The FIVE SPEED Suburbans are the best Schwinn Suburbans. The reason is simple--------the five speed has the better rear derailleur which was made by Shimano for Schwinn (GT-100 from 1970 to very early 1974......and GT-120 from 1974 )
The TEN SPEED Suburban is essentially just a VARSITY in tourist mode with the tubular fork from the Continental.
Same Huret allvit rear derailleur as the Varsity, same gearing as the Varsity, same front derailleur. and the same LS 2.4 brakes (side pull brakes) as the Varsity..................although you do get the Conti's tubular front fork instead of the Varsity's forged blade fork, the SUBURBAN did not get the centerpull brakes of the Continental. The Suburban TEN SPEED has the same model F freewheel with the 28-14 five gears that the Varsity and Continental have. The front Crankwheels and front derailler are the same as VARSITY/CONTINENTAL (39-52).
The FIVE SPEED Suburban has the Model J freewheel, a slightly better design made in Japan by Shimano with 32-14 five gears.
The 32 tooth lowest (1st) gear offers excellent hill climbing capability with the Single 46 tooth front crank wheel.
The Shimano built rear derailleur is twice as good as the Huret unit on the Varsity, Continental, and 10 speed Suburban.
The FIVE SPEED SUBURBANs and the 1970 to circa 1977 Schwinn Collegiate five speed are perhaps the best ever basic Schwinns.
The 1964-69 Collegiates do not qualify as they have the same crummy Huret rear derailleur as mentioned above and the French made Model F freewheel with the 28-14 gearing as the Varsity/Conti./10sp.Sub/ and thus do not have the useful gearing of the 1970 and later Collegiate which offers significantly better hill climbing and the best durability due to Shimano components instead of Huret.
Circa 1977-1978, you have the FFS (forward freewheel system) which I thought worked really well, and it is certainly durable but many people didn't like it because it added weight................... ......it was good in that it allowed folks a goof-proof way to shift because it did not matter if you were pedalling while shifting..................... .........the weight factor was really nothing because Schwinns with electro-forged frames and ashtabula one piece cranks already weighed five tons, so 1/5 th of a pound wasn't gonna matter..............somebody that was concerned about riding a true lightweight bicycle wasn't gonna be riding a Chicago Schwinn, maybe a Panasonic Schwinn but definitely not an electroforged Chicago Schwinn! They are great durable bicycles that have a great ride if you don't mind riding slow because the WEIGHT will limit your top speed capability versus other makes' that are 30 pounds or less. Slow is a relative term, in this context, it means approximately 17 MPH or less cruising speed on level pavement. That is swift enough for most folks and that 40 pounds of Chicago electro-forged steel will be good for your daily exercise. You probably won't find any bicycles that are more durable and simple to repair at any price, than the 1970 through 1977 FIVE SPEED Schwinn Suburban and 1970-1977 five speed Schwinn Collegiate.
