Disasterous news from Schwinn for 2010 range

[Irish John]

I've just seen the 2010 Schwinn cruiser range. There is now only one mens cruiser bike that lends itself to a frame-mounted motor and that is the Deluxe 7 which is also their most expensive. All the other classic cantilevered frame classic Californian beach cruisers are gone.
This has left me so depressed I am going to bed.
The lovely range they had 2 years ago has been decimated.
The cheap Micargi cruisers just aren't good enough for a 4-stroke and the Electra is too big to fit the engine tray, too expensive by about $200 and they have the impertinence to chuck on a single bolt caliper brake on the front springers thinking that buyers won't notice the insult on a $1200 bike.
I think the engineers at JL Hoot must have gone to work for Schwinn.
Also the quality on the new models is way down on the old cantilevered frames. They have been cutting quality overall from close inspection.

 

[ToeCutter66]

Schwinn Drifter

I just ordered a Schwinn Drifter from Sears.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...e=Bikes&psid=FROOGLE01&sid=IDx20070921x00003a

I dont know if it is a 2009 or 2010, and the only place I could find it was at sears. I just wish it had a rear luggage rack.

 

[Irish John]

Try this place:
http://www.barnardsschwinn.com/
I know there is somewhere online that sells the same rack as used on the Schwinn D7 but quite frankly I find a good alloy rack from a bike shop is better quality and stronger as well as good looking . See attached pic.

 

[machiasmort]

Is that your bike John? That's a nice set-up!

 

[Irish John]

Is that your bike John? That's a nice set-up!

Yes that's my Fosscati FG4 Indian Pacific model. Here a FG4 Billinudgel Bullet model which is a tiny bit more comfortable.

 

[spad4me]

The tires that I use an inexpensive clone of a very nice tire. Are no longer made.
A lot of my stuff is now home made as not even Dax carries a full range of parts any more.
I just unknowingly bought a used transmission from a TRUSTED supplier. I bought a lot of stuff from them in the past, NO more.
Its the economy.

 

[machiasmort]

Nice bikes brother! What kind of frames were those? I think you were sayin that they were Schwinns? But what model? Nice builds!

 

[Irish John]

Nice bikes brother! What kind of frames were those? I think you were sayin that they were Schwinns? But what model? Nice builds!

Thanks for your kind compliments Machi, they are both Schwinn frames - the blue one is an "Alloy Seven" discontinued after 2007 but a good host frame because it is alloy and has V-brakes front & rear - easy to fit the standard kit onto and the thick alloy tubes like the engine tray mountings as well as the rear hub spoke flange being right sized for standard 48T sprocket. The black bike is a "Deluxe Seven" top of the Schwinn cruiser fleet which is steel with narrow tubing that is less accommodating for engine tray and chain tensioner and has 7 spd Shimano hub gears which require a specially fabricated sprocket clamp and specially drilled sprocket to fit the fat hub. It also has the cursed coaster brake which I hate so much and because the pedal chain must be kept really taught it means you can't play around with the rear wheel to angle it so there is good clearance between chain and tyre. Nevertheless I have built 10 of these and I have made it work well. In Australia the springers have V-brakes and that is the really big buying factor - if it didn't have front V-brakes I wouldn't bother using the Deluxe 7. This thread is about the woefull suitability of Schwinn's 2010 cruiser range and only the Deluxe Seven will work next year. In Australia the D7 will be a $1000 bike next year!!
In the USA you can buy other Schwinns in Walmart that will serve as hosts but they aren't sold outside of the USA I don't think.
The perfect host is probably the Felt Heritage if its straight downtube will allow an engine tray to fit. It has all the best things like springer forks, V-brakes front & rear. good saddle, fenders, alloy frame, derailleur gears etc. but the rear hub spoke flange is probably too big for the bolt holes on the standard sprocket. I've never tried this bike and it isn't available in Australia.
The black D7 bike is comfy to ride but my Alloy Seven is lighter and sportier through tight corners etc. I love my Alloy Seven and the rigid steel tine forks are actually much springier than the flat blade forks on so many of this years Schwinn cruisers. Those blade forks will make for a bumpy ride I reckon.

 

[machiasmort]

Let me know what you want if you want to pay the shipping? I don't see how we'd be breaking any laws! Thanks for the reply!!!