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Is it a real Schwinn Cruiser Deluxe 100th Anniversary bike?

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I bought a Cruiser Deluxe new in 1996. It's been a great bike, and I've put a lot of miles on it. LIked the style, but it was more about utility. I never thought about where it was made, or what parts were used, or any of that. I've only recently become more aware of what was going on with the brand at that time, and the fact that the details of Schwinn cruiser models started to vary quite a bit soon after my bike was made. I've learned a lot from this thread, but I can still get confused when I try to examine things in detail. I'd like to learn all I can about my bike, but also I think that keeping this topic alive as a resource is worthwhile, and may help to educate others and hopefully clarify the history of what was happening with the evolution of the brand.

So when I got mine, I remember that they had them in three different two-tone color options. The memories are a bit fuzzy now, which is an example of why I wanted to resurrect this topic. The three main colors were red (maroon), green, and blue. The red and green bikes had secondary colors of creme and black, but I can't remember for certain which primary was paired which which secondary. Based on a green example posted earlier in this thread, and its similarities to my bike, and from what I've found thus far in online image searches, I think the combinations I saw in the store in '96 were probably red/black and green/cream (but I've seen a number of similar bikes in green/black, and I want to say that I've also seen red/cream). I chose the two-tone blue option. I not only preferred the look of it, but as I recall they said that the blue was more of a limited production thing, which appealed to me. They only had the one blue one, and I remember that there were several reds and greens in stock that day.

So basically I just wanted to try to focus on some details (and ask for help with same) about these bikes, and to try to continue to let this thread be a resource to get into details about similar models that were coming out around the same time and beyond. I guess I'm pretty detail-oriented, but even with my limited knowledge I've been able to detect mistakes that people sometimes make when talking about bikes of the late 90's into the early 2000's (like on youtube, etc). It can get pretty confusing. I mean, the model names ("Cruiser Deluxe", "Deluxe Cruiser", "Cruiser Classic", "Classic Cruiser"), the design detail variations and overlaps... I suppose it all kind of reflects the chaos the brand has gone through. But mainly I wanted to see if details about the models produced in the latter 90's could be sorted out with some clarity.

For a starting point, here are a few images of a blue Cruiser Deluxe that's essentially identical to mine. The only difference is that my bike did not come with a rear reflector or a tail light (and I've never added any "Phantom-like" features to mine. In fact, I removed my rear rack in 1996 and never put it back on!)

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Note some differences (chainguard, fenders, seat) between the above blue example like mine, and the C.D. image below, from the 1996 Schwinn catalog. The above chainguard in particular seems to have been a short-lived design feature for these (and later) "reissue" cruisers, and are perhaps the first thing I look at when trying to identify CD's that are essentially the same as my '96 (and likely to have parts of similar design and quality). The flared fenders added a lot to the look (even without all of the Phantom details), and the seat pictured below had that added padding on top that made an already large and rather un-photogenic seat look that much bigger and bulkier (even without the extra padding, the darned things were already very comfortable).

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I just picked one up just like the ladies bike in the pic and would like to know more about the quality and issues or such
 
They ride good but have rust issues on all of the chrome and worst are screws, like on chain guard to frame bracket can pop head off easy. other body and fender nuts, bolts and screws: Really crappy soft steel. Don't let em rust or you can end up drilling and re-tapping em. Paint is thin so, yeah feels like Schwinn but rusts like Murray and other cheap stuff. . Oh yeah, Salt water, salt on roads or brackish water., is a no, no. Rain, ice, dust and mud; Clean EVERY Thing after use! Once it starts it wont stop. Something about the metal that sucks humidity into it.
 
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They ride good but have rust issues on all of the chrome and worst are screws, like on chain guard to frame bracket can pop head off easy. other body and fender nuts, bolts and screws: Really crappy soft steel. Don't let em rust or you can end up drilling and re-tapping em. Paint is thin so, yeah feels like Schwinn but rusts like Murray and other cheap stuff. . Oh yeah, Salt water, salt on roads or brackish water., is a no, no. Rain, ice, dust and mud; Clean EVERY Thing after use! Once it starts it wont stop. Something about the metal that sucks humidity into it.
Jeff, you nailed it, absolutely spot on
 
I just picked one up just like the ladies bike in the pic and would like to know more about the quality and issues or such
Post some photos.

I don't buy the idea that all of the Schwinns from that period were terrible rust buckets. Yes, I've seen some examples where it got bad, but I've seen many more that have aged nicely and still look absolutely fine (like my bike, bought new circa 1997). Part of it may be variations in the quality of parts (big box store bikes vs bikes retailed through dealerships and better bike stores), and some of it (obviously) would have to do with how well people took care of their bikes (and also geographic locations). But they are NOT all destined to become rusty messes.

One other thing. Several months ago, we were shopping around casually for a cruiser for my wife. We answered a CL ad for a Schwinn (I've forgotten the model name). In the photo from the ad, the bike looked clean. When we got to the seller's house and looked at the bike, I saw rust in several places, and we opted to pass. When I got home, I looked up more info on the bike, and it turned out that it dated to somewhere around 2005-2010.
 
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Post some photos.

I don't buy the idea that all of the Schwinns from that period were terrible rust buckets. Yes, I've seen some examples where it got bad, but I've seen many more that have aged nicely and still look absolutely fine (like my bike, bought new circa 1997). Part of it may be variations in the quality of parts (big box store bikes vs bikes retailed through dealerships and better bike stores), and some of it (obviously) would have to do with how well people took care of their bikes (and also geographic locations). But they are NOT all destined to become rusty messes.

One other thing. Several months ago, we were shopping around casually for a cruiser for my wife. We answered a CL ad for a Schwinn (I've forgotten the model name). In the photo from the ad, the bike looked clean. When we got to the seller's house and looked at the bike, I saw rust in several places, and we opted to pass. When I got home, I looked up more info on the bike, and it turned out that it dated to somewhere around 2005-2010.


Their is one mark where credit is due, at least up too 2002 as I have not an opportunity to qualify yet; your recent evaluation "2005-10" underscores that risk has increased and crap over crap continued with Doral and PC's guidance..

The axel and axel nuts are much harder than the other junk. I mean I saw 60's crap too today's and a loose wrench or over torque would strip em. The worst I know of would have been Royce Union and any other in that line, of just plain JUNK with another name or brand, not withstanding Murry and Huffy albeit, slightly better than, there's plenty. just fricken unbelievable anybody would step that low all those year ago. And it did take Schwinn quite some time to get down to Mur and Huff's level.

Now, I have not attempted to test this but they do, for today's limits, look and feel as if it meets what a consumer should have. I do not expect it would be as well forged as Schwinn did' back in the day except, it's hard enough and wont strip like junk could in the 60's pile of wrought.

Yet what's on the out leaves plenty room to presume bearings and other vital internal parts such as brake and gearing. are suffering. Plus , bring us past the ninety's, more up to date, according to your own citing, Are my parts the same or, more reasonably, most likely; , worse? There's more reason to not trust Doral and PC. Regardless, the axel nuts are the only thing I can agree with and axels seem to maintain enough so they can torque down without stripping too. . Maybe the locking washers too but they need the test of consumer's wear and tear too prove it as, I doubt a mountain or BMX would qualify them the same. I do not expect professional tolerance nor the need for average, at a comparable price point to be harder and . Yet they're not rusting like the rest of this scam crap is. So, after the rest rots off, ya got a few things left over as replacements for your honkey A old Royce unions. :p
 
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I’m the original poster from March 2013 and it’s great to hear the pros and cons of the 1995 Schwinn Anniversary Cruiser Deluxe bicycles. I bought the boys cruiser back in 2013 and then the girls model in 2017. I enjoyed riding my boys bike around and it rode fine. I took care of it and kept the paint clean and waxed and polished the chrome and did the same for the girls bike. Anyway, I sold the pair to a NH bike guy earlier this year and hopefully he takes as good care of them as I did......fun bikes! Great memories on group rides.

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This is the first time I've ever heard of "Arc & Spark Welding". Were they subcontracted to Aerocycle Enterprises? If you have first-hand knowledge, feel free to share. I, for one, would like to know!
Arc & Spark did all the frame fabrication, with the exception of the tube bending which was outsourced. I have not heard of Aerocycle Enterprises, but it is likely a cover name for the project which was run by very knowledgeable people under contract to Schwinn. The person selling the frames was also a very experienced frame builder that was fully capable of brazing up prototypes (so possibly these were not built by Arc & Spark). I know there were a lot of reject tubes that were not bent properly in the early stages.
 
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