What is this? (Junior Varsity??)

[schwinnmesa]

I'm baffled. I've never seen one of these before, especially with a fork like this (bent)?. Everything is like a 10-speed except it has 24" wheels and a smaller frame. The wheelbase is incredible. The head badge is telling me that it's a 1983 model. How rare are these things? :?: Can anyone lead me to more information? Are they worthless or do they have some value?

Oh, that's my brother. :lol: Giving a comparison on how small it is.

 

[TheFlyingDingo]

Daaaaawwww

ITS SO CUUUTE

 

[Rat Rod]

Looks like someone bent the forks on purpose.

 

[Hooch]

rare? maybe valuable? nope
i have had a couple usually they are destroyed from kids clean it up and flip it to a cute 5 foot tall college girl

 

[fastmunny]

I think thats the kids model!

 

[schwinnmesa]

Looks like someone bent the forks on purpose.

Yeah, weird. If these forks were straight, however, it wouldn't look like a road bike since the top bar would be inclining unlike a traditional 10-speed where it's flat. If they are bent, then how in the world did somebody manage to do that? I don't know. Reverse wall impact? :lol:

Haha. But like Dingo said -- it's cute. :mrgreen:

 

[Rat Rod]

If they are bent, then how in the world did somebody manage to do that?

Ask KOTA. :mrgreen:

 

[Walker]

The pedals look like they would be way too close to the ground for the forks to not be bent. I've got a Jr. Columbia 10 speed in the yard. I should take a photo for comparison...

 

[schwinnmesa]

The pedals look like they would be way too close to the ground for the forks to not be bent.

Very true! Never noticed that.

 

[schwinnmesa]

UPDATE: That fork is a nightmare to straighten it out. I think some old dude wanted to make this bike last so he probably did that to make it bigger, with the seat way up too. :roll: Sometimes I wish people would just leave stuff alone -- more work for me! :x Sorry... previous owner rant. :mrgreen:

 

[Wildcat]

It looks like the bend is a few inches below the fork crown on both blades. Usually an unintentional bend is at the crown, and it is usually bent backwards. I would take those forks, some 2x4's as cushions and put them in a bench vice right at those bends to see if that would do the trick. The rest of the forks look good.

 

[schwinnmesa]

It looks like the bend is a few inches below the fork crown on both blades. Usually an unintentional bend is at the crown, and it is usually bent backwards. I would take those forks, some 2x4's as cushions and put them in a bench vice right at those bends to see if that would do the trick. The rest of the forks look good.

That is some great thinking. I'll try that tomorrow. Thanks for the tip! Where there is a vise, there is power. Muhahaha.

 

[Wildcat]

Also, take the lower race off the forks to look for any cracks in that area and the rest of the forks too. It's possible that those forks have been bent one too many times and have to be scrapped.

 

[Walker]

I'd be glad to send you the fork (or anything) off my Jr. Columbia, just pay the shipping...

 

[schwinnmesa]

I'd be glad to send you the fork (or anything) off my Jr. Columbia, just pay the shipping...

That is very kind of you. I am finished with this project so I won't be needing any parts but thanks for the offer, I appreciate it.

This bike was a nightmare to work on but the job is now complete. I can sleep at night now. :lol:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

 

[McLela]

Schwinn built the 24" Varsity with both the top bar being straight and inclining. The first four photos is of a 1980 10-speed 24" Varsity with the inclining frame. I sold the bike to the young lady in the photo. It was one of the nicest original Varsity's I've seen.

The last two photos are of a 1977 24" Varsity with the straight top bar. The correct wheels for the bike is 24" x 1 1/4" but the wheels in the photos are 24" x 1.75" alloy.

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[slacker]

...clean it up and flip it to a cute 5 foot tall college girl

That is pretty much my current business plan. I made a decision this year; only flip bikes to cute college girls. I have had great luck selling girls bikes. In a university town, it's like shooting monkeys in a barrel. Or something like that. :lol:

Step-through three speeds and mixte frames are flying out the door as fast as I can clean them up. I find my female customers are eager to buy, know what they want and are ready to pay. No low-balling. No crazy stories. No blow offs.

Oh, and did I mention the cute factor?

Here is a bike I picked up today. A 70's Collegiate Sport 5 with 24" wheels. It has the Shimano FF front freewheel system. Never seen one on a 5 speed. Nice plastic spoke thingies, eh? This should clean up nicely.