This is Bill's Schwinn Varsity. Bill is the original owner which makes it even cooler. I have a very soft spot for Schwinn Varsity's. My first "rear" bike was a hand me down red Schwinn Varsity from my aunt. It was a male frame that was probably the smallest they made. I was probably 9 or 10 years old. The Varsity fit me perfect!! I remember how fast it was compared to my bmx bike. I road that bike for two or three years before I got another bike. I loved that bike!! Just loved it!! So many miles on it! I don't think for the whole time I had the Varsity i ever took it out of the highest gear!
Bill's Varsity definitely has some pretty rough areas. I don't think the ares are to rough to bring back. The Varsity will receive a total restoration along with new cables, cable housings, bearings, tires, tubes and original handlebar tapes.
I can't wait to see the Varsity complete and to test ride it! And to be brought back to my red Schwinn Varsity.
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Handlebars |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Generator Light |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Front Wheel Hub |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Stem |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Head Tube |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Fork Crown |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Seat |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Seat Tube |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Bottom Bracket |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Crank |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Pedal |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Rear Brake Caliper |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Rear Derailleur |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Rear Wheel Hub |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Rear Wheel Rim |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Head Tube |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Seat Lug |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Seat Tube |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Chicago Decal |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Bottom Bracket |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Bottom Bracket |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Bottom Bracket |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Seat Stays |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Seat Stays |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Seat Stays |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Drop Out |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Chain Stay |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Fork |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Fork Crown |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Fork Crown |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Fork Blades |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Fork Drop Outs |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Fork Blades |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Crown Cover Removed |
I gave the frame a good deep cleaning and then worked through the polishing grits being very careful around the decals. The frame polished just beautifully! I could be happier with the results! I love this stuff!
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Head Tube |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Head Tube |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Head Tube |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Down Tube |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Top Tube |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Seat Tube |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Bottom Bracket |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Bottom Bracket |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Bottom Bracket |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Seat Stays |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Seat Stays |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Fork |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Fork Crown |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Fork Blade |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Fork Blades |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Fork Blades |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration Fork Crown Cover Before |
The headset is a little rough but the bearing races are good. I put the pieces through the crock pot and then spent sometime on the polishing wheels. The headset surprised me how nice it turned out!! Fantastic!
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Headset Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Shift Levers Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Shift Levers Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Headset Polished |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Shift Levers Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Shift Levers Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Pressing Headset Cups |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Headset Cups Pressed |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Headset Bearings Packed |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Headset Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Headset Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Headset Complete |
The handlebars and stem has some rough areas but overall not bad. I worked through he cleaning and polishing. The handlebars and stem turned out fantastic!
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Cockpit Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Stem & Handlebars Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Handlebars Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Stem Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Stem Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Handlebars Polished |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Handlebars Polished |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Stem Polished |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Stem Polished |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Stem Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Stem & Handlebars Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Stem & Handlebars Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Stem & Handlebars Complete |
While other part where soaking I worked through the wheels. I was nervous about the wheels. The rims looked really rough and the hubs looked very bad. The hubs and rims cleaned nicely and with a good deal of polishing work the wheels look fantastic!! New bearings and grease and the wheels spin perfect. I am stunned at how nice the wheels turned out and how great they look installed to the frame!! I am super happy with the wheels!
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Wheel Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Wheel Rim Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub Old Grease |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub Polished |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub Polished |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Wheel Rim Polished |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Wheel Bearings Packed |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Wheel Axles Ready |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Wheel Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Wheel Hub Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Wheel Hub Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Wheel Rim Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Wheel Hub Old Grease |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Wheel Hub Polished |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Wheel Hub Polished |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Wheel Rim Polished |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Wheel Bearings Packed |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Wheel Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Wheel Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Wheel Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Wheel Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Wheel Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Wheels Complete |
The very first bicycle components I restored many many many years ago where the brake calipers on my Schwinn Varsity. That was near 32 years ago! I may have gotten better at it over the years. They did not turn out as nice as these calipers! New brake pads will have the Varsity stopping much better.
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Brake Calipers Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Brake Calipers Polished |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Brake Calipers Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Caliper Installed |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear BRake Caliper Installed |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Brake Calipers Installed |
The crank is a little rough to start with. I soaked the parts for quite a while and then worked through the polishing wheels. The crank turned out amazing and it looks perfect installed!
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Crank Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bottom Bracket Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Crank Exploded |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Crank Polished |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Crank Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bottom Bracket Polished |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Pressing Bottom Brackets Cups |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bottom Bracket Cups Pressed |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Crank Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Crank Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Crank Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Brake Levers Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Brake Levers Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Brake Levers Polished |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Brake Levers Installed |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Brake Levers Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Seat Post & Seat Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Seat Post Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Seat Coupler Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Seat Binder Bolt Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Seat Binder Polished |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Seat Post Polished |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Seat Post Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Seat Post Complete |
The derailleurs are in rough shape, I was a little worried how they would turn out. I broke them down, put them through the crock pot, soaked them in oil for a couple weeks and then worked through the polishing wheels. The derailleurs look better then I could have thought and they function super smooth. I couldn't be happier with the derailleurs!! I love this stuff!
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Derailleur Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Derailleur Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Derailleur Exploded |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Derailleur Exploded |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Derailleur Polished |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Derailleur Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Derailleur Installed |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Derailleur Installed |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - New Cables & Housings |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Brake Cables Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Brake Cables Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Brake Cables Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Pie Plate Polished Freewheel Ready |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Freewheel Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Seat Ready |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Seat Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Seat Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Derailleur Before |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Derailleur Exploded |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Derailleur Polished |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Derailleur Complete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Derailleur Installed |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Derailleur Installed |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Chain Installed |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Derailler Cables COmplete |
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Derailleur Cables Complete |
Pedals are rough. They have been cleaned, polished, flushed and are currently soaking in an oil bath. They should comeback pretty nice soon!
Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Pedals Before |