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| schwinn:start [2021/03/31 13:19] – created gchandler | schwinn:start [2025/03/15 10:46] (current) – mtbtimeline |
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| div column 50% #intro> | <div column 50% #intro> |
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| ===== Schwinn Overview ===== | ===== Schwinn Overview ===== |
| Schwinn was the dominant manufacturer of American bicycles since its founding in 1895. After missing the mountain bike boat, it ceased building bikes in the US by 19912 and later went bankrupt in 1992. Schwinn was well placed to rebrand some of their existing BMX bikes as being "all terrain" and tried to places them against hand made, expensive mountain bikes. However their early efforts were to simply slap derraileurs on BMX bikes and not design a new bike from the ground up. Their first decent mountain bikes didn't appear until 1985, with their Sierra, High Sierras and Cimarron with triple chainrings. | Schwinn was the dominant manufacturer of American bicycles since its founding in 1895. After missing the mountain bike boat, it ceased building bikes in the US by 1991(([[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schwinn_Bicycle_Company|Wikipedia]])) and later went bankrupt in 1992. Schwinn was well placed to rebrand some of their existing BMX bikes as being "all terrain" and tried to place them against hand made, expensive mountain bikes. However their early efforts were to simply slap derailleurs on BMX bikes and not design a new bike from the ground up. Their first good mountain bikes didn't appear until 1985, with their Sierra, High Sierras and Cimarron with triple chainrings. |
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| Some 1982 prices: | \\ |
| | Some 1982 competitive prices: |
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| - Schwinn King Sting 10: $570 | * Schwinn King Sting 10: $570 |
| - Ritchey Sierra: $820 | * Ritchey Sierra: $820 |
| - Specialized Stumpjumper: $750 | * Specialized Stumpjumper: $750 |
| - Univega Alpina Pro: $419 | * Univega Alpina Pro: $419 |
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| And now you can see why almost no Schwinns were sold and why Univega outsold Specialized by a factor of 5 in 1980s 1. Schwinn created what Gary Fisher called "bike shaped objects" 3. | And now you can see why almost no Schwinns were sold and why Univega outsold Specialized by a factor of 5 in 1980s(([[http://www.sonic.net/~ckelly/Seekay/mtbwelcome.htm|Charles Kelly's Mountain Bike Website]])). Schwinn created what Gary Fisher called "bike shaped objects" (([[https://www.bluetrainpublishing.com/books-blog/being-gary-fisher|Being Gary Fisher]], page 93.)). |
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| </div> | </div> |
| {{ignaz.jpg?300|Ignaz}} | {{ignaz.jpg?300|Ignaz}} |
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| Ignaz Schwinn with [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roscoe_Arbuckle|Fatty Arbuckle]].\\ | Ignaz Schwinn with [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roscoe_Arbuckle|Fatty Arbuckle]], ca. 1910\\ |
| Schwinns always made the best klunkers.\\ | Schwinns always made the best klunkers.\\ |
| [[https://www.schwinnbikes.com/blogs/schwinn-insider/a-look-back-who-was-ignaz-schwinn|Schwinn Bikes]] | [[https://www.schwinnbikes.com/blogs/schwinn-insider/a-look-back-who-was-ignaz-schwinn|Schwinn Bikes]] |
| {{spitfire.jpg?300}} | {{spitfire.jpg?300}} |
| \\ | \\ |
| 1981 King Sting catalog entry \\ | 1979 Spitfire 5 \\ |
| [[http://bikecatalogs.org/SCHWINN/1981/Catalog/King-Sting_5.html|bikecatalog.com]] | [[https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/1979-schwinn-spitfire-5-original-chicago-built-cruiser-w-atom-drum-brake-550-00.153834/|Cabe Classifieds]] |
| </div> | </div> |
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| </div> | </div> |
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| | <div column 50% #s1982> |
| | ---- |
| | ===== 1982 All-Terrain Mountain Bike ===== |
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| | Very low volume limited release. This lugged ATB, made by Panasonic of Japan, would later become the TIG welded High Sierra built in Taiwan. Bullmoose bars, Shimano 600 brakes, Mountech GTL (1982-83.) It continued to sell in low volumes through 1984.((Production numbers are estimated to be: 1982: 18, 1983: 293, 1984: 3751, as per: [[https://www.schwinnbikeforum.com/index.php?topic=38692.30|schwinnbikeforum]])) |
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| | {{1982.jpg?360|All-Terrain Mountain Bike}} |
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| | 1982 All-Terrain Mountain Bike, non-drive side |
| | [[https://www.ebay.com/itm/304396088128?hash=item1983+Schwinn+Mountain+Bike,+fairly+unknown+due+rarity+early+MB+by+Schwinn|ebay]] |
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| | </div> |
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| | <div column 45%> |
| | {{1982ad.jpg?300|All-Terrain Mountain Bike}} |
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| | 1983 catalog entry. |
| | [[https://www.ebay.com/itm/304396088128?hash=item1983+Schwinn+Mountain+Bike,+fairly+unknown+due+rarity+early+MB+by+Schwinn|ebay]] |
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| | </div> |
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| <div column 50% #sierra> | <div column 50% #sierra> |
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| ===== 1985 Cimarron ===== | ===== 1985 Cimarron ===== |
| The Cimarron was fillet brazed! Using top of the line components and an excellent Japanese made frame, Schwinn was trying to recreate the Paramount of mountain bicycles. Too late for Schwinn, however, as Schwinn's race to the bottom of the market pushed margins into the red. Five year production run. | The [[https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cimarr%C3%B3n|Cimarron]] was [[https://ninelittletubes.wordpress.com/2014/09/02/a-trip-to-the-bicycle-academy/|fillet brazed]]! Using top of the line components and an excellent Japanese made frame, Schwinn was trying to recreate the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schwinn_Paramount|Paramount]] of mountain bicycles. Too late for Schwinn, however, as Schwinn's race to the bottom of the market pushed margins into the red. Five year production run. |
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| | Schwinn did try again with the [[http://vintageschwinnbicycle.name/vintage-1987-mtb-schwinn-paramountain-mountain-bike-overend-sig-complete-rare.htm|Paramountain]] in 1987, hand built with a lugged frame and with similar Shimano XT components and slightly higher other components (Dura-Ace headset, etc.) It's perhaps more collectible, but the Cimarron is prettier. |
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| </div> | </div> |
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| | <div column 50% #s1986> |
| | ---- |
| | ===== 1986 High Sierra ===== |
| | SunTour XC 6300 derailleurs (1984-86), 3x5 gearing, SunTour XC rollercams, bullmoose bars, Sakae FX cranks, SunTour XC Sport brake levers (1986-88), Made in Taiwan sticker, 4130 cromo tig welded frame (with lugged chainstays?) |
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| | </div> |
| | <div column 45%> |
| | {{1986.jpg?300|1986 High Sierra}} |
| | \\ |
| | 1986 High Sierra |
| | [[https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02UH7DeyFDjbKFCeoiBvpL74ofGYe4V3UrU57srsVaCPqTH7B1QhKb7DhU1qE9jPLWl&id=100070377638035|facebook]] |
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| | </div> |
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| | <div column 50% #s1987> |
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| | ===== 1987 Paramountain ===== |
| | "Ned Overend" signature edition. Sold as a frame only in small batches. Handmade in the US. |
| | </div> |
| | <div column 45%> |
| | {{1987.jpg?300|1987 Paramountain }} |
| | \\ |
| | 1987 Paramountain |
| | [[ https://www.facebook.com/commerce/listing/596149472113883/?media_id=0&ref=share_attachment|facebook]] |
| | </div> |
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| ==== Production Notes ==== | ==== Production Notes ==== |
| <WRAP #prod1 /> | <WRAP #prod1 /> |
| [1]. First bike in Fall 1976: [[http://www.sonic.net/~ckelly/Seekay/index.htm|Charlie Kelly's Website]] . See details on page: [[http://www.sonic.net/~ckelly/Seekay/mtbwelcome.htm|Charlie's Mountain Bike Hubsite]] | [1]. Production runs are a mystery, but the catalogs show years available: [[http://bikecatalogs.org/SCHWINN/index.html|Schwinn catalogs by year]] |
| | Also see: [[http://127.0.0.1:8080/brands/schwinn/index.html|More catalogs]] |
| <WRAP #prod2 /> | <WRAP #prod2 /> |
| [2]. Craig Mitchell continued to produce a limited number of custom mountain bikes. [[https://www.amazon.com/Birth-Dirt-Origins-Mountain-Biking/dp/1892495619|The Birth of Dirt (3rd ed.) by Frank J. Berto]]. | [2]. Early production numbers are mostly guesswork. Serial numbers aren't much help, as they're not tied to a model number. Vintage market rarity hints that early Schwinn Klunker/King Sting 5/Spitfire 5's were very low volume. Certainly less than 100. |
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