For two decades, Bikexchange.com has helped people from around the world make informed decisions regarding cycling-related products such as bikes, gear, trailers, bike racks, and so on. Many big companies went bankrupt while the smaller ones were absorbed. Although the market was becoming hostile to investors, Schwinn was flourishing thanks to its motorcycle division. In fact, the company was doing so great that in 1928 it was placed third after Harley-Davidson and Indian. Unfortunately, the market got saturated and as a result, the short-lived bicycle boom came to an abrupt end.
Schwinn also had a very successful BMX racing team made up of some of the best riders of the day. In the late 1960s, the Varsity and Continental pioneered the use of auxiliary brake levers, which allowed the rider to rest hands on the straight, horizontal center section of the ram’s horn handlebars, yet still have braking control. To further improve control from this more-erect riding position, the levers used to move the derailleurs were moved from the traditional position on the “down tube” to the top of the headset, on a ring which would turn with the handlebar stem.
This feature, attractive to older riders, soon found its way to other Schwinn models, especially those intended for senior citizens. Corvette in 1954, after their catalog, for that year, had been in use. Therefore, with the release of a single photograph, the Corvette was introduced. The picture showed company executives standing behind their new product, that would remain in production for 10 years. 1955 was the first year in which the Corvette appeared in the Schwinn catalog; it was Schwinn’s top listing in their “middleweight” category.
This strategy was quite successful despite Schwinn’s history of antipathy towards such large retailers. Pon currently is one of the top 5 players in the bicycle industry. About 75% of people in the Netherlands have a bicycle made by Pons.
Most Schwinn bikes will feature a head badge or plate that identifies them as a Schwinn. This badge varied in style, depending on the style of bike and the year it was made. However, if schwinn bicycles you see the Schwinn name on the badge, it’s probably a Schwinn bike. The manufacturer distributed unbranded or rebranded bikes through other companies, especially prior to the 1950s.
By 1961, its share had fallen to 12.8%, although dollar and unit sales had risen. The market leader, with 22.8% in 1961, which had increased its share from 11.6% in 1951, sells mainly to huffy mountain bike mass merchandisers. Schwinn assigned specific territories to each of its wholesale distributors who were instructed to sell only to franchised dealers in their respective territories.
This bike model is designed to last, meaning you can enjoy riding it for years to come. Most models of Schwinn bikes have years of images and information via old catalogs, advertisements and Schwinn documentation. This page lists Schwinn bicycles models and links to their details. In 1993, Richard Schwinn, great-grandson of Ignaz Schwinn, with business partner Marc Muller, purchased the Schwinn Paramount plant in Waterford, Wisconsin, where Paramounts were built since 1980.