1965 Schwinn Varsity Tourist

[GTs58]

Thank you for the additional info! That would certainly explain it for this bike as there is no physical evidence of a front tab ever being on the bike. A ring chain guard will bolt right on to the front chain ring.

I'm looking for the correct upright handlebar, gooseneck stem, and front/rear fenders for this bike if anyone has any leads. Also a correct black seat.

Thanks again all!

Do you have a picture of the complete bike on the drive side? Your serial number was stamped in 1965 but your front derailleur is the 1966 piece. There was a fork and stem change on the 1966 models so there may be some measurements needed to make sure you can find the correct stem if you're going to be replacing the one you have. Size of frame is also needed to find the correct fenders. I believe the 19-21" frame fenders were the same but the 23" frame had the top mounting tab on the rear located differently. Here's a shot of my 1965 Tourist. It's all OEM other than the tires.

 

[MotorDad55]

Here's some additional photos. This Varsity just came out of a basement and hadn't been touched in over 40 years. Appears to be a 23-inch frame size. It's exactly 23 inches along the seat tube from the center of the crank to the top of the top tube. Photos of the original gear shift levers mount area and the rear fender mounting tab near the crank tube.

 

[Schwinny]

Thank you for the additional info! That would certainly explain it for this bike as there is no physical evidence of a front tab ever being on the bike. A ring chain guard will bolt right on to the front chain ring.

I'm looking for the correct upright handlebar, gooseneck stem, and front/rear fenders for this bike if anyone has any leads. Also a correct black seat.

Thanks again all!

Those are still available in great condition and I think I've seen NOS on eBay lately.
Hint:
Frame size matters as well as wheel size and the 27" fenders have a recess for the brake bridge hangar to sit in.

 

[GTs58]

Here's some additional photos. This Varsity just came out of a basement and hadn't been touched in over 40 years. Appears to be a 23-inch frame size. It's exactly 23 inches along the seat tube from the center of the crank to the top of the top tube. Photos of the original gear shift levers mount area and the rear fender mounting tab near the crank tube.

View attachment 2134586

View attachment 2134587

View attachment 2134588

View attachment 2134589

View attachment 2134590

View attachment 2134591

It looks like you won’t be mounting the shifters on the downtube, somebody cut the mounting nubs off.

 

[GTs58]

After looking at all details in the complete bike picture, I feel safe in saying that Varsity was originally build as the Sport model, not the Tourist. That stem is a much later version so it's too small in diameter for your 65. The brake levers are 65 issued drop bar levers so those will have to be replaced for levers used on tourist bars. Finding a 1965 or earlier middleweight bike that's cheap and has the stem, bars and levers for a parts doner will give you what you need. Hopefully that small diameter stem didn't damage the inside of the steerer tube on the fork. The pedals on a tourist model also had the Union large cap bow pedals.

 

[MotorDad55]

Thank you. The reason I thought this would be a Tourist model (and not a Sport or other) is based on the following excerpts directly out of the 1965 Schwinn Catalog (Varsity section

Varsity Sport​

---

Fender equipped model
Smooth riding 10-speed lightweight. Chrome plated fenders, sports style drop handlebars, 27" x 1 1/4" sports touring tires, lightweight Schwinn tubular rims, Sprint saddle and large Flange Sprint hubs. Flamboyant lime radiant coppertone, sky blue or violet.

Varsity Tourist​

---

10-speed
Easy riding 10-speed touring model with Sprint derailleur, 38 to 96 gear, tourist style handle bars, comfortable mattresss saddle, chrome plated fenders, lightweight Schwinn tubular rims, 27" x 1 1/4" nylon sports touring tires, front and rear caliper brakes. Radiant Coppertone, Sky blue or violet.

-------------------------------------

Since the original owner is my brother in-law's father then owned by my brother in-law, and he is telling me it originally had the upright handle bars, I had concluded it was a Tourist. It also had black grips and seat, both fenders, and yes the bow pedals. If we assume the catalog is accurate, then Sports only came with drop handlebars. However, if in fact there are 1965 Sports that originally came with upright handle bars that would be interesting. And as we know, dealers would change out parts to meet customer preferences and needs.

If anyone has a photo or drawing of the two "mounting nubs" for the frame tube shift lever mount and can post it that would be great -- another part to research ;>)

 

[schwinnlax]

Not a closeup, but this is the bare frame of a '65 Varsity tourist I had at one point. You can see the nub where the shift lever mounted. To be honest, the are a pain and actually somewhat dangerous to ride in the tourist configuration with upright handle bars. You have to bend down quite a bit and take your eye off the road to shift each time. After rehabbing, I did not keep this one long.

 

[Schwinny]

It's true, that's a long reach. Better to put a Schwinn shifter plate on the stem and use those downtube bosses to hold cable stops.

And there is a pic of the chainguard ring the OP might be looking for...

 

[Spacecowboy]

From Og poster's description from previous owners, yea that's a tourist model. Got one here and one that's been parted. The tourist has circular guard for the sprint-nervar chainring. Both of mine had the guard, seen some on ebay. At any rate I've switched grips to the air gap, comfort grips from a 72suburban. The parted out one, the shift lever was bent and cracked when I got it, think tossed that frame. At any rate they used huret down tube mounts on english bikes into early 70s, this is probaly what's on your stem. (I'll scroll back up and check your pic) checked...it seems to be similar but not quite a twin stik mount. What I was referring to is different and is just clamp that goes on the downtube.

anyways if your slow rolling in one gear all the time, shifting is over rated. It's 40 mi flat any direction I go here so the downtube mount isn't really an issue riding upright. The tourist model became the suburban a few years later. The stem will be an issue you need that thinner pre66 one for the steertube. Rest is subject to budget. Since the downtube mounts are gone, wouldn't bother chasing pre66 parts to get it ridable.

I'll get to some photos of mine for ya later.

 

[Spacecowboy]

Here's some pics referencing the shifters and chainguard and rear derailleurs. The coffee-maroon one is an early 70s hercules I lucked into. It has the longer huret levers, says huret on the discs on the side. The five speed shifter is on collegiate I haven't decided the fate on yet but you might find a 10 speed version, sprint one like it. The other frame I had I remember now, couldn't sell it at monroe for 5 bucks so I tossed it. I needed the sprint shifter disc off it anyways. The circular chainguard I have have holes, the ones I saw on ebay were a bit different and 5 slots instead of holes to mount but it's otherwise the same. The varsity didn't come with the bash guard, although the collegiate did. There's a different axle nut for that btw. Hope the pics help.