1986 Schwinn Super Sport... Just Got It

[PfishB]

Looking good!

 

[Schwinn Sales West]

Getting closer each day to finishing.

Original wheels are back on, and it turns out that the spokes were on there (front wheel). For whatever reason, it looks like the guy tried to work on it and lost the pieces to put the spokes back on. Since I keep extra wheels for parts, I fixed it and trued it myself. I'll see how it rides when I'm done.

I found out that back in 1986, the bike retailed for $500. Quite a bit for almost 40 years ago.

View attachment 2251815

Decals and original paint are delicate.
Even when these bikes were 40 years newer, we would never allow one of our mechanics to clamp on the seat tube or top tube. If the frame gets "just bumped" and twists inside the Park Repair stand clamp, it will remove the water slide decal.
The safest clamping point is to raise the seat post and clamp on the seat post itself.

John

 

[HARPO]

Decals and original paint are delicate.
Even when these bikes were 40 years newer, we would never allow one of our mechanics to clamp on the seat tube or top tube. If the frame gets "just bumped" and twists inside the Park Repair stand clamp, it will remove the water slide decal.
The safest clamping point is to raise the seat post and clamp on the seat post itself.

John

Bike is resting gently on the stand. Not tight, but enough that it doesn't move, as I do this with all of my Roads bikes. Yes, seat post would be the ideal location as almost all do, but I prefer this.

 

[HARPO]

Finally finished... well, almost. Needs a new chain (I had an old one to just put on) and I see spots I missed on the Detailing that showed up in the photos. Anyway here are my usual barrage of photos.

 

[HARPO]

BTW, I left the toe clips on (which I hate) for the photos. If I keep the bike, I'll remove them. Not sure at this point what I'm doing with it.

 

[Schwinn Sales West]

BTW, I left the toe clips on (which I hate) for the photos. If I keep the bike, I'll remove them. Not sure at this point what I'm doing with it.

Riding those Shimano "Aero Pedals" without the toe clips will be almost impossible. It would be better to just change the pedals to your liking.

John

 

[Eric Amlie]

It would be better to just change the pedals to your liking.

I too do not like toe clips. For my style of riding(old guy) I don't need the extra efficiency that they afford.
I change all my pedals to MKS Sylvan touring pedals, except for my vintage French road bikes that I use Lyotard 460d pedals on.

 

[HARPO]

Riding those Shimano "Aero Pedals" without the toe clips will be almost impossible. It would be better to just change the pedals to your liking.

John

Yes, you're correct. I've done it for short rides, and it's not to comfortable. I'll just swap them out.

 

[Lill_ie]

I just picked up a super sport this evening, little rusty but it'll clean up nice. I was wondering where to find the serial number. A cursory check of chainstays, bottom bracket and headtube. Minor rusty patches should clean up. Im excited to get this back on the road.

 

[Schwinn Sales West]

I just picked up a super sport this evening, little rusty but it'll clean up nice. I was wondering where to find the serial number. A cursory check of chainstays, bottom bracket and headtube. Minor rusty patches should clean up. Im excited to get this back on the road.

View attachment 2347347

The frame serial number is not very important.
The actual date of manufacturer is stamped into the name plate. It's a four-digit number. The first three are the day of the year, the last number is the year.

John