guest_070901
Jan 8 2007, 04:25 PM
Following Steve's 80 Sting build, I figured this would be a good time to show what I've been working on all Fall.
It isn't exactly era correct, Sting specific or blemish free BUT it is exactly the bike I would have wanted when I was an 11 yr old loitering in the Schwinn shop.
I think it is very interesting to note the similar geometry to a new school race bike. See Standard Cruiser picture. They feel VERY similar in the ergonomics.
Cranks, neck, bars and brakes are my own survivors.
F/F from PlainsBikeSouth (big Thank you, Todd)
repop decals (waiting for blue chain decals)
post is new Kalloy from aebikes.com
Headset is new Tange-Seiki "Levin CDS" with the pressed top race.
I have snagged quite a few old Sting docs that I'll post at my website address when I get a chance.
NOTE if you are detail oriented: The sticker placement on this bike is alternate from some of the other builds I see, but it is supported in an old Schwinn catalog page so it is correct for this frame.
Link to pictures hopefully this picture pulls through....
guest_070901
Jan 8 2007, 04:27 PM
PS- Biggest Thank you to Sprinter who provided the inspiration and motivation to get back into Vintage BMX bikes again and the awesome set of NOS Comp IIIs. uggh, yes I said NOS....
smokin steve styler
Jan 8 2007, 06:14 PM
Looks GREAT!
I used the same seat post on my '80.I really like your wheels.Seems like Schwinns are sleepers on this sight.People don't seem to get as excited about them as other brands.IMO the Sting was the ultimate 80's race bike.Way ahead of everything that was out at the time in the way of technology and design.Seems crazy that it actually came out in the 70's.
pk ripped
Jan 8 2007, 06:19 PM
Man that is sick!! The Stings are coming out of the woodwork, lol. The second outdoor pic os my fave. I like the powerlite bars on there too. Very nice build.
pieter723
Jan 8 2007, 06:29 PM
Cool bike !!! My brother had one of those BITD and raced it for a while, and thought the same thing ! that they were ahead of the rest, (design wise) ! ,,, His frame was the glossy black with all anno. blue components !
Again,,, nice bike !!!!!
akcuda
Jan 8 2007, 07:20 PM
NICE Sting! I luv 'em chrome & blue. It's got all the right upgrades too
Do you have a line on blue w/red letters chainstay decals? If so, I want some too.
Kurt.
Jan 8 2007, 07:42 PM
Very nice bike.
Have to say I don't ever remember seeing a Schwinn in Oz BITD - unlike most of the big US brands I don't think Schwinn was imported.
I really like the early Stings with that big (5"?) headtube. Very cool.
[ January 08, 2007, 08:46 PM: Message edited by: Kurt. ]
guest_070901
Jan 8 2007, 08:22 PM
I had my local decal guy scan the decals before I used em. He "says" he can redo them exactly like what I gave him. It's a professional shop that has been around for decades so I have my fingers crossed.
I'll hit him up on the blue chain decals next week or so once the new year rush at work slows down.
guest_070901
Jan 8 2007, 08:25 PM
oh yah, can't take all of this BMX stuff too seriously sooooo the brake cable holders are from a......Huffy. Yes corruption and controversy at it's finest.
cheez
Jan 8 2007, 09:25 PM
Veeeerrrry nice!
sprinter
Jan 9 2007, 12:51 AM
Very nice Mark! Only wish I would of been home to lace the wheels for ya, that turned out better than I expected!!! Now to plot and scheme and figure out a way to relieve you of it!
Ted Carl
Jan 9 2007, 03:21 AM
That Sprinter....He has a way of doing that to a guy....
Very nice build indeed! ....I'd ride it!
As far as decal placement, they were all over the place in the real world. The correct location for the frame stickies is somewhere between the head tube and the bottom bracket. The chainstay sparkles should be somewhere between the axle and the bottom bracket to be correct. lol
It was a matter of who was on "sticker duty" in Chicago that day, as to where they were put on there.
guest_070901
Jan 9 2007, 08:11 AM
Interesting insight, Ted. personally I like em right in the middle.
Tim is definitely motivational, I'll have to lock this in the attic to keep it from creeping toward his house. it'll probably start moving a few inches a day like gravity.
Actually I thought chrome was the bomb for Stings until I saw Ted's bikes. Then I fell in love with blue.
That blue sting F/F that has been on ebay last week with a BIN is almost too much to watch...
plainsbikesouth
Jan 9 2007, 11:22 PM
Looking very nice, good work.
Curt
Jan 9 2007, 11:44 PM
Well done!
I (and others I hung out with at the time) always equated the Sting with the equally high end Paramount 10 speed, also from Schwinn.
They both were quality all the way. The extra time needed to make those joints smooth, wow.
sprinter
Jan 10 2007, 07:52 AM
quote:
Actually I thought chrome was the bomb for Stings until I saw Ted's bikes. Then I fell in love with blue.
And wouldn't ya know I had a blue one a few years ago and sold it to Ted... DOH! Oh well now I know what I must do!
I gotta have two Stings eventually... A chrome replica of the Sting straight out of the dealer shop, exactly as the one I owned and raced... And a white Mike Poulson replica as I've always wanted...
My collection however large or small it becomes, will never be considered complete until I have those two bikes in my stable.
guest_070901
Jan 10 2007, 08:10 AM
riddle me this. That classic old ad for Stings calls them 23lbs of dynamite.
I weighed this one that has flights and a proneck. Only 21.5 pounds.
How can that be? Was the chain guard a 2 pound monster?
I do recall people bragging they had a Sting down to 19lbs and such but I guess I didn't really believe it.
sprinter
Jan 10 2007, 02:37 PM
I'm just guessing here, but... Your entire crankset, including bottom bracket is likely lighter than the factory cranks. Not to mention pedals. The factory Sting had rat traps, which I'm fairly sure weight wasn't a primary factor in their design. Your hubs, Bullseye's were pretty light, hollow axles etc...
I guess what I am trying to say is this, if you go thru your bike piece by piece, and compare to factory bike specs, you've likely got a lot of parts that weigh less than the factory parts. Maybe not significantly, but as a whole, enough to make up 1.5 pounds. Cranks, bottom bracket, pedals, headset, hubs, rims, tires, handlebars, stem, seat post, etc all different from factory parts. A few ounces here, a few ounces there...
My Sting weighed 21 pounds when I raced it. Some of the ways they were lightened bitd were smaller bars and narrower wheels and tires. I recall guys in my class running 1 3/8 wheels, UNI seats, Race Inc aluminum bars etc...
Racers used to do crazy stuff to trim weight. Drilling stuff. Grinding stuff. Running 16" tubes on 20" wheels etc... Aluminum or Ti bolts replacing steel or chromoly bolts. Cutting your seat post short. I've seen drilled chains, seats, brake calipers, plates, brake levers, chain wheels, cranks, pedals, seat post clamps, stems, etc... Swiss cheese at it's finest!
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