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schwinn:start [2021/03/31 14:07] – gchandler | schwinn:start [2025/04/27 12:07] (current) – mtbtimeline |
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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 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 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 |
{{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]] |
Fairly common on eBay. | Fairly common on eBay. |
[[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/Bikes/1982_Schwinn_Sidewinder.html|mombat]] | [[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/Bikes/1982_Schwinn_Sidewinder.html|mombat]] |
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| <div column 50% #s1982> |
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| ===== 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> | </div> |
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1983 Sierra | 1983 Sierra |
[[https://bikehistory.org/catalogs/1983.html|bikehistory.org]] | [[https://bikehistory.org/catalogs/1983.html|bikehistory.org]] |
| </div> |
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| <div column 50% #s1983b> |
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| ===== 1983 Paramountain ===== |
| Prototype of later Sierra. Shimano M700 derailleurs, bullmoose bars, brazed frame made in Waterford, WI, sloping crown socket fork, welded bullmoose bars, Takagi Tourney XT crankset (1970s-80s). A red one of these was shown at the 1982 Long Beach bike show. Not in any catalogs. Never offered for sale?? |
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| If this has original components then this is the earliest example of XT M700 showing up on a bicycle outside of print. The derailleur is interesting for having the "Shimano" logo inset on the rear of the body. Date codes would be interesting. Thus this was most likely sold in 1983. |
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| </div> |
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| <div column 45%> |
| {{1982b.jpg?300}} |
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| 1983 Paramountain |
| [[https://www.ebay.com/itm/236050302446|ebay]] |
</div> | </div> |
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===== 1985 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. | 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> |
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| ===== 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> |
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| {{1986.jpg?300|1986 High Sierra}} |
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| 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 }} |
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| 1987 Paramountain |
| [[ https://www.facebook.com/commerce/listing/596149472113883/?media_id=0&ref=share_attachment|facebook]] |
| </div> |
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