The "HOLY GRAIL" of Schwinn MTB frames!

[DrRumack80]

No intention of building it up! My main intention was for a wall hanger! But then I got to thinking this may be pretty valuable since it is a pretty rare find NOS in the original box?

Good idea to keep it NOS. I doubt many of these frames were made to begin with. To find one NOS in the original box is extremely rare.

 

[DrRumack80]

When I saw "BS" starting the serial number I immediately thought Bridgestone. They are made in Japan as well.

Panasonic made bikes for Schwinn in the 70's (World Voyageur, perhaps others).

 

[detroitbike]

I am not aware of Bridgestone ever building frames or bikes for Schwinn?

I purchased the frame from someone who just purchased a bunch of bikes from a bike shop that recently closed up! They had a few bikes posted for sale, with a couple that were NOS in the box, so I sent them a PM asking what they had. They replied that they had a frame that was still in the box, so I requested pics, they sent the pics, and the rest is history..............!

Bridgestone built trike labeled Schwinn

 

[Xlobsterman]

Bridgestone built trike labeled Schwinn

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So what year is that bike? How can you tell it was made by Bridgstone?

 

[cyclingday]

Wow!
Great find!
I love the lug built frame.
The curse of N O S in the Box.
You can’t do anything with it, except display it for the fabulous artifact that it is.
Especially when it’s something so unusual.
Super neat piece!
It does show, that Schwinn was in the game.
It’s just too bad they didn’t keep their eye on the ball, when the MTB curveballs started coming their way.

 

[Thee]

I love the upside down head badge, it gives it its own uniqueness! But knowing how the Japanese pride themselves in producing high quality products with attention to detail, it is hard to see how it made it past the "Quality Control" final inspection that way?

Factory defect ? Hence it sitting around since then?

 

[SKPC]

Very well made frame, BdgStn or otherwise. Good tubing, nice paint. Yea, schwinny was not and never was in the mtb game after going overseas. Don't think mtb was a priority for them when it took off nor was it ever. Not many early mtb-ers were riding Schwinn made bikes back then when the sport was growing rapidly. Too bad it isn't a butted tube frame! You could build that up with period correct NOS stuff and then you would have a real Schwinn collector showcase bike for sure.

 

[DrRumack80]

Very well made frame, BdgStn or otherwise. Good tubing, nice paint. Yea, schwinny was not and never was in the mtb game after going overseas. Don't think mtb was a priority for them when it took off nor was it ever. Not many early mtb-ers were riding Schwinn made bikes back then when the sport was growing rapidly. Too bad it isn't a butted tube frame! You could build that up with period correct NOS stuff and then you would have a real Schwinn collector showcase bike for sure.

Schwinn got into the mtb scene a bit late, but they produced some fine bikes. The '84 Sierra and High Sierra were an admirable effort. Later, the Cimarron, Paramountain, and KOM were all excellent, serious mountain bikes. If only they had gotten the Sierra/High Sierra to market in '82 or '83....

 

[Xlobsterman]

Factory defect ? Hence it sitting around since then?

IMO it is not a defect, just a mistake! Humans are prone to making mistakes, that is why they still make pencils with erasers on them..........LOL

The upside down badge is similar to the upside down serial numbers on some of the Chicago bikes! Either way, I like it that way. Not only is this a rare frameset, but it just may be the only one ever produced with the badge upside down.............?

 

[Thee]

The upside down badge is similar to the upside down serial numbers on some of the Chicago bikes! Either way, I like it that way.

It’s cool ! Sure gives it character !