SchwinnBikeForum

Schwinn by Giant

Started by OldBaldie, Nov 28, 2024, 12:10 PM

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OldBaldie

Picked up a Schwinn Tourist a few years back and after some research found out it was manufactured by Giant (Taiwan) for Schwinn in the early '80s. It a 3 speed, front brakes with a coaster break in the rear. A good knock around bike for around the neighborhood. The frame is a lug construction. Seat isn't original, looks like it came off an exercise bike.

What I find odd is that its a taller frame, but the actual seat and handlebar heights are the same as my smaller frame Suburban, but I feel taller when I ride it.
1970 Schwinn Twinn Deluxe Sky Blue
1973 Schwinn Suburban Opaque Blue Men's 5sp
1973 Schwinn Suburban Opaque Blue Woman's 10 sp
1973 Schwinn Continental Opaque Blue Men's 10sp
1980's Schwinn World Tourist Sky Blue Men's 3 sp (Mfg by Giant)
1972 Peugeot UO-8 Green Men's 10sp

rickpaulos

That is a World Tourist.  Looks like some of the decals are worn off.

Schwinn had them made by Giant of Taiwan for a few years.  82 to 86 or so.
Most of the Giant built Schwinn bikes have the Giant date code on the frame.  often on the opposite dropout from the serial number.  The Giant Date code is Gmmyy.  The first digit of the serial number would be the last digit of the year. And they usually put the assembly date code on the head badge where the 4th digit is the year.  Shimano derailleurs and brakes and cranks have date codes but your bike doesn't have those parts.

The World Tourist was sold mostly in 5 or 10 speed versions. Some had the FFS and/or Positron index shifting.  I have about 4 right now.  21 or 23 frame sizes were the most popular.

The World Tourist was the replacement for the Suburban when the Chicago factory was closed up in 1983.

The big sellers from Giant were the World and World Sport, both dropped bar 10 or 12 speed bikes.   The World was the replacement for the Varsity.  Carbon steel frame with all steel parts.  The World Sport was a big upgrade with cromo main tubes and mostly aluminum parts for a mere $39 more.  By 1988 the World was gone and the World Sport was being made in Greenville Mississippi.

JeffC

The first years for Giant made World bikes was 1979. I owned a 5 speed Tourist model with a 1979 build date on the head badge that was most likely a 1980 model year bike. I sold it at the Trexlertown swap to a forum member.

1979 World Sport




1980 Giant World bikes


OldBaldie

Yes its a World Tourist, forgot to include World in the original post.

Looking at the Brochure above, It looks like the 5 speed. One of the former owners must have removed the rear brake system and replaced the 5 speed rim with a 3 speed with coaster brake.

I think it is an '82-'84, its packed away in my shed and can't get to the serial number to verify.
1970 Schwinn Twinn Deluxe Sky Blue
1973 Schwinn Suburban Opaque Blue Men's 5sp
1973 Schwinn Suburban Opaque Blue Woman's 10 sp
1973 Schwinn Continental Opaque Blue Men's 10sp
1980's Schwinn World Tourist Sky Blue Men's 3 sp (Mfg by Giant)
1972 Peugeot UO-8 Green Men's 10sp

JeffC

In 1981 they they installed the three speed so it's probably an original hub and wheel on your bike.

https://waterfordbikes.com/SchwinnCat/flschwinn_1981_1990/1981_14.html


rickpaulos

I've had at least 17 World Tourists pass my way.  All 5 or 10 speed versions with or without the FFS/Positron.

I've never seen a 1 or 3 speed variant.  Those are sure rare bikes.

I would say that the combo of 27" tires and a coaster brake only (no other brakes) is not a good match.  Too easy to skid and burn through the tire. The skinny tires just don't grab the pavement as the gravity shifts to the front wheel.  I've built a few single speed conversions like that.  Going down hills with stop signs at the bottom are quite an eye opening experience.  Having that front rim brake is a very good idea.



Gracie

#6
Last Summer I found a Criss Cross on CL not too far away, near where I once lived.
It had flat tires due to Presta valves not being secured, and I wheeled it home.


After ruining both tubes, specifically by slightly adjusting valve stem nut after inflation, 
I drilled and reamed both rims (.312" iirc) to take Schrader valves.
It seems that it's just too easy to wreck a Presta tube via any adjustment to the threaded
nut on rim-also these rims (Araya) have a peaked profile which is awkward against the nut.

I did a little tune up on it, gave it a nicer seat (stock is not well supportive)
and have been using it daily. Surprisingly light 26 lbs. and despite the
step through sizing (17.5") I find it fits my 6' frame well enough, though I could use a 350 mm seatpost (standard is 250 mm). It is a 91 model- no grip twist shifters or funky derailleur which some models came with that affixes to the chain stay. I can't recall the derailleur model name -it is legendary-
which affixes to chain stay; however it isn't desirable or wanted on these hybrid offerings, I have gleaned.
It was standard for a year or two, as were twist grip shifters.

The seller wanted 30 bucks, which was why I went after it. It looks new except for
crumbling grips and some decomposition to the original threaded sidewalls. I put some Snafu grips on it and replaced one tire due to a bulge, dished the rear rim to get it centered and it has been trouble free.

The outer crank ring was bent, though in keeping with the lightweight theme,
it is thin metal and easily straightened by hand.
The plastic dork disc was pleasantly ambered but it did crumble.

I think they call the paint Vapor Blue? Or Electron Blue. Laser Delete Blue?
The tubing is double butted, you get a nice 'ping' when you snap the center with finger.
The dropouts seem exact. There's no need to fiddle with the wheel positioning.
Quick release Joyu 1 piece hubs. Many nice components for this sleeper.
The plastic cable guide under BB apparently cracks but is functional as is.
Despite fracture, it looks like the plastic cable groove(s) stay together due to the way the part gets mounted,
It is a ~10 dollar part.

There were 4 model offerings, I believe, in this hybrid line up, with Criss Cross being 3rd lightest.
There is a Cross Fit, Cross Cut, and High Cross model all using same lugged frame but with
slightly different parts. One model has a mildly elliptical crank.
I did find a good chart which shows every detail per model, however I see no way to post images...

https://waterfordbikes.com/SchwinnCat/flschwinn_1991_2000/1992_cc_specsb.html


This is my first 700 C rim bike and it's nice to have so many tire choices.
Stock tires are 35 C and you wouldn't want to go much more due to chain stay clearances-
3 millimeters maybe a little more per side (lower stays).

JSchmo

#7
Geometry chart above is interesting - this World series is 73 degree parallel angles, a decent BB drop 63 mm and a 17"/432mm chain stay.  this is a frame with proportions more like the higher end Schwinns (Paramounts etc) than a classic Varsity-style frame which is a different animal with slacker angles and less BB drop.

 

JeffC

I had an '80 5 speed version and rode it a few times and it seemed much different than the Suburban counterpart. I still have a steel crank set from one of these bikes. I'm no weight weenie but that crank is heavy even compared to the Schwinn 46 tooth single gear front cranks. I think it would be a great bike with an aluminum 3 piece crankset and some basic aluminum rim wheels.