The Schwinn Sting Ray not just for kids

[Coldshooter]

The BBC has this feature about Sting Ray collectors. My dad always said a kid on one looked like a bear in the circus.

BBC - Autos - The Schwinn Sting-Ray: No longer child?s play

 

[J. Galt]

I had one of those when I was a kid! It got me around.

 

[sureshotbob]

I had one of those when I was a kid! It got me around.

I also had one. Mine was the burnt orange one. Boy o Boy I sure thought I was soooo cool!!!!!

 

[hushpa]

I had one also a red stingray. I think it started my love for Harleys

 

[rwsmith]

The paint jobs...

They were great bikes but the first thing you noticed was the paint job on these things that made them look good enough to eat. I knew one kid that had one of these and his fat. We didn't live in the most upscale neighborhoods.

 

[RSanch111]

I had one...blue metallic. My dad got it for me when it was way too big for me when I was about 6, but I managed to ride it anyway. Lasted all the way through high school!

 

[Kinman]

Dad must have had a good sales year because the year I got a new Schwinn Varsity 10-Speed for my birthday, my little brother got a purple Stingray. A pair of brothers down the street got a couple of new Stingrays that had the step-back two speed trannies and chrome springer front ends, we all thought they were cool. I never cared for the Stingray because you couldn't go very fast on one, I was the envy on the block because I had the first 10-speed, the only other multi-speed bike was another kid had an English bike, I think it was a Raleigh with a 3-speed. I guess dad was trying to make up for all the lean years, I was thirteen that year...best gift I ever got.

 

[Seraphim]

Mine was purple and had a wide slick tire on the back. Could hold a wheelie al up and down the street...

 

[Onomea]

I remember those. Popular with guys a few years younger -- which when you are a kid seems a huge difference -- than me. Interesting that the ages of the collectors in the article are still a few years younger -- which when you are in your sixties seems insignificant -- than I am.

Fun read.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

Had one back in the '70's, green. Had the stick-shift, lights, and a solid front and rear suspension. Thrift Shop special. Wonder if it's till out in the barn rusting away.

 

[Marshwheeling]

The BBC has this feature about Sting Ray collectors. My dad always said a kid on one looked like a bear in the circus.

We had a different expression for that; something about a monkey and a football.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Circa 1967 I was just fine with my Sears "Wildcat" stingray. but the ultimate was not the Schwinn stingray, but the Schwinn Orange Crate like those pictured above. I think they cost $80 back then! It was out of reach for me and i'm glad I accepted that as a kid and had all my fun on that $40 Sears bike which was just fine. And I have no clue how I remembered those prices now. I had those ramhorn handlebars on my bike for a while. Those were cool. Tere's one on ebay. They are asking about the same as for a Colt Python.

 

[whataboutbob]

I had one..a 1966 copper 2 speed kick-back.I was 6

 

[Rogue Wizard]

I have one in the tool shed. A girls three speed. I'm going to restore it for my grand daughter. Compared to today's bikes, they are darn heavy.

 

[Narrowback]

Ha! Wow, yeah I had one of these. I remember Dad trying to talk me into a 10speed bike but I had saved all my summer haying money so I could get the Orange Krate. It was so cool, slick on the back, rear shocks, springer front end and banana seat, plus that 5 speed.

It was the worst bike I ever owned. I remember my friends way out ahead of me going somewhere and I was pedaling my *** off trying to keep up.

Wish I had it now. I gave it away to a younger kid that didn't have much.

 

[Marshwheeling]

Up in my garage I have a bike I bought new in the box in about 1996. It is a Rapido, a Czech made imitation Stingray, in ice blue. It hasn't been ridden more than a couple of blocks, and is in perfect condition, except that the rear tire has about rotted off the rim.

I suppose any tire could have rotted like that, but the commie rubber is especially prone to deterioration. I have had more than one Barum tire blow right off the rim at about 20 psi. It's probably a good idea to swap out that Czech rubber for some quality Taiwanese stuff at the earliest opportunity.

My grandson is almost big enough to ride it now, so it will soon finish out its career rusting away leaned up against a tree.

 

[rog8732]

Before the seats on those things got a nickname, we all thought a "banana" was something you peeled and ate.