The "HOLY GRAIL" of Schwinn MTB frames!

[Xlobsterman]

There seems to be 2 versions of this F&F in the 83 Schwinn catalogs!

There is this lugged frame that is in my 83 dealer catalog, and another non lugged frame with tube forks in the 83 BMX dealer catalog with the same part number?

 

[SirMike1983]

I'd build it up to your liking and ride it. It was designed and manufactured to be ridden, and much of the beauty of something is in its fulfilling its purpose.

 

[Xlobsterman]

I'd build it up to your liking and ride it. It was designed and manufactured to be ridden, and much of the beauty of something is in its fulfilling its purpose.

I do understand your point of view, but I have plenty of bikes to ride, and I don't ride any of them as often as I should!

This frame is museum quality, and it is going to stay that way in my Vintage Schwinn bike collection! Too much of our country's history is being destroyed in today's society, so I will do my part to preserve this piece of Schwinn MTB history for myself and others to enjoy!

 

[Santee]

Thats a pretty cool piece of Schwinn history. Enjoy!

 

[sue12]

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.

Is everyone missing the pic that says ipoopawa? That is a bike company in Japan that made frames for schwinn and others.

 

[GTs58]

Is everyone missing the pic that says ipoopawa? That is a bike company in Japan that made frames for schwinn and others.

Is your poop awa the name of the fork manufacturer? It's not the frame maker.

 

[Xlobsterman]

Is everyone missing the pic that says ipoopawa? That is a bike company in Japan that made frames for schwinn and others.

"Ipoopawa"..............???

I think you are referring too ISHIWATA who is a company that made the tubing used to build the frame and fork!

 

[Les]

Somebody needs glasses. The name on the forks is Ishiwata . Ishiwata was bankrupted in 1990 but the manufacturing has continued as Kaisei tubing and is still available.
Xlobsterman
This frame and packaging is a Museum piece. Excellent reference for those wishing to restore another frame as I am. Frame it in a glass box and hang it on the wall, you very lucky man. Does the seller have knowledge when the shop received it or how long it was in the store.
Know it is not a Bridgestone manufacture, just search Bridgestone Serial numbers and the number is no match. Bridgestone use either a number then letter, ie 5A or a letter then number, ie A5 never two letters as BS. This was to define which of their factories made the frame. Just do a google search for Bridgestone.
As is said my frame also has BS367823 and I have seen a few starting with BS but also other letters as below.
BS357553
BS367578 BS 367641 for this frame
BS367823
BS367845
BS440296
CS472494
CS476244
KS314155
Thus another reason why Bridgestone does not apply by referring to BS when CS and KS are to be seen.
In respect to 1983, the numbers above show a different picture.
The Serial number with the month letters B,C and K indicate something else. The second letter a year as per the Schwinn Chicago format doe indicate 1981 and these frames compare with Specialized 1982 lugged frames and other lugged frames of the period early 1980s. The serial number increase except for KS314155 does show an alignment with one year of manufacture with 6 numbers being applied as Schwinn had in the 80s.
We definitely need a Schwinn employee of the early 1980s to put in a comment.

Does 30 on the end of the box indicate one of 30 made.

 

[Xlobsterman]

Somebody needs glasses. The name on the forks is Ishiwata . Ishiwata was bankrupted in 1990 but the manufacturing has continued as Kaisei tubing and is still available.
Xlobsterman
This frame and packaging is a Museum piece. Excellent reference for those wishing to restore another frame as I am. Frame it in a glass box and hang it on the wall, you very lucky man. Does the seller have knowledge when the shop received it or how long it was in the store.
Know it is not a Bridgestone manufacture, just search Bridgestone Serial numbers and the number is no match. Bridgestone use either a number then letter, ie 5A or a letter then number, ie A5 never two letters as BS. This was to define which of their factories made the frame. Just do a google search for Bridgestone.
As is said my frame also has BS367823 and I have seen a few starting with BS but also other letters as below.
BS357553
BS367578 BS 367641 for this frame
BS367823
BS367845
BS440296
CS472494
CS476244
KS314155
Thus another reason why Bridgestone does not apply by referring to BS when CS and KS are to be seen.
In respect to 1983, the numbers above show a different picture.
The Serial number with the month letters B,C and K indicate something else. The second letter a year as per the Schwinn Chicago format doe indicate 1981 and these frames compare with Specialized 1982 lugged frames and other lugged frames of the period early 1980s. The serial number increase except for KS314155 does show an alignment with one year of manufacture with 6 numbers being applied as Schwinn had in the 80s.
We definitely need a Schwinn employee of the early 1980s to put in a comment.

Does 30 on the end of the box indicate one of 30 made.

I believe the number on the box is in relation to a box count for shipping, and not a production number?

 

[Les]

Xlobsterman,
That is sort of what I meant but of course there may have been other items boxed that are not one of these frames.
I have looked at Panasonic serial numbers that do not match what is on these frames,
eg from Classic Japanese Bicycles
Again no match for what we have.

A = January G = July
B = February H = August
C = March I = September
D = April J = October
E = May K = November
F = Jun3 L = December

EXAMPLES
1982 Professional 7000 2B15380 2B not the same and only a 5 digit SN
2 = The build year 1982
B = Build month – February
15380 = The build number

Les