Vintage Schwinn Varsity

Re: Vintage Schwinn Varsity

Not worth it. I had a Schwin Varsity from about this time. Nice bike for junior high. Now it is time to graduate to something a bit more modern.

Re: Vintage Schwinn Varsity

Check craigs list, police auctions, ebay, yard sales, or garbage collection routes for cheap bicycles.

To me the Varsity is only worth $150 if the paint job is in excellent condition and you collect vintage bikes. Also note that if you buy a used bike expect to have the cables replaced and the hubs repacked, plus other adjustments (around $100). Also there is no guarantee or free maintenance like a LBS. I would say $50 or $75.

I suggest you take a bicycle maintenace course.

See sheldonbrown.com for info on vintage bikes.

Re: Vintage Schwinn Varsity

Agreed. About 10 years ago, I sold a 70s Raleigh Supercourse in excellent, perfecctly running condition (did not need tires, tune up or new cables - I was actually using it a lot at the time) for about $75. I wouldn't pay more than $50 for a Schwinn Varsity in that same condition, unless for some reason you think it's a collector's item.

I don't believe the Varsity was anything special then, and is not a collector's item now - unless someone shows me otherwise.

Re: Vintage Schwinn Varsity

For the record: a Varsity weighs 40 lbs, has relatively poor brakes, and lacks the gear range of modern entry level bikes. The shift levers are dangerously placed on the stem, where they will do damage to your private parts if you ever are pitched forward over the handlebars. The Varsity also has secondary brake levers on the upper handlebars that are even weaker in stopping power than the main brakes, but you will be overly tempted to use them to slow down in some situations. If the slowdown suddenly needs to transition into a hard stop, you will have to jump down to the hoods to really grab the brakes.

(Former Varsity owner)

Re: Vintage Schwinn Varsity

Makes the fully functional, excellent condition Supercourse I sold seem like a bargain. That bike was pretty basic quality ride, but actually a pretty good rider, comfortable and good shifting. My guess would be about 25-28 lbs.

Re: Vintage Schwinn Varsity

Well said.
(also Former Varsity owner)

Re: Vintage Schwinn Varsity

An item's value has a lot to do with the market. Frankly, it can't be worth $150 because if you look around you can probably do better. I just looked at a fairly nice 1970 Varsity for $40. However, there's a cost associated with looking.

I think those are best left to the collectors at either price though. They are heavy bikes. You can do better for less in used bikes.

JFTR, technologically speaking, I have found the range of a 10-speed's chain ratios to be adequate; I wish modern bikes came with fewer ratios and stronger hubs. I have found the brakes work well enough if you get new pads. If you can lift the rear wheel, that's well enough.

i have a schwinn varsity road bike that i re-built last fall.the only reason i think that its worth a lot is because i put a lot of work into it.i tried selling it either to a shop or on craigslist.its still on craigslist.this is my second year of mountain biking,so i dont know a lot about road bikes.i found this one on the tryon bike trails all bent up,so i put used rims,tires,handle bars,and i re painted it.it works for me,going a half mile every day to my middle school.if anyone has any info on it,i would be interested in knowing it all,and even though im only 13,i know more about bikes than i do in any classes in school.thanks.

   Schwinn Varsity's weigh in at 28 pounds as it was designed for a specific task back in the 60's.  That task was to deliver newspapers.  Varsity's have a nickname, "Newspaper Bikes".  all the welds and tubing are almost indestructable, as are the wheels.  The wheels were made from tubular steel, stamped so they have double walls.  You can have a full load of newpapers on the middle bar, on back, and on the handle bars, bump the curb with the front tire, then peg the pedals and walk the tire up the curb.  Your wheel will still be perfectly round.  The bike was made to be strong.  The ten speed gears was to make the heavy load a little easier.  The number of paper carriers that did not have a Schwinn Varsity, wanted one once they earned enough money selling papers to buy one. 

   With the newspapers off the bike, it will move out quite well, and is superbly well suited for trail riding, such as the Katy Trail in Missouri, that goes from St. Charles to Kansas City on compacted cinders.  A Schwinn Varsity will carry tents, sleeping bags, food and gear with ease, for overnight trips on trails.  They will also carry 1 - 5 year olds on the back without twisting the frame.  Try that on a modern high speed road bike of today. 

   I bought many years back a lite weight bike for speed, paid 5 times the price of the Varsity.  But, I lived in the city.  The first curb I came to, I brought the tire up to the curb, not even bumping it, stood on the pegs and walked it up the curb.  And to my amazement, the rim BENT, and wobbled from that moment on.  Lite bikes are just that, lite, meaning don't even try to do anything that will give them a jolt, they will twist and bend.  I sold the bike after paying $100 for a new wheel, UGH. 

   Choosing a bike depends on what you are going to use it for.  Mountain bike for hill climbs, road bike for fast road trips, trail bike for rough terrain, etc.  So, how much money is needed for a full complement of bikes to do the different things you want to do, or.... find a bike that will perform well at many tasks, knowing that it will not do all perfectly, but will be adequate for all.  The one thing the Varsity does well, and it does it superbly is to deliver.... newspapers. 

   The reason you can find them around still today is testimony to how well they were built.  In 1974 the Schwinn Varsity new was $279, if memory serves me well. But know that the minimum wage in 1974 was $2.00 an hour.  As a paperboy, it would take many months in order to save up for a Schwinn Varsity....