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Posted by: 914rrr Jan 11 2025, 08:22 AM

It'll be really interesting to see what this goes for!
Memories are getting expen$ive!!

https://www.pcarmarket.com/auction/original-1968-schwinn-orange-krate-5-speed-bicycle/

Posted by: Cairo94507 Jan 11 2025, 09:13 AM

Totally remember when those came out; didn't have the money, but totally wanted one!

Posted by: 914rrr Jan 11 2025, 09:16 AM

...and who can forget this ad ??



Reddit post with the ad and comments.

https://www.reddit.com/r/OldSchoolCool/comments/ycpyx0/ad_for_schwinn_5speed_stikshift_bicycles_late/

Posted by: mb911 Jan 11 2025, 09:25 AM

I remember I had one second hand in the 80s until free style hit big then it was time to get something with a rotor or gyro

Posted by: 914rrr Jan 11 2025, 09:31 AM

A 3 speed one was my (only) Christmas present one year. Even had the slick rear tire!

Mine was just like the pic below.

Posted by: gandalf_025 Jan 11 2025, 09:35 AM

My brother in law got one new back in the day..

His great uncle owned a Schwinn Dealership and
my in-laws got it for cost..

Great uncle also owned a Harley Dealership and was a Whizzer Dealer..

Supposedly brother in law left the bicycle to his grand son who had no use for it.

Posted by: East coaster Jan 11 2025, 10:08 AM

I still have a black Stingray in my collection of bikes. It was a re-issue I bought new around 2013. It’s a fun ride.

Posted by: mepstein Jan 11 2025, 10:09 AM

I sold one that someone left in my rental house. Rough condition but unrestored or modified and it went for $2300. It was a real one so just like old Porsche’s it still had a value.

Posted by: slowrodent Jan 11 2025, 10:11 AM

Mine was a gold 5 speed with a sissy bar (!!!)..Very similar to the green one above It was a bad-butt bike that I rode the heck out of.. Gosh...those were the days

Posted by: sixnotfour Jan 11 2025, 10:15 AM

My minibike had the springer front forks...
My mom and sister and Blitz


Attached image(s)

Posted by: nivekdodge Jan 11 2025, 10:24 AM

I too wanted one worse than I knew. But my currebt bike is under 16 lbs. These were 38lbs. How did we even move them.

Kevin

Posted by: 914rrr Jan 11 2025, 10:41 AM

How about this one ?

Posted by: 914rrr Jan 11 2025, 10:51 AM

.... and "the Rail" ?

IIRC, a neighbor had one with "Rams Horn" handlebars.

Was that an option / aftermarket , or another bike entirely?

Posted by: Shivers Jan 11 2025, 10:56 AM

I remember. They were boss

Posted by: 914rrr Jan 11 2025, 11:07 AM

Bike with Rams Horn handlebars that I've never heard of !!

Posted by: Spoke Jan 11 2025, 01:14 PM

My buddy got an Orange Crate back in the day. The PRR or Penn Central bought it for him.

His original bike was a POS with a 2x4 seat, no gears. He was crossing the railroad tracks by our houses of course not at a crossing. As he was crossing the tracks with his bike he looked back to see a train coming fast at him. He jumped out of the way but the bike was destroyed. The train stopped to check on him. He was ok but the bike was toast so they bought him an Orange Crate.

Posted by: 914rrr Jan 11 2025, 01:34 PM

This may be like the bike my neighbor had...

Posted by: 914rrr Jan 11 2025, 03:59 PM

Better ad for the Huffy Rail, with Don Garlits endorsement!

Posted by: Front yard mechanic Jan 12 2025, 08:35 AM

Had the the black model, racked myself on the shifter more than once. Someone ended up stealing it from my backyard

Posted by: bkrantz Jan 12 2025, 09:53 PM

OMG! That kid has no helmet or knee pads or gloves! And the bike has no reflectors or safety pads! In another minute he will be dead!

Posted by: gereed75 Jan 13 2025, 08:11 AM

Oh yea. Very cool. Banana seats and ape hangars. I was the resident mechanic for all the kids in the neighborhood because I could rebuild coaster brakes

Many many trips to Western Auto to ogle all the latest stuff like the metal flake seats, sissy bars and of course the mandatory rear slick!!

Posted by: 914rrr Jan 13 2025, 08:25 AM

Ah, yes! The infamous "Testicle Wrecker" gear shift! I have very vivid memories of launching it off a jump and missed the landing...

Posted by: Ruff914 Jan 13 2025, 12:59 PM

Wow, my brother got a 20" bicycle when he was 5 or so years old. I also learned to ride on it as did all my close cousins. Then it went to another cousins family where it was modified into a total banana bike and 3 of my cousins learned to ride on it. As my daughters got of age I was able to get it back. Both my girls learned to ride on it, then it went on to my close cousins family again, and their kids kids all have learned to ride a bike on that bike.

Here's a picture of my wife's brother. He actually talked some younger kids into doing this and the picture made the local newspaper!!

Posted by: burton73 Jan 13 2025, 01:18 PM

I had the same bike but in candy apple blue, boy memories are coming back. A couple of my 914world buds jamming around on our bikes. Then we moved to 10 speeds and motorcycles right after

Best Bob B

Posted by: SKL1 Jan 15 2025, 04:13 PM

Couldn't wait to get a 10 speed Schwinn Varsity. A good friend got a Paramount, which had all the really good Campy equipment and we were all VERY jealous!! Couple years later got a Legnano Italian 12 speed, and still have it. Basically wall art in the garage now...

Posted by: burton73 Jan 15 2025, 04:33 PM

My mom asked me what I wanted for my 11th birthday, I said one I want a Schwinn Sting Ray in purple with a shock absorber on the front and a slick in back. On my birthday she said go in the garage. I was blown away there it was. My buddies and I were jumping curbs, later to be jumping motorcycles.

Memories

Best Bob B

Posted by: Beach914 Jan 15 2025, 05:18 PM

A few of the kids on my block got the Krates but my parents couldn't afford a Schwinn for me so I got an Iverson 3 Speed Sting Ray like the one below except that it was plum purple. I was happy. Wish I still had it

Posted by: Karl R Jan 15 2025, 09:55 PM

I had a used no-name single speed, but I put a bananna seat, a sissy bar, and tall handle bars on it. Trying to look the part.

Posted by: East coaster Jan 16 2025, 06:13 AM

And who remembers these? I had one when I was a kid so I built this one and ride it now in my 60’s…….never grow up!

Posted by: ClayPerrine Jan 16 2025, 06:30 AM

I had a Western Auto knockoff of those bikes in green. I remember taking steel tubing and bolting it to the front forks to make my bike a chopper like the guys in the movie easy rider. I got a hard lesson when the cheap, thin tubing buckled and the front end collapsed.

Posted by: Ron914 Jan 16 2025, 11:38 AM

I remember doing this to my bike too but we cut the forks off a donor and beat them onto the forks with a hammer for that rake look. I also suffered the same fate when one came loose .
Brings back memories from being a kid in the 60's. I don't remember where we got it but I also had a sissy bar on my banana seat to give it that chopper look.

Posted by: mxkinn01 Jan 16 2025, 12:05 PM

Yep, I had an apple and a host of stingrays, middleweights, and a few lightweights. I soon progressed to BMX racing, mongoose; redline and the like. My current (to keep my old ass in shape) is a 61 Corvette or Suburban.

Posted by: bandjoey Jan 16 2025, 10:34 PM

copakeauction.com
Copake, NY

Find your old bike here.

Current & Past Bicycle Auction Catalogs

Click “VIEW AUCTION DETAILS” for all auction information including printable post sale PDF catalogs.

Posted by: sb914 Jan 17 2025, 05:39 AM

Yep I refuse to grow up as well.
Remember these ?
Any swingers out there ?
I built this about two 30 years ago

Posted by: sb914 Jan 17 2025, 05:42 AM

Posted by: 914rrr Jan 17 2025, 07:50 PM

Well, I never thought I'd use the words "investment grade" and "Schwinn Stingray" in the same sentence. Seven large, Holy Cow!!!

Posted by: 914rrr Feb 3 2025, 10:29 AM

How about ANOTHER one? This time it's a '68 Apple Krate in similar condition. Loving the red line slick!

https://www.pcarmarket.com/auction/1968-schwinn-apple-krate-stingray-bicycle/?utm_source=Morning%20email%20blast&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email%20blast%20car

Posted by: URY914 Feb 3 2025, 06:52 PM

Raleigh Choppers were hot in my childhood neighborhood. There was a dealer that must have sold thousands,

Posted by: 914rrr Feb 7 2025, 07:29 AM

Yet another bike auction to scratch that itch... includes a Schwinn Corvette.

https://www.pcarmarket.com/auction/no-reserve-1940s-1970s-vintage-bicycle-collection/

Posted by: JmuRiz Feb 7 2025, 09:57 AM

Very cool, my dad had a Corvette growing up and his Ducati Falcon after he was 16...I got a Falcon, and probably would have gotten a Corvette if he were still around.

Growing up in the early 80s I had a sweet Schwinn Scrambler mag, yellow wheels and yellow tires (my older brother had a red/red one).

Posted by: pt_700 Feb 7 2025, 03:17 PM

these were already in the 2nd hand shops by the time i was ready for my 1st bicycle in the early to mid '70's. didn't take long to figure out that front end wasn't conducive to learning to ride, so off it came...

come to think of this, probably the start of modifying bikes, cars and motorcycles for me...

thanks for the trip down memory lane!

Posted by: bkrantz Feb 7 2025, 08:08 PM

Yeah, I got my start with bikes, too. And also old lawn mowers. I had to compulsively take them apart and then reassemble. And sometimes do a paint job. And then modify. All that got me ready for my first car, from an insurance salvage yard. "Ran when wrecked."