Let's see your 1981 - 1982 ... 20" "mini" Schwinn Cruiser / Seeking Information

[koolbikes]

I'm pretty positive that Chestnut piece wasn't built in 1980. It was for sale by a collector that had multiple 20" Schwinn Cruisers and a lineup of Schwinn frames in his garage, so the head badge was most likely replaced by him.

I have to agree.

These bicycles were on the Schwinn Sales agenda but no advertisement or promoting went into them until probably late 1981.
Too Late, 1982 came and "The End" of Made in U.S.A. Schwinn Quality production and assembly.

 

[koolbikes]

I agree, I just looked up the build date and it doesn’t match up with the serial #.
koolbikes - not sure if you had seen this one already but this was posted some time ago by dannytheschwinnfreak:

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StrayDog,
Thanks for posting these photos.
My 1981 Chestnut is just a little earlier with a badge number of 1281, odd?
Same handlebars and seat.
Still waiting to see a 1982 dated 20" Schwinn Cruiser?

 

[koolbikes]

My 1981 20" Schwinn Cruiser ... Chestnut ,,, MRxxxxxx Badge # 1281 May 8, 1981
This bicycle has hardly been ridden, the owner had this bicycle hanging at the True Value Sporting Goods - Bicycle Store in Hastings, Mi., as he worked there in the bicycle department and assembled this bicycle back in 1981, never to be sold then. I was able to purchase this year.
Am I the original owner?

 

[coasterbrakejunkie1969]

So what is the deal with the slightly oversized forks on some of these? I know that Ashtabula was out of equation sometime in 1982 and gone by 83.

That is a scrambler fork wider and longer than a Stingray fork and like koolbikes stated allows for the longer 6.5 crank

 

[koolbikes]

That is a scrambler fork wider and longer than a Stingray fork and like koolbikes stated allows for the longer 6.5 crank

This is why I am seeking the 1981 -1982 Schwinn Parts Specifications Sheet, showing the part numbers to determine the correct parts Schwinn used to assemble these bicycles.

 

[koolbikes]

Spent some time on these two MRxxxxxx 1981 20" Schwinn Cruiser's.
The Chestnut had the original wheels and seat in nice condition, so I swapped them to complete the Sky Blue, which is in nicer condition, back to it's original stock condition.
Cruiser's badge numbers are 2 days apart. #1471 & #1491

The original seat is not very comfortable so, I installed a nice Schwinn lightweight seat on the Chestnut and a chrome spring Messinger middleweight seat on the Sky Blue.

 

[koolbikes]

The crank, neck and black large flange front hub are all dated 1980.
The original handle bars are dated 1981, Schwinn part # 7845 16 81

Noticed that the front sprocket on the 20" Cruiser's are slightly different than the standard style.

The stock wheels on the 20" Cruiser have 36 hole Schwinn Tubular S-2 rims with .080 straight gauge spokes. The wheels on the Chestnut Cruiser has 36 hole Schwinn Tubular S-2 rims but the heavier .105 straight gauge spokes and the front hub is an early Joy Tech hub, they may have been replacement wheel set?

 

[GTs58]

Does the chain ring have a dish or offset? Looks like it just has a mark like the tooth area is thicker than the center part, at least that’s what it looks like in the picture

 

[koolbikes]

Does the chain ring have a dish or offset? Looks like it just has a mark like the tooth area is thicker than the center part, at least that’s what it looks like in the picture

No dish or offset, flat.
All my coaster brake Schwinn Cruiser's 26"-24"-20" have the same style chain ring.
Backside photo.

 

[koolbikes]

That is a scrambler fork wider and longer than a Stingray fork and like koolbikes stated allows for the longer 6.5 crank

The 20" & 24" Cruiser's came stock with the 5 1/2" Schwinn one-piece chrome plated forged steel crank set.