1969 Huffy Dragster III Green

I don’t normally like a Huffy, but this is a really neat bike.  First, it’s a 3 speed stick shift on the top bar which is cool.  Next, it’s got the tall bars with the banana seat, the Sting-Ray look.  The seat is a two-tone green metal flake color.  This is a kids bike withContinue reading “1969 Huffy Dragster III Green”

Vintage Bicycle Component Companies History

The current world of bike components is really dominated by Shimano, but that wasn’t always the case.  There used to be a lot of different brands in the game, here are a few: Araya Araya wheels were very popular on bikes in the USA during the 1970s and 80s.  The company started back in 1903Continue reading “Vintage Bicycle Component Companies History”

1976 Schwinn Sting Ray Fair Lady Holiday Rose

Here is the girl’s version of the Schwinn Sting-Ray, the Fair Lady.  The color is holiday rose, and it also has a nice flower banana seat.  Wheels are 20” with a coaster brake.  Fenders match the steel step through style frame.  Same Sting-Ray style bars as the boys bike. This coaster brake model was theContinue reading “1976 Schwinn Sting Ray Fair Lady Holiday Rose”

1969 Schwinn Sting-Ray 2-Speed Campus Green

Here is a nice example of a 1969 Schwinn Sting-Ray in campus green.  This one has the 2-speed automatic kick back rear hub.  Other features are the chrome fendors, front brake, and white glitter sparkle banana seat.  This kid’s bike has 20” wheels.  The hub is a Bendix yellow band.  These sound pretty neat, thoughContinue reading “1969 Schwinn Sting-Ray 2-Speed Campus Green”

Vintage Sanwa Bicycles History and Facts

Sanwa is a bicycle brand that was owned by Wisconsin Cycle Supply starting in 1977.  From what I have seen these were all road bikes imported from Japan.  Wisconsin Cycle was a distributor from Sheboygan, Wisconsin that distributed bikes, another brand they used was Timberlin.  Riteway would buy Wisconsin Cycle Supply in the 80s andContinue reading “Vintage Sanwa Bicycles History and Facts”

1971 Schwinn Sting-Ray Campus Green

Classic Schwinn Sting-Ray in campus green color.  This is the bike every kid wanted during the time period.  Short wheelbase for fast turns.  This is the coaster brake version; it also came in 3 and 5 speed.  MAG sprocket, chrome fenders, and Schwinn tubular rims.  A cool vintage kid’s bike.  Originally retailed for $59.95

Schwinn Bicycle Company History and Facts

Schwinn is probably the best-known vintage USA bicycle company.  It was founded in 1895 by German-born Ignaz Schwinn in Chicago.  They declared bankruptcy in 1992 and are now owned by Pon Holdings.  They are mostly a big box store brand now. The rise of Schwinn In the 1950s Schwinn decided they would only sell theirContinue reading “Schwinn Bicycle Company History and Facts”

Vintage Lotus Bicycles

Lotus is another USA brand of bicycles that started importing Japanese bikes in 1980.  The company was started by Sid and Ernst Star in Syosset, New York.  They offered a full range of road bikes from entry level to professional.  I believe the bikes were originally made by Tsunoda Bicycle corporation of Nagoya, Japan andContinue reading “Vintage Lotus Bicycles”

Vintage Shogun Bicycles

Shogun is another really cool vintage bicycle brand that started in Japan.  Its history is a bit hard to find, but I believe the following to all be true. Founded in 1977 and owned by Japanese trading company Marui.  I believe they were all originally made in Japan by various manufacturers early on, and laterContinue reading “Vintage Shogun Bicycles”

Vintage Maruishi Bicycles Japan

Maruishi is one of several lesser-known Japanese bike companies.  There seems to be some mystery about how old the company is/was.   It has been suggested that at one point they claimed to be the oldest bicycle company in Japan and started importing bikes in 1884.  I’ve also read 1894 and 1909 in Tokyo as theirContinue reading “Vintage Maruishi Bicycles Japan”