What year is my Schwinn Super Sport from?

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elise16

Regular
Hi! As the title says, I was wondering if anyone would be able to help me figure out what year my Super Sport was made. I'm by no means a bike expert myself- I just happened upon it when I went to a bike seller in Chicago the last time I was there and fell in love. The man told me it was from 72, but after looking at some of the threads people were saying that sunset orange was only made in 73? Any info would be much appreciated!
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Cycleops

Legendary Member
Location
Accra, Ghana
Sorry I’m no expert on Schwinns despite owning a later model. We’re mostly Brits on here but maybe one of our stateside members can help out. I’m sure @Gravity Aided will have some info. Lovely bike which looks like it’s been nicely restored.

Hello and :welcome: to the forum.
 
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Sharky

Guru
Location
Kent
Nice bike.
Are those rear brake blocks fully on the braking surface when closed? They look a little low, but could be the angle of the photo.
Cheers
 

Gravity Aided

Legendary Member
Location
Land of Lincoln
A truly nice bicycle, despite the Armstrong 1-piece cranks, suicide levers,and the stem shifters. These were made of CR-Mo and were quite expensive in their day. About the serial number- sometimes a serial number was produced in one year, but when the time came, the frame may have been put in the next years' production, and painted accordingly.
https://johns-recycled-bicycle.blogspot.com/2015/10/rays-1973-sunset-orange-schwinn-super.html
http://johns-recycled-bicycle.blogspot.com/2014/07/john-hs-1973-sunset-orange-schwinn.html
That second SS I know of, seen it about back in the day, I think. Super Sports were hand-made, filet brazed, IIRC.
 
OP
OP
elise16

elise16

Regular
A truly nice bicycle, despite the Armstrong 1-piece cranks, suicide levers,and the stem shifters. These were made of CR-Mo and were quite expensive in their day. About the serial number- sometimes a serial number was produced in one year, but when the time came, the frame may have been put in the next years' production, and painted accordingly.
https://johns-recycled-bicycle.blogspot.com/2015/10/rays-1973-sunset-orange-schwinn-super.html
http://johns-recycled-bicycle.blogspot.com/2014/07/john-hs-1973-sunset-orange-schwinn.html
That second SS I know of, seen it about back in the day, I think. Super Sports were hand-made, filet brazed, IIRC.
That makes a lot of sense, thank you! From this I think I can deduce that, while the date codes do point to being made in late 1972, it was most likely put together and finished up in '73. :becool:
 

Gravity Aided

Legendary Member
Location
Land of Lincoln
What is it with American bikes and one piece cranks?
It mostly was Schwinn, who relied on Armstrong cranks for even their best bicycles until the late 1970's. If you saw a 3 piece crank on a Schwinn, it was most likely a Paramount, a truly fine product. All the grocery store and hardware store and department store bicycles had Armstrong cranks as well. Things were geared up for that bigger BB, and it was a forged product, tough as a keg of nails, and about as heavy. Most bicycles were built for kids in the U.S., if you were a commuter or a tourer or a cyclist as an adult in The States, you usually bought British Bicycles. Schwinns were marketed at children and teens, and cycling was looked upon as odd, if you were an adult. I remember only my father and mother riding bicycles on the streets as adults, and later my sister and myself.
 
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