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Schwinn Prepares for 120th Anniversary with New Bikes for 2015

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Schwinn Bikes 2015  (4)

At first glance it would be easy to mistake the 2015 Schwinn Classic Deluxe 7 as one of the original 1955 cruisers. Then once you notice the cable leading to the twist shifter for the 7 speed internal Shimano Nexus hub, the fact that this is a modern recreation of a classic becomes more apparent. Schwinn, while a vastly different company than that at the beginning, has managed to stand the test of time – 2015 will be their 120th anniversary. To celebrate, Schwinn is offering a limited run of Classic 7 cruisers. The vintage inspired bikes feature parts that will actually fit directely on the original Schwinns including fender mounted lights and the tank horn.

Last offered in 2008, the 2015 version of the Classic 7 will be limited to 500 bikes and sold for $699. Complete with the springer fork and burly rack the Classic 7 has a great ride – just don’t expect it to be light. The bike is, shall we say, stout. But if you dig the retro style, but want something with modern touches like aluminum rims the Classic 7 will get you there in style.

Schwinn Bikes 2015  (5)

Realistically, Schwinn knows they will probably never get back to their glory days with a Schwinn in every household. Their goals are noble though – they simply want to get more people on bikes. Whether that means one of their higher end rides or a cheap department store bike, if it gets someone to ride they’re OK with that. Bikes like the Allston 1 make that goal easier to reach thanks to their casual approach. Designed for the rider who isn’t going to be wearing specialized clothes or footwear, the Alston is a classic Dutch style steel frame with an extremely upright riding position. Offered in men’s (Brighton) and women’s (Allston) frames, the bikes include a rack, fenders, and a Shimano Nexus 8 speed internal gear hub to be as practical as possible. The Alston and Brighton 1 retail for $599, and the 2 drops the price to $499.

Schwinn Bikes 2015  (6)

Schwinn Bikes 2015  (1)

The Schwinn Transit 2 is an interesting bike that carries its intentions in the front handebar/basket. Designed specifically to fit a 6 pack of beer or old timey soda, the Transit 2 will make trips to your favorite beverage shop a breeze. Equipped with a Shimano Acera 24 speed drivetrain and mechanical disc brakes, it will also make a solid commuter even if you aren’t picking up a sixxer. Sold for $599, the price includes full coverage fenders and a frame designed for carrying heavy loads.

Schwinn Bikes 2015  (3)

As an expansion to the Schwinn Fastback line, the new Fastback RX tackles the adventure touring market. The RX has an N Litened 3 triple butted aluminum frame and fork with more relaxed touring geometry, disc brakes, and a Sora 2×9 wide range drivetrain. Capable of running up to a 42c tire, the RX is an interesting bike at $899.

Schwinn Bikes 2015  (2)

Finally, Schwinn is betting on 27.5″ with their Rocket 1 hard tail. Speced with an SR Suntour XCR Air fork with hydraulic lock out, tubeless ready wheels and tires, and a Shimano XT/Deore 3×9 drivetrain and Shimano M395 brakes, the Rocket 1 has a reasonable spec for $1000. The N Litened 2 double butted aluminum frame uses a tapered head tube but sticks with a QR rear axle. The Rocket 2 will drop the price down to $800 with a downgraded spec, but will still be tubeless ready.

All of the models above are 2015 bikes, but will be available in Fall, 2014.

schwinnbikes.com

 

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joby
joby
9 years ago

Well, the Schwinn that made bikes for nearly 100 years is dead and long gone. Was mildly interesting when Scott Sports owned the trademark (Home Grown and Lawill anyone?) but now seems to be trading off memories of 100% Chinese built commodity bikes.

Blah.

groghunter
groghunter
9 years ago

gotta love the guy who held up the bike then let go real quick for the photo having his shadow visible in the last pic, arms in the air…

MikeC
MikeC
9 years ago

Mongoose, Diamondback, and Schwinn intros all in the same day! W00t!

Schwinn cruisers with IGH are good utility bikes with a bit of style; love the looks and spec on the Transit 2; and that’s a great pricepoint on the Fastback RX. Well done, Schwinn.

Looking for Classic Schwinn? Give Waterford a call…

Grateful
Grateful
9 years ago

I’m with Joby – “Schwinn” ceased it’s existence a long time ago. So its certainly NOT celebrating its 120 yr. anniversary.

What’s the Chinese word for “Poser”, “Schwinn”???

Gunnstein
Gunnstein
9 years ago

Give the Classic a front drum brake and I might be interested. (Single brake bikes are illegal in many countries, for good reason.)

K11
K11
9 years ago

it is just a brand name and logos that were once somebody, and pasted all over well…

@joby, hell yah homegrown stuff that was made in boulder! a friend a a strait6 and a homegrown hardtail, that is until he pulled into the garage with his bike up top. lets say it didn’t end well.

wayway
wayway
9 years ago

I have one of the last Schwinn bikes ever produced in the USA. I really wished that Schwinn management noticed that the brand was an American icon. Did it not occur to them that people were interested in paying more for a Schwinn because it was a USA Schwinn? Instead, they outsourced to communist China, made by people who could care less… and now, either can I.
I wish I could go Hans Ray all over the MBA professor that drove these fools into outsourcing.

Carl
Carl
9 years ago

AND WHERE WILL WE BUY THESE BIKES? WALMART? TARGET? NO THANKS…

joby
joby
9 years ago

@Grateful – Here you go: 拗造型 (Ǎo zàoxíng)

@K11 – I still have my 4 Banger frame (though cracked at shock mount); the Yeti built Colorado bikes were the BEST at the time. Sad to hear about your buddy’s Straight 6 – getting more and more rare. There was a floating brake kit that made the handling competitive until very recently.

@wayway – The problem was lack of foresight and a rapidly changing marketplace. I had the pleasure of talking to Edward R. at the 1992 Interbike in Atlantic City (yes, they actually held it there way back when…) and spoke to him about the MTB market that was blowing up. Given his answer to some of my questions, he didn’t seem to understand some of the areas that Schwinn was lagging compared to Bridgestone, GT and Diamondback (as well as pre-Trek Fisher for higher end stuff). Coupled with the fact that they negotiated a poor deal for manufacturing with Giant along with relocating domestic production to Mississippi, their fate was sealed. In the early 80’s, Giant was prepared to offer a 35% stake in their company to Schwinn for the right to exclusively manufacture Schwinn bikes and were shocked by the terms that were ultimately agreed to – terms that heavily favored Giant and allowed them to use what they learned to launch their own brand that we all know as a top-tier manufacturer. Schwinn never recovered from the strike in 1980 and subsequent move of manufacturing to Mississippi.

wayway
wayway
9 years ago

My next bike is ordered and in production by people who care about cycling as a sport. Sure it’s at least 2x extra in price vs Asian manufacturers (Specialized, Giant, Scott, Neil Pride, Jamis, Fuji, Kastrel, Cervelo, Ridley, Focus.. the list goes on and on) . But cycling is a a technology sport (adapt to the rider) so companies that know the client, and preferably ARE the client will succeed in the performance market. Others will strike deals, battle copywrite laws, and do everything to keep costs low and margins high. Sorry, but I do business during work-time, and can see nothing good coming from outsourcing my freetime.

Buy from people that develop, manufacture, and ride. I wish it was that standard, but currently, that’s bad **s

wayway
wayway
9 years ago

Joby,
Very refreshing to see people with cycling experience and background that dates back to when people cared about their equipment and rode it hard. I’m sure we can all say that a manufacturer from Europe or North America is preferable to a Taiwanese or Chinese manufacturer. During my early cycling career, I didn’t have a lot of money (I made $4.25 per hour but if I worked more than 40 hours in a week, I might get $6.38 for those brief hours on the dockyard. But I still bought ‘Made in the USA’ aluminum frames… then later Ti frames. Later in life I learned the joy of carbon. At the same time, every company in the US (and to a smaller degree, Europe) was pulling the golden parachute and offshoring production.

Brand loyalty? Brand service? Brand awareness? No matter. Simply make them fast and cheap, market worldwide and make it look good. Because the guy in charge is pulling the plug in a few years and everyone around him will get a big bonus from the profits.

Back in the ’90s we called them “Doctor Bikes” because they were so stupidly expensive. Now, I actually choose to pay higher prices because I want a company who develops a unique and superior product. There are just too many instances where a product was made without care, and the short warranty expired and I was out of luck.

And now if you look at where my bike parts are coming from in 2014 vs a few years ago… it’s mostly a warehouse in Taiwan or China where women are dispassionately laying down molds or filing down carbon junctions. However, I wish my bike was designed AND made in a place where after work they ride their bikes… almost closing the doors for so long that customers were a little annoyed. They ride the new designs then return to office late and hold after-hour meetings about how they can make the prototype better while the manufacturing equipment is only a few meters away. The same building is home to where cycling history lines the walls. This is where engineering meets desire… These are innovations I love to see. These are bikes I want to ride.

You, modern-day cyclist… well, sorry but that’s just business. But there are ways to promote the true geniuses of the cycling world. If more people do it, the more fun and interesting our sport will be.

WC

David Lewis
David Lewis
9 years ago

This is not Schwinn, and I would not recommend purchasing one out of brand loyalty.

Schwinn was a case study for a business class I am taking. Near the end, when mountain bikes were gaining market share (remember those days?), Ed Schwinn fired most of the Schwinn executives and hired his younger relatives, with predictable results. The rest isn’t even history.

This is an imported product with an iconic American mark purchased for pennies on the dollar, or rather on the yuan.

David Lewis
Veteran Bicycle Co.
Portland, OR

cj gordon
cj gordon
9 years ago

Another name owned by Dorel of Quebec, Canada. That company is valued at around 2 billion dollars American. Nice to see the Schwinn brand being backed by an outfit with some deep pockets. Last time I checked the bike division of Dorel was the third or fourth largest bike company in the world. May they prosper for many a year. More bikes and bike companies is a good thing whether they be big or small.

R0b0tAt0ms
R0b0tAt0ms
9 years ago

The tomato shriveled up and fell off the vine decades ago. Those metallic flaked homegrown frames will forever be close to my heart, and it saddens me to see the brand diluted so very much.

S.P. Kranzor
S.P. Kranzor
9 years ago

faaaaht

K11
K11
9 years ago

@wayway. well said. I often times use sarcastic ways to explain my stance (mainly because of frustration) seeing what is happening not just to american brands, but other brands around the world, sending all their production, even their premium products overseas.

I am not for or against Trek, but i am glad to see that they are at least manufacturing their best products in-house. it’s more than just “hey the quality of asian made stuff is excellent” there is much more to it, and i was glad to see your comment and how clearly you made your point.

topcheese
topcheese
9 years ago

Just as re-branding the “varsity” and other models is blasphemy, so to is this monstrosity. The name we all came to love, at this point is nothing less than propaganda and marketing to those who had one as a kid, and therefore believe that the Walmart brand is the same product. Cut the crap here folks.
The hands that made made the Schwinn Paramount are still building Quality Hand-Made frames in the USA. The same hands that made my Super Le Tour in ’85…
It is as simple as seeking them out

http://lubeachainbicycles.blogspot.com/2014/06/bike-porn-this-is-how-i-roll.html

D. Hughes
D. Hughes
9 years ago

I have the ladies deluxe 7 purchased in 2007 and still love the bike. I had the original 1955 with the same black and white color combo and loved that bike too. Yeah, it’s made in China but still runs and looks great.

John
John
9 years ago

Another American brand name sold to China. And you want $700 for a bicycle who’s history you had no part of? …..spit……

BLACK M. HENRY
9 years ago

this trying to get a word in edgewise is trying…I HAVE BOTH THE ORIGINAL SCHWINNS AND THE NEEER REPROS…SO WHAT YOU SAY…THEY ARE PREPARED WELL AND RIDE JUST FINE…SO FOLKS…. GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSES AND GO RIDING AROUND TOWN OR JUST THE NEIGHBORHOOD ON YOUR FAVORITE BIKEAS OLD MR. SPOCK YOUSED TO SAY …”LIVE LONG AND PROSPER”SIGNED HENRYOF HENDERSON FLYNRC2PEOPLEPC.COM

Mike
Mike
8 years ago

Funny how some come to a Schwinn article just to hate on Schwinn. No more Chicago, well no kidding Sherlock. Schwinn aren’t what they used to be, that’s true because today’s bike shop Schwinns are better than what Schwinns used to be. Made in Taiwan or China, well so what, so are 97% of the bikes sold in the USA. Want to spend $5k or better for a snob bike go right ahead, if I spend that kind of money for 2 wheels it will say Honda on the tank. I ride a Schwinn Coffee2 five days a week, 10-16 miles a day and I love the bike. I paid $420 for it and the only changes made were the saddle and the addition of a trunk bag and a water bottle. OK, Schwinn isn’t the company it used to be, well nothing is the way it used to be, except that my local Schwinn shop (3 miles from my house) is still run by the same friendly guy who’s had it for decades.

Steve Polzak
7 years ago

No Schwinn are not what they use to be and they are not better. Much more cheaper parts. Those hex bolts so cheap they rime out so easy after a few times. There are a lot of people that have to loosen handle bars and such to put cars in vans,suv’s and so on. And don’t I am just getting on them.my people have been Schwinn people from when my grand pranets came to the U.S. Back when Ford took offin 1901 or so. I got my son a Schwinn and the frame broke. That was in 2001. They did not stand behind it.Up till about 2000 they did,hell you brought a bike back the was screwed and it was do to mfg. they replace the whole bike. Hell gave them a chance again we my son and I got their choppers. Took 6 times to get good bikes and that is with me replacing many of those cheap hex bolts with good ones from hardware store. Problem on choppers brakes no good or wheels over tight would hardly roll and could not loosen with out screwing up the axle. Them and other bikes we have seen band paint jobs many with only half the clear coat.Some frame yes,fenders no.Or even the frame 50/50 that’s bad. If schwinn was still so good there be still manny Schwinn dealers. I only know one place that still has that on his shop and he is not a pure Schwinn dealer. All others that I know have removed that from their shop,and carry have few Schwinn’s. When they show up at Toys -R-Us that is not a good sign. So Mike and others I am glad you have a good Schwinn bicycle.I hope it will be that way for a long time. Mind you I am not saying that you can not get a good one,but it better be from a bike shop that are good and know what they are doing. As yours seams to be.That is what you want,Never buy a bike from T-R-U, Walmart,Target and so on. they don’t have bike people. Oh and our bikes came from a shop and a good one who know what they are doing and stand behind there work. All Schwinn’s they have they have gone over. And when buying a bike not made but still in box if not on the floor, again they good over it and replace any cheap screws and bolts. I wish Schwinn would have done what Harley cycles did and the people would have gotten together to buy the company. For Schwinn is only a name.Schwinn has not been Schwinn since really before 2001. I think really since 1999 for they were thrown up on the selling block and someone in Japan owned them for 3 years. Then they did not want them and again were thrown up on the selling block again.That is when Pacific bought them and has own them since. And they are just money hungry. Seen the same bike twice at T-R-U under Schwinn and Pacific, only different colors. And I mean the same no change but name and T-R-U had to sell it for $30.00 more I was shown the papers and I knew the person working there. We had to laugh For the person over bikes was told to out them side by side. Now you see this and now anything what one would you buy. Oh and I called Pacific and talked to them about the problems. They were not friendly and I did not talk wrong with them,just trying ti find out what was going on and what would happen with that bike the frame broke on my son. They could not give two ying yang’s.Way to stand behind your stuff. But I know other called and had said things so many with us this is how people are getting better Schwinn’s. I for one just think you have a good bicycle dealer Mike no matter what. But I do hope Pacific is doing better with Schwinn, you know with them self’s they are 5 or more bike companies total. Happy biking to all miss the good old days when people stood behind their product every bit of it.

Bob G
Bob G
7 years ago

I started riding Schwinns in the 60’s..still have my Varsity..one tough bike….Owned two Paramounts and both were stolen…began my own bike business and built high end bikes..those days are all gone now…Still, Schwinn is a good bike, not made here, but what is these days?…if you take care of it, they will do just as well as the bikes of yesteryear. There are so many varitations now….we did not even have mountain bikes…I won my first “race” on my Varsity. take a deep breath and give Schwinn a good look…..the components are really good. They are really trying to re-enter the bike market in a big way and I think they are doing a fine job……….

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