Vintage schwinn prices

[herr_oberst]

I saw something on youtube or somewhere where this guy built a really sweet fixie out of an old Schwinn Varsity, (vintage Phil hubs, lots of love, nice paint, etc) so, in a daydreaming mood, I went to craigslist to check out how much a frame would cost. Sweet Holy Moses! I only found one Varsity, they were asking 150, and there were a whole bunch of Suburbans for between 1 and 200 bucks. Same with LeTours, and absolutely no Super LeTours on this day.

Doesn't seem that long ago that a beater Varsity/Suburban/LeTour could be had for the price of a couple of six packs at the local thrift store or garage sale (tag sale to you east coasters.) Guess I can put off the fixie project until I rethink the frame, cuz there is no way I am paying that kind of money for cheap non - lugged carbon steel (stamped steel dropouts, ferchrissakes), just because the kool kids are using them!

I think I might start with one of the Giant derivatives from the late 90's instead. They made a zillion of them and some of them were actually pretty nice bikes at the time for the price.

[pwd72s]

And some thought I was robbing Scott when I sold him my old Raleigh Supercourse for $200 + shipping... vintage steel is considered way cool these days. At least Scott got lugged Reynolds tubing...forget the numbers...4030? Something like that.

[Dantilla]

I still have my old Schwinn Varsity, given to me on my 13th birthday. Not sure why I have kept it for so long- I haven't been on it in years.

[crustychief]

restored a 60's for the wife for Valenitnes day last year. It cost about 300 total.

[gtc]

Craigslist people are on drugs.
Check the Portland Goodwill, if it's convenient. My uncle used to pick up decent road bikes (main criteria: 3-piece cranks and aluminum rims) all the time. In fact, my current fixie was purchased there, and a few years back we rode the STP on $20 bikes.
The Portland Goodwill has fairly quick turnover of bicycles, so you can go back periodically if you don't find anything the first time.

[Racerbvd]

They are still out there for reasonable prices, you just have look.

[HardDrive]

I built my single on an 73 Fuji. Was planning on painting it, but I kind of like the Bicycle License from Sioux City, SD on it. It gives it some history.

[fastfredracing]

I found a schwinn Hurricane in a house I went to look at as a potential rental. The hurricane is sort of like a stingray, but it was made in 76-77, and had fake shocks, and motorcycle like seat, havnt made up my mind whether or not to customize it, or restore it.
The real estate agent must have thought I was nuts, I begged her to let me take it.

[scottmandue]

I was stunned by prices on craigslist also... some friends I know are so poor they can barely keep their car running and she works only a few miles from where they live. So I thought I could pick up a decent clunker for $50.

Not so... rust buckets start at $100.

The word "classic" is becoming a curse to our society.

[gtc]

College campuses are another good place to find cheap bikes. Many bicycles are abandoned by students at the end of the quarter/year. Campus security generally cuts them from the bike racks, then auctions them off. Some still don't sell, and these often go to a recycling facility.