MPH.
Schwinn launched a phenomenon with the first production bike designed specifically for indoor cycling, and we’ve never looked back. A stronger drive train and carbon blue belt make for easy maintenance while delivering an authentic riding experience indoors. It’s an innovative and stylish design that keeps us on the cutting edge of the indoor cycling industry – and it will keep you coming back time after time. By the late 1970s, a new bicycle sport begun by enthusiasts in Northern California had grown into a new type of all-terrain bicycle, the mountain bike. Mountain bikes were originally based on Schwinn balloon-tired cruiser bicycles fitted with derailleur gears and called “Klunkers”.
As long as consumers understand that they are not buying a premium bike from a company such as Trek or Specialized then they should be happy with the product. Their hybrid range includes normal bikes with the same kind of price range but also electric bikes priced from £1,5000 to £2,000. The department store bikes are sold as cheap, entry-level bikes. The Signature Series bikes are superior bikes, but they are still not particularly expensive.
While the digit “1” next to it states that the bike was made around 1961. Overall, the bike is in good condition and the frame has been repainted. Another factor that helps in Assessing the price of your Schwinn bike is its authenticity. As many Schwinn bikes may not be as the seller may claim or you may have thought them to be.
Broadly speaking the range is split into five main categories. The world of cycling was changing, and Schwinn did not adapt quickly enough through the 1970s and 1980s. Mark Smith has a nice page about his Schwinn bikes , also some good Schwinn Repair and Restoration tips. The Schwinn Web site had a Collectors’ Page with info on dating, serial numbers, etc. but the page is now available only in the Internet Archive.
In October 1979, Edward R. Schwinn, Jr. took over the presidency of Schwinn from his uncle Frank, ensuring continuity of Schwinn family in the operations of the company. However, worker dissatisfaction, seldom a problem in the early years, grew with steep increases in inflation. In late 1980, the Schwinn Chicago mongoose bmx bike factory workers voted to affiliate with the United Auto Workers. Plant assembly workers began a strike for higher pay in September 1980, and 1,400 assembly workers walked off the job for thirteen weeks. Although the strike ended in February 1981, only about 65% of the prior workforce was recalled to work.
While I’m no longer growing (at least not up…out is a different story!), I wasn’t sure exactly how/where I’d be riding the most. I wanted a model that I could ride on the paved streets of our neighborhood and the gravel trails at local parks. As mentioned above, the hybrid combines features of both road and mountain bike styles. The Circuit has skinnier tires and a lighter frame than a mountain bike. It’s a great general-purpose bike that can handle multiple terrains and riding conditions.