Questions for Bikeopnik 

"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-) 05/10/2017 at 17:47 • Filed to: None

2

34

Can anyone date this bike or give a specific model? I’m asking in case I need to order parts or anything special for it. Plus just to know exactly how old it is.

It’s been in my family for a while. About twenty years ago, well that was told to me 10 years ago so I guess 30 now, my dad found it in a ditch and took it home. It’s been passed down through me and all my siblings, when we were kids, and I’ll probably be taking it with me when I transfer to another school this summer, where hopefully I’ll be able use the bike frequently. It needs a little work to be serviceable, but it’s not in bad shape.

Bonus question: What would the car equivalent of this bike be?

HammerheadFistpunch > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 05/10/2017 at 17:51

2

Based on what I’m seeing I would say mid to late 80's

benjrblant > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 05/10/2017 at 17:52

0

Looks like an early 90's Schwinn “mountain” bike because that was all the rage at the time.

Automotive equivalent:

Geo Metro with unpainted bumpers.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > benjrblant 05/10/2017 at 17:54

0

Hell yeah! I take it their not actually good mountain bikes?

vdub_nut: scooter snob > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 05/10/2017 at 17:55

1

Schwinn used to make top notch stuff, no doubt. But this looks like an entry level bike, and is extremely dated by todays standards. It’ll get you around, and probably doesn’t weigh much though!!

bob and john > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 05/10/2017 at 17:55

0

wow thats an old ass schwinn.

car equivalent: something like a early 80s 3 series. once upton a time a decent bike. not so much anymore.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > vdub_nut: scooter snob 05/10/2017 at 17:57

0

It certainly doesn’t!

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 05/10/2017 at 17:57

1

Yep those were like the ones we had in the late 80's early 90's, I had a Specialized Hard Rock. I wanted a Stump Jumper but my mom wouldn’t get it. Until that I had a Diamondback BMX bike.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > bob and john 05/10/2017 at 17:57

0

Could it do light trail riding? :)

vdub_nut: scooter snob > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 05/10/2017 at 18:00

0

My last bike (2006 Kona Scrap) weighed 37 pounds when it got stolen (a week after I brought it to philly).

Dug my old (2001ish) 18lb 13 inch frame Trek 6000 out of my parents basement, and it almost runs now (a hundred bucks later).

I hate not having a bike, it’s against human nature.

benjrblant > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 05/10/2017 at 18:00

1

Ages ago when Schwinn bikes were cutting-edge and made in Chicago, they were quite respectable. Quality declined and better bikes became available, Schwinn moved the plant to Mississippi to try and compete with Asian import bikes, quality declined further, then they sold out. Schwinn hasn’t made stuff stateside (or decent, IMO) for decades.

If it says “Made in USA” its probably pre 1991.

promoted by the color red > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 05/10/2017 at 18:08

0

I want to say late ‘80s, early ‘90s Schwinn Sierra. Probably not worth more than $50, but it’s still very solid. Note that it has friction shifters, so more ‘80s than anything.

Car-wise? It would be an early C4 Vette - a solid, cheap, and invincible beater. No, it’s not the latest & greatest, but you can still have fun. Throw some CL parts on that, get the mechanicals working, put some fresh tires on, and ride it!

David Baker > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 05/10/2017 at 18:26

1

This site will tell you the model year and if it is American made. http://schwinncruisers.com/serial-number.html  

Edit: only works up to 1982 model year

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > benjrblant 05/10/2017 at 18:28

0

They’ve had some flashes on and off over the years of decent stuff although not American made. When they were first bought by dorel,(I’m guessing around 2005), they had bikes that were pretty decent as dorel thought that they could get sales with low and mid level offerings with people who knew the name but didn’t normally go to bike shops. But they didn’t sell at those price points as the damage was already done to the reputation and there offerings got lowered down the ladder.

I think they also had a glimpse of decent stuff in the late 90s based off some Gt models.

benjrblant > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle 05/10/2017 at 18:39

0

Yeah, I worked in a bike shop for a few years and most other shops will agree: There are bike shop bikes and then there are department store bikes. Schwinn has been the latter for several decades. Disappointing for such a long-running American name, but it is what it is.

facw > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 05/10/2017 at 19:06

0

Eww, friction shifters...

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 05/10/2017 at 19:32

1

That is a mid to late 80's bottom of the line schwine. It was probably $200-250 new. The bolt on wheels are telling. You could ride it but I’d keep it for a bar hopper or light commuter duty.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 05/10/2017 at 19:33

0

Oh hell no, maybe a gravel path but nothing with bumps or rocks.

HammerheadFistpunch > benjrblant 05/10/2017 at 19:39

0

Schwinn was bought by Pacific bicycle in 99 I think, same with gt. Both great brands that became instant junk. I sold Schwinn and gt before and during that time... Great bikes, especially their race stuff. You couldn’t beat a homegrown or a zaskar for racing bikes

just-a-scratch > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 05/10/2017 at 19:53

1

late 1980s
It looks a bit older than the 1991 Schwinn Mirada I used to own, but still part of the same early mountain bike craze.
It’s made by a company that used to be a US manufacturer, but long ago started building stuff in Asia. It’s a 1980s product. It’s supposed to be functional and off road capable. I’ll say it’s the automotive equivalent of a Mazda B series pickup.

benjrblant > HammerheadFistpunch 05/10/2017 at 20:06

0

GT was respectable too! Purveyors of THE TRIPLE TRIANGLE!

dun dun dunnnnnn.

OKcarburetor > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 05/10/2017 at 21:05

1

It’s unfortunately not worth putting any money into unless it has sentimental value.

Old bicycles lack the charm of classic cars mostly because you have to pedal them.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > just-a-scratch 05/10/2017 at 21:58

0

I just looked at the badge, finally, it’s a Mesa Runner. Whatever that was. I’m posting an update in a minute.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > just-a-scratch 05/10/2017 at 21:59

0

I’ll I like the Mazda B series pickup equivalent. I’ll stick with it regardless what I think of it later :)

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > OKcarburetor 05/10/2017 at 22:01

0

Shouldn’t require much money though. I’m making an update post in a second. But all I’m going to need is the short brake cables, I could probably get by with the one’s on there, but I’ll take the chance to go to a bike store and ask the clerk how to adjust the calipers. Since two of them are sticking.

QCGoose > benjrblant 05/10/2017 at 22:02

0

I love my GT mountain bike, 16 years and thousands of miles later. It’s an ‘01 Aggressor 2.0, which didn’t have the greatest components stock, but they honestly never let me down and it’s a fantastic frame to build on.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > facw 05/10/2017 at 22:03

0

I hope they’re cheap to replace, because it doesn’t shift gears. Which the gear it’s in is fine flat stuff. Even then, based on how the brakes are, it’s more likely a cable issue. Update in a minute.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > promoted by the color red 05/10/2017 at 22:06

0

Are friction shifters easy to fix/replace? Because it doesn’t change gear, well stationary do you have to be moving to shift with friction shifters? Although it’s likely a cable issue, since the brake cables were in bad shape. Update post in a second.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 05/10/2017 at 22:08

0

This one’s a Mesa Runner and from what other people have been saying it was a lower tier one. That just makes it more Oppo though!

I need something more proletariat anyway to balance out the bourgeoisie Acura.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 05/10/2017 at 22:12

1

Well chromoly is heavy! I got a Super 73, 1000W motor at the crank!

OKcarburetor > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 05/10/2017 at 23:43

1

That’s a reasonable amount of time/money to spend on it. Let me know if you need help getting things adjusted. I manage the service department at Wheat Ridge Cyclery here in Colorado.

promoted by the color red > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 05/11/2017 at 00:34

1

Shifting any bike is like shifting in a car, you have to be at the right RPMs for the shift to go smoothly.

My first instinct would be to adjust the cable tension, replacing the cables, and then checking the derailleur limit screws last. Sheldon Brown has a guide covering the topics and just about everything you need to wrench on an old bike.

One of the big advantages of friction over index (what you find on bikes now) in the early days was the field serviceability because early index was total crap, so it shouldn’t be too hard to get them back in order.

CL/eBay is a great place to find NOS or lightly used bike parts and you should have no trouble finding replacements should you need them.

S65 > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 05/11/2017 at 13:05

1

OOoo I’ve got something similar, it’s a Specialized Sportrock. I’m going to fix it up soon.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > S65 05/11/2017 at 19:29

0

Nice! By the way how much, if any, offroad capability do these have? Could they do light trails?

S65 > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 05/11/2017 at 20:06

1

Yeah, I’ve done some on mine. You might wanna fix the brakes and get new tires first