About Those Muscle Bikes!

 Krates  Fastbacks  Classics

Muscle bikes mimick the souped up Mustang's, Camaro's and many other street rods that were hot in the late 1950's and early 1960's. These 2 wheeled wonders were an overwhelming success right from the start. First to hit the pavement was the Classic Sting-Ray soon followed by the Lemon Peeler, Apple Krate, Fastback and numerous other Schwinn muscle bikes.  

The original Sting-ray was so successful millions sold the first year. Would anyone gamble with perfection? Could anyone have possibly improved on the Classic Sting-Ray? But that's just what Schwinn did. It's 1969 and the Krate series moves in for the challenge. The Schwinn Krates are irresistible and like the icing on the cake, come out shinning. 

The wide 20 inch slick tires, banana seat, high rise handle bars, stick-shift and the super strong light weight frame make them so cool and easy to maneuver. It's almost as much fun thinking about it as it was experiencing it.

Vintage Schwinns - How To Find Yours

What makes a vintage Schwinn a big deal? 

Here's a little of Schwinn's history. Ignaz Schwinn, with his partner Adolph Arnold, incorporated the "Arnold, Schwinn & Company" on October 22, 1895. Within a few short years of its creation, the company became an acknowledged technical and quality leader of the American bicycle industry. 

Schwinn 1930's Saddle

After the "Great Depression", Schwinn broke with tradition and debuted the Aerocycle, the first bike with balloon tires, and added a large spring-supported saddle that made the ride smoother and more comfortable. By the 1950s the company's product was called "The Cadillac of American Bicycles."

Over 40 patents were issued to Schwinn for bike improvements during their glory years. By the turn of the twenty-first century, the name "Schwinn" brings to mind classic models, like the 1949 Phantom, the 1963 Sting-ray, and the 1968 Krate. Schwinn focused on durability and safety from the beginning.  Schwinn is now an American icon, a world leader in technology and innovation. It's no wonder they remain in high demand among collectors unto this day.

Collecting Schwinn Bicycles, particularly the classic Chicago-made Schwinn, is a past-time that captures the attention of many a Schwinn enthusiast. Any genuine vintage Schwinn, in mint condition, is a beautiful sight on the street, often turning heads and coveted by all who see it. Knowing how to identify a "Genuine Vintage Chicago Schwinn" is of utmost importance to the collector. Schwinn's were made in several parts of the world at different times, and no factory ever produced a bike as renowned or well built as the "Vintage Chicago Schwinn." To identify a Vintage Schwinn, read on.

Find the serial number on the bike frame. From 1960 to 1969, Chicago Schwinn's had the serial number on the right rear axle mount. 

From 1970 to 1979 the Chicago Schwinn's had the serial number on the lower end of the head tube. 
After that, most serial numbers were stamped onto the bottom bracket shell. If the left rear axle mount is stamped with a serial number, then the bike was made in Taiwan in the 1980s. Pre-1960 Schwinn's had no real system for serial numbers, so you will have to look around and compare them to a database. Here is a link to one that also provides additional make and model designations. Schwinn Serial Numbers And Date Codes

Check the serial number to find the date of production. Up until the 1960's there was no set system to go by. After 1960 you can typically find the month and year of production located in the serial number, as well as the factory at which it was produced. The various number systems all identify when, as well as the country of origin where the bicycle was built.

To get an idea of the value of the vintage Schwinn in question, compare the date of production, the model, and the condition of the bike with one of the pricing tables at Old Roads.com. While these aren't all-encompassing guides, they are certainly places to get general ideas regarding prices. Generally, a Chicago Schwinn will be more valuable than any of its foreign counterparts.

Click Image To See Amazing Story

Do an image search online to get pictures of the make and model you are considering for your collection. Try doing a search on eBay for vintage schwinn bicycles. There were many look a likes, so double-checking color, original OEM parts, lugging, and other features is always a good idea before closing the deal. Following these steps will ensure that when you find that good deal on a classic Schwinn, it will be "The Real Deal." Happy collecting!

Schwinn Quality For Over 100 Years

Schwinn has dominated the bicycle industry and redefined two-wheeled transportation over and over for more than a century. Schwinn is an awesome example of the freedom we have in America. Their success, quality and innovative designs are a testament to free enterprise and what has made America a thriving economic leader in the world today.

Of course there are many good bicycle brands available on the market now from all around the world, but nothing has captured the heart and soul of so many, for so long, as the Schwinn brand has. Now with that said, it's no wonder Schwinn is on the first page of the Google search results for "bicycle".

What's a die-hard Schwinn enthusiast to do? You know what I'm talking about. You can't get enough of the classic vintage innovative wonders that are a result of the famous Schwinn Brand Bicycle Company. Just the word Schwinn does something inside of a true Schwinn enthusiast. When you're talking bicycles, you're talking Schwinn. Now let's explore the many avenues one might take to get their own personal Schwinn riding experience.

Schwinn Vintage Bicycles are definitely high in popularity among collectors. From the early no-name bicycles at the turn of the century to the many famous Schwinn's of the 20th century, Schwinn has most always come out on topside. 

The Aero cycle from the 30's, the Phantoms of the 40's, the Cruisers from the 50's, the ever popular Sting-Rays of the 60's and 70's followed by Road bikes, BMX bikes and English racers are among the memorable Schwinn brand. What an impressive first 100 years it has been! 

The eBay website is a great place to find vintage Schwinn's. Check out the many Vintage Schwinn's available for you to see on eBay. If you are particularly fascinated with Sting-Rays, you can also look over their impressive line-up of Sting-Rays on eBay.

Reproduction Schwinn Bikes were made in the mid 90's through the 2000's and are a great way of remembering the vintage brands without having to restore and spend a ton of money. The first reproduction bike made was the Schwinn Black Phantom in 1995 celebrating Schwinn's 100 year anniversary. Others that were produced are the Schwinn Panther Beach Cruiser and Schwinn's Sting-Ray Series including the well sought after Krates. 

Of course these reproduction models are no match for the originals but are true to design and consist of updated components. The popular stick-shift on the Sting-Ray models is omitted and replaced by a thumb shifter on the handle bar. Many of these and other Schwinn Bikes can also be found on eBay.

Looking for a new Schwinn bike? Schwinn may have lost their edge as the #1 manufacturer in the industry but they are still competitive in today's market and have many good quality models to choose from. One of them could be just right for you. 

Choose from road, bike path, cruisers and more. Some 2011 models available are the single speed Schwinn Madison Road Bike for a great ride without the gears. Then there's the new stylish World Market Bike that is very easy to ride. Another classic is the Schwinn Sierra 21 speed with smaller wheels (for those of smaller stature). For cruisers Schwinn has the 700c Nancy Cruiser that is a fun ride (great for picnicking, etc). Check these out in the following video along with Schwinn's brand new design Tango Tandem for those who like to share the ride.

Schwinn offers basically two lines of bicycles. One is the high end line of bicycles featured on their own website and sold through specialty bike shops as mentioned above. These are the Signature bikes that Schwinn is famous for. This is where true seasoned Schwinn bike enthusiast go to snag their next ride. 

The other is a pocket friendly line of lower quality discount bikes offered through mass-merchandisers such as Wal-Mart, Sears and Kmart. These are suitable for the average bike rider.  

Visit a Schwinn bike shop in your area and have a knowledgeable bike professional fit you to a quality new Schwinn.