mtb-timeline

This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong.
<div column 50% #intro>
----
===== 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 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.
\\
\\
Some 1982 competitive prices:

  * Schwinn King Sting 10: $570
  * Ritchey Sierra: $820
  * Specialized Stumpjumper: $750
  * Univega Alpina Pro: $419

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.)).

</div>

<div column 45%>
{{ignaz.jpg?300|Ignaz}}
\\
Ignaz Schwinn with [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roscoe_Arbuckle|Fatty Arbuckle]], ca. 1910\\
Schwinns always made the best klunkers.\\
[[https://www.schwinnbikes.com/blogs/schwinn-insider/a-look-back-who-was-ignaz-schwinn|Schwinn Bikes]]

</div>

<div column 50% #klunker>
----
===== 1978 Klunker 5 =====
Klunker? Someone at Schwinn was hip to the haps in Marin. Schwinn dealers weren't, however, and the product dropped like a stone into the quiet pool of obscurity, not even lasting long enough to show up in a Schwinn catalog. Like its namesake, Schwinn Klunkers had to be pushed uphill and wouldn't last a speed run down Repack.
</div>

<div column 45%>
{{klunker.jpg?300}}
\\
1978 Klunker 5, one of the rarest of all Schwinns \\
 [[https://ratrodbikes.com/forum/index.php?threads/1978-schwinn-klunker-5.108802/|ratrodbikes]]
</div>


<div column 50% #spitfire>
----
===== 1979 Spitfire 5 =====
After the name "klunker" proved unpopular, a new chainguard was created with a snappier name and once again it failed to even make a catalog. Very few were sold, despite a low price of $120. And a weight of 45 pounds...
</div>

<div column 45%>
{{spitfire.jpg?300}}
\\
1979 Spitfire 5 \\
 [[https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/1979-schwinn-spitfire-5-original-chicago-built-cruiser-w-atom-drum-brake-550-00.153834/|Cabe Classifieds]]
</div>


<div column 50% #kingsting>
----
===== 1981 King Sting 5 =====

After giving up on klunkers in 1980, Schwinn continues to not get it in 1981. Somehow, perhaps due to their unpopularity and thus rarity, King Sting 5's go for $5000 and up on eBay. Where $500 will get you an early Stumpjumper...
</div>

<div column 45%>
{{kingsting.jpg?300}}
\\
1981 King Sting catalog entry \\
 [[http://bikecatalogs.org/SCHWINN/1981/Catalog/King-Sting_5.html|bikecatalog.com]]
</div>


<div column 50% #kingsting10>
----
===== 1982 King Sting 10 =====
Now Schwinn sees the light. Decent gearing (40x48 - 14-38) and weight (26 lbs.) Crap components and overpriced, Schwinn fails to capture any market share. Lasted two years.

</div>

<div column 45%>
{{kingsting10.jpg?300}}
\\
1982 King Sting 10\\
 [[https://bmxmuseum.com/bikes/schwinn/43121|bmxmuseum]]
</div>

<div column 50% #sidewinder>
----
===== 1982 Sidewinder 10 =====
Nearly the same as a King Sting 10, with cheaper components, if possible. Three year production run.

</div>

<div column 45%>
{{sidewinder.jpg?300}}
\\
More popular than the King Sting. \\
Fairly common on eBay.
 [[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/Bikes/1982_Schwinn_Sidewinder.html|mombat]]
</div>

<div column 50% #s1982>
----
===== 1982 All-Terrain Mountain Bike =====

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]]))

{{1982.jpg?360|All-Terrain Mountain Bike}}
\\
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]]

</div>

<div column 45%>
{{1982ad.jpg?300|All-Terrain Mountain Bike}}
\\
1983 catalog entry.
[[https://www.ebay.com/itm/304396088128?hash=item1983+Schwinn+Mountain+Bike,+fairly+unknown+due+rarity+early+MB+by+Schwinn|ebay]]

</div>

<div column 50% #sierra>
----
===== 1983 Sierra =====
Getting there. Schwinn just can't let go of the BMX stem and handlebars. In 1984 it came with a triple crankset. The Sierra model name ran for many years, in many different incarnations.

</div>

<div column 45%>
{{sierra.jpg?300}}
\\
1983 Sierra
 [[https://bikehistory.org/catalogs/1983.html|bikehistory.org]]
</div>


<div column 50% #highsierra>
----
===== 1984 High Sierra =====
In 1984 Schwinn switched to a triple crankset and the Ritchey invented bullmoose handlebars.

</div>

<div column 45%>
{{highsierra.jpg?300}}
\\
1984 High Sierra
 [[http://www.cyclofiend.com/cc/2007/cc268-spencerbaker0307.html|cyclofiend]]
</div>

<div column 50% #cimarron>
----
===== 1985 Cimarron =====
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.
\\
\\
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. 

</div>

<div column 45%>
{{cimarron.jpg?300}}
\\
Just swap the handle bars, and it would be good for Repack.
And maybe those tires...
 [[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/Bikes/1985_Schwinn_Cimarron.html|mombat]]
</div>



<div column 50% #s1987>
----
===== 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>


----
==== Production Notes ====
<WRAP #prod1 />
[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 />
[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.