At first glance it would be easy to mistake the 2015 Schwinn Classic Deluxe 7 as one of the original 1955 cruisers. Then once you notice the cable leading to the twist shifter for the 7 speed internal Shimano Nexus hub, the fact that this is a modern recreation of a classic becomes more apparent. Schwinn, while a vastly different company than that at the beginning, has managed to stand the test of time – 2015 will be their 120th anniversary. To celebrate, Schwinn is offering a limited run of Classic 7 cruisers. The vintage inspired bikes feature parts that will actually fit directely on the original Schwinns including fender mounted lights and the tank horn.
Last offered in 2008, the 2015 version of the Classic 7 will be limited to 500 bikes and sold for $699. Complete with the springer fork and burly rack the Classic 7 has a great ride – just don’t expect it to be light. The bike is, shall we say, stout. But if you dig the retro style, but want something with modern touches like aluminum rims the Classic 7 will get you there in style.
Realistically, Schwinn knows they will probably never get back to their glory days with a Schwinn in every household. Their goals are noble though – they simply want to get more people on bikes. Whether that means one of their higher end rides or a cheap department store bike, if it gets someone to ride they’re OK with that. Bikes like the Allston 1 make that goal easier to reach thanks to their casual approach. Designed for the rider who isn’t going to be wearing specialized clothes or footwear, the Alston is a classic Dutch style steel frame with an extremely upright riding position. Offered in men’s (Brighton) and women’s (Allston) frames, the bikes include a rack, fenders, and a Shimano Nexus 8 speed internal gear hub to be as practical as possible. The Alston and Brighton 1 retail for $599, and the 2 drops the price to $499.
The Schwinn Transit 2 is an interesting bike that carries its intentions in the front handebar/basket. Designed specifically to fit a 6 pack of beer or old timey soda, the Transit 2 will make trips to your favorite beverage shop a breeze. Equipped with a Shimano Acera 24 speed drivetrain and mechanical disc brakes, it will also make a solid commuter even if you aren’t picking up a sixxer. Sold for $599, the price includes full coverage fenders and a frame designed for carrying heavy loads.
As an expansion to the Schwinn Fastback line, the new Fastback RX tackles the adventure touring market. The RX has an N Litened 3 triple butted aluminum frame and fork with more relaxed touring geometry, disc brakes, and a Sora 2×9 wide range drivetrain. Capable of running up to a 42c tire, the RX is an interesting bike at $899.
Finally, Schwinn is betting on 27.5″ with their Rocket 1 hard tail. Speced with an SR Suntour XCR Air fork with hydraulic lock out, tubeless ready wheels and tires, and a Shimano XT/Deore 3×9 drivetrain and Shimano M395 brakes, the Rocket 1 has a reasonable spec for $1000. The N Litened 2 double butted aluminum frame uses a tapered head tube but sticks with a QR rear axle. The Rocket 2 will drop the price down to $800 with a downgraded spec, but will still be tubeless ready.
All of the models above are 2015 bikes, but will be available in Fall, 2014.
