Vintage Schwinn Bikes Guide: Which Models Are Worth Buying?

Schwinn’s catalog copy for the last fillet-brazed Superior ( ) did begin to mention “hand made” and a little more on fillet brazing. Again, perhaps Schwinn didn’t highlight the fillet brazed models for fear of overloading its handbuild capacity. In 1978 production of the fillet-brazed Superior stopped, which huffy mountain bike marked the end of production for a fine Schwinn frameset whose basic design had been in service since 1938. Today fillet brazing is a fabrication method best suited for custom and specialty bicycles, yet from 1938 to 1978 you could walk into any Schwinn shop and buy this kind of bike off the rack.

The seat and down tubes, as well as the top tube on the largest frame sizes, are slightly oversize at 29.5 mm in diameter. Schwinn’s mountain bikes are designed for off-road riding, and feature suspension forks and rugged tires. Schwinn’s city/commuter bikes are designed for everyday riding and feature comfortable seats and upright handlebars. Nishiki’s mountain bikes are designed for off-road riding, and feature suspension forks and rugged tires.

schwinn bicycles

Schwinn SmartStart bikes are an incredible feat of kid-size engineering. From top to bottom, they’re designed to help kids in motion stay in motion. This famous vintage Schwinn exercise bike with a sleek and curvy frame was produced from 1966 to 1982. The Paramount was first introduced in 1938 and became one of Schwinn’s longest running models. Prior to the 1950s, high street retailers bought non-branded bikes from producers and then put their own branding on them.

Both offer a wide range of products for different cycling needs and budgets. If you plan on riding often or increasing your fitness on the bike, it’s better to invest a little more upfront on your bike, so that it will be able to grow with your experience level. Another option is to buy a bicycle with a frame that you enjoy now, and if you need to, upgrade the individual components later. Founded in 1974 in a Southern California huffy mountain bike garage, Mongoose has always been an aggressive brand with products that push the limits of what a rider can do. From the biggest hits on the mountain or in the park to the urban jungle, Mongoose is an authentic brand that produces durable products built for real riders. As the parent company of such legendary brands as Schwinn, Mongoose and Kid Trax, Pacific Cycle delivers some of the biggest names in outdoor recreation.

These brakes are designed for all-purpose riding, and they’re relatively easy to operate. This means that riders of all heights and builds can find a Nishiki huffy mountain bike bike that’s comfortable and suits their riding style. Schwinn bikes, on the other hand, are typically made from steel, aluminum, or carbon fiber.

Aluminum is a lighter and more durable material, which gives Nishiki bikes an advantage when it comes to speed and maneuverability. These mostly 10-speed bikes were introduced in the 1960s to compete with the influx of European racing bikes. By the early ’70s, the Varsity and Continental had become leading models and were produced in large numbers up until the 1980s. It was their top-of-the-line model, made with high-quality components and only produced in relatively limited numbers. They had excellent Reynolds steel frames and high-end Campagnolo groupsets.