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I dont know too much about bikes. I am not in the bike scene quite yet. I am very much into the aircooled volkswagen scene. Maybe I will mount this bike on my 1967 beetle. This bike was my uncles growing up. I believe the speedo is an accessory. The color is Sierra brown I believe. I put new tires on it. Put new brake cables, new derailer cable, polished all the chrome. I have been driving it everyday to school as I am college. The speedo doesnt work, any one know if there is a link/ thread to fix it. Would be super cool to get new parts and have it working. I dont know the year? I am assuming late 60's early 70's.

Here is what you come for. Pictures:

10341478_802335989777804_1534709546945177746_n.jpg


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I like this angle. Looks kinda like an old motorcycle...

10314465_802335959777807_8350886163899946754_n.jpg


Anyone have link/ thread to look at to fix this?

10330471_802336089777794_902394069552078045_n.jpg


Had to add an old chrome polish tin to the luggage rack for vintage effect:

10320554_802335943111142_6393842328799844761_n.jpg


10339700_802335933111143_992503119152590552_n.jpg


10374018_802336093111127_63177517085710845_n.jpg


Here is my sister's that I just got finished. Any idea on the year of this one either?

10370364_802335986444471_2925493044043720606_n.jpg


Looking forward to your responses!!!!
 
I'm guessing they are both late 60's bikes. Any name on your chain guard? The serial numbers on the rear dropout will give the year. Welcome, and post up an intro. Here's a look up tool:
http://schwinncruisers.com/serial-number.html
 
Very nice looking Schwinn Collegiates you have there. There are people on this forum that can give you a idea of the year. Sadly I'm not one of them.
 
Well it appears that the Sierra brown bike was made in February of 1970. The yellow one my sister rides was made in June of 1972. Seems kind of funny that there is a gap in the production times, but it also explains somethings. The brown one was purchased for my uncle who would have been 14 when it was made. The yellow one was my grandmother's. I wonder if my uncle loved the brown one so much he suggested that my grandmother should buy the yellow one a couple of years later? Thanks for the serial number link. Does anyone know of a thread that exists about the speedo and how I could fix it?

Here are some vintage pictures. Funny that the "cool yellow" bike has those gumwall tires now, it had blackwalls before, but gumwalls appear to be the originals.
1972_schwinn_lock.jpg


Here is the brown one from the catalog:
1970_schwinn_collegiate_tourist_collegiate_sport.jpg
 
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I was close. They look to be in great condition. Your speedo looks like the cable and part that goes on the front axle are missing. It may an easy fix if that's all it needs. Probably letting the local bike shop (LBS) see if they have them and can install them would work best.
 
I believe in chrome polish. I think all people should try chrome polish unless they are running a super rat look. This bike is pretty great. It has some of the red primer coming through that gorgeous rootbeer color. Its got patina where the brake and derailer cables run along the body. Just delicious. I ran into a NOS Schwinn front emblem, but the patina one matches the bike too well:

IMG_12221.jpg


This is why I believe in chrome polish and toothbrushes:
Before:
1382806_804360809575322_3473452369324144215_n.jpg

After:
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before:
10291115_804361266241943_4553034285297046557_n.jpg

after:
10409499_804360886241981_1925332379633277201_n.jpg



Polish made the bumpers on my volkswagen beautiful. I do have the original shaft and mechanism that make the speedo work. Just no cable and I am not sure how it works. I will look into it at the bike shop.
 
Right on! The quality of chrome on Schwinn and some other bikes back then was very good. The paint was also very good, and the shades Schwinn used were great. The coppertone they used from 63-67 is my favorite. The speedo cable is a square cable that turns a spindle in the housing. Sounds like you may have an easy fix. Myself, I don't like any drag, even if it's barely noticeable.
 
gave this bike back to my cousin as it was his dads. was a good bike that summer, but I havent ridden it since summer of 2014 and my cousin is into bikes and he'll use it. the bike was always too small for me as im 5 11'' and its a kids bike but it sure did get a lot of attention
 

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