Kool Fastback

[NLCTVWguy]

love it love it!
love the big sprocket too
did they come with a whitewall slick on the back?

Hi BR-
The Fastback 5-speeds all got that big 52-tooth sprocket just like a 5-speed
Krate or a Stik-Shift Stingray of the same years. That sprocket is stamped
"MAG" near the hub... a similar one is found on coaster bikes from 70-up and
on 5-speeds like Collegiates and Speedsters, but the others are usually 46-tooth
with a similar 5-spoke appearance.

A coaster-brake Fastback, Krate, or Stardust (girls version of the Fastback)
got the 46-tooth sprocket.

This one is the real deal and looks to be a 70, 71, or 72? I didn't see a serial
number in the writeup, maybe I didn't look closely enough.

Some of the black bikes, the first fastbacks made in 66 and 67, came with
whitewalls, and Schwinn did offer them through the catalog. A pair of real
Schwinn Fastback whitewalls tends to go for $100+ for a set (WW touring
type front, WW fastback Slik rear). Uniroyal made some too, in the
correct Schwinn S-5/S-6 size, and they're a MUCH cheaper alternative to
NOS tires. Currently, the repro suppliers have blackwall Fastback tires
in stock and they go for about $40 apiece... get em while you can, who
knows when they'll go out of stock again.

The tire size on these guys is weird- they're 20x1-3/8" tires with a very
large rim diameter. The outside diameter of the tires is the same as a
20x2.125 slik supposedly. The tire's much thinner, so of course the rim
must be bigger. Just another weird Schwinn-only thing.

I have a campus green 71 and a black 66, both 5-speeds, in CT and for
sale, if anyone's looking for such a ride.

--Rob

 

[NLCTVWguy]

Ah I can read it in one of those pics-
KG date code = Oct 71 date for the frame build. Probably a Christmas 1971 sale.

If you remove the front tire, you may find a corresponding date stamped inside
one leg of the fork- it might be something like "09+1" meaning the fork was
forged in Sept 1971.

You'll know that the bike was built sometime after the later of the two dates.
Later bikes also had a headbadge stamp giving an exact assembly date.

Very cool bike, especially for the price. I like the orange. Bummer about the
seat but they nearly all do it, they split in that same spot across the widest
part of the seat.

--Rob

 

[CCR]

are the fastback chainguards the same as the krates ?

just wonderin if its got a longer front mounting bracket or bigger radius for the sheet metal.

 

[GIMPYBMXER]

man, that is ONE SWEET RIDE........... a friend of mine just scored big on the same bike, oarnge and everything, in just as good of condition except maybe a few less scratches..... got it from the ORIGINAL owner, who still had the originaly touch up paint AND sales brochure......... gave it to him for FREE!!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?!!!? he traded it to another friend of mine for a mountain bike......... (a very nice custom mountain bike......) all this was going on and i didnt even know about it till my second friend got ahold of it and was compleetly detailing the thing......... GRRRRRRRRRRRR.