Schwinn is quality. They are built to last.

14 speeds?? I thought road bikes had like 42??

Does anyone know how this weighs? Will I fit on it if I'm only 5'3"?

I sure hate that I'll have to miss out on this one.

I sure hope it's too big for me.

I've been looking for a cheap road bike. Alas, I am six feet tall. Next time, sport.woot!

It's an OK deal; less so when you factor in having it professionally assembled. You could try putting it together yourself, but I wouldn't recommend doing so. The manuals typically supplied with bicycles are poor to non-existent. A bike shop bike may be a bit more expensive, but it is a better place to buy a bicycle if you haven't a clue about fitting, assembly, or even if this kind of bike is right for you.

lichme wrote:Schwinn is quality. They are built to last.

Schwinn was quality in the 90's. Pass and get a trek.

cakeface wrote:Does anyone know how this weighs? Will I fit on it if I'm only 5'3"?

The specs on the main page show the following:

Recommended Rider Height: 5'6" to 5'9"

Too bad it's not the 58 cm frame. But then again I have an old Schwinn that I haven't rode in ages...

sizeabledoor wrote:Schwinn was quality in the 90's. Pass and get a trek.

No thanks, I'll keep my Independent Fabrication

Schwinn makes two levels of bikes these days, bike store bikes (their "Signature" line) and mass market bikes sold in the 'marts. This one is the latter. If you have to buy a mart bike, Schwinns are better than the other makes. It appears to be a model not shown on their site, but it very similar to several models selling for about $250. It's an ok deal, but this is not a high end machine.

The frame is too tall for someone short, so it is moot that it doesn't have a women's option.
http://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-Katana-Road-Bike/dp/B000GZT6PO

This is a low end bike, low end frame and very low end components. Contrary to the upper comment schwinn bikes are not considered high quality for most enthusiasts. You will see few to none schwinns at any race.

What I am trying to say is this is just a bike and not a bike you will race or even ride very long distances. If you are short (a 54cm frame should not be ridden by a person taller then about 5-7 or so even though they say 5-9), on a budget and don't mind a fairly harsh ride then this bike may be your ticket.

That said any bike ride is better than sitting on the couch.

lichme wrote:Schwinn is quality. They are built to last.

the brand name was purchased in bankruptcy Court in the 90's. Not the same company. The old bikes from the 60's and 70's are rock solid I have one in the basement my wife rides it occasionally it still looks new.

cakeface wrote:Does anyone know how this weighs? Will I fit on it if I'm only 5'3"?

If I had to guess, it probably weighs 27 lbs. or so. Unless you have a short torso and long legs, it won't fit...and even if you did have long legs, the distance between the handlebars and saddle would likely be too great.

cakeface wrote:Does anyone know how this weighs? Will I fit on it if I'm only 5'3"?

I'm 5'7" and this looks about the size of what I ride. It will probably be a little on the tall side for you.

As a bike guy, this is an OK bike. If you don't ride it too hard, this will last a couple of years. Couple of notes, though.

Schwinn will likely NOT honor the warranty unless the bike is assembled by a trained bicycle mechanic. This has been true of most bike brands, but Schwinn is notorious for having horrible service these days. Most local bike shops charge $15-20 for this level of assembly. Some Wal-Marts will do it too, with prices ranging from free to about the same as a LBS.

Secondly, the wheels included are 24-spoke paired, not 36-spoke paired as listed. Count the spokes.

Overall, a cheap bike is a cheap bike and probably won't last long. If you want to see if you like roadie bikes, get this, or even better, go try one at a bike shop, or borrow one from a friend. Then hit up Craigslist where you can get a much better used bike for about the same price.

Also, aluminum frames are stiff. As in you will feel every single imperfection in the road stiff. Again, if you're not riding much, whatever, but if you want to ride a lot, you might look at a different frame material...

SuluDance wrote:No thanks, I'll keep my Independent Fabrication

HOLY HIPSTER, BATMAN! Fixies = Darwinism at work before your very eyes.

This would look great if you were riding it in those awesome red Fuse-ion Tevas!!! They have "spider rubber" that make them slide proof! Got some in the woot-off, and they ROCK!

If you don't plan to ride very much and don't want to spend much money, this is a good deal. If you want something to ride more often, go for something from your local bike store. You can plan on this being a little heavier and less comfortable than a better road bike, but it will still ride much smoother and faster than a beach cruiser or a mountain bike, and with much less effort!

Not to be a killjoy, but, DON'T BUY THIS BIKE!

To preface this, I am an avid bike rider that rides probably 1000 miles a year.

Seriously, it's a Schwinn, which may be great for 20 year old bikes and things your children will ride, but for a road cyclist, you should pass. It will most likely come in pieces and to assemble it yourself would be difficult, and to have a local shop do it would be 50-100$ at least! Cruise CL looking for a good, cheap bike that correctly sized and calibrated and probably still has a local bike shop warranty. Also you can test ride it before buying it! Not to mention the components on this bike are probably like trying to shift a bike in freezing rain.

sizeabledoor wrote:Schwinn was quality in the 90's. Pass and get a trek.

That really depends on what you do with your bike. I know a guy who has been riding his Schwinn to work (14 miles one way) for 10 years now and works for him just fine. I would argue that how you treat your bike determines its longevity far more than the brand does. For light riding this should do just fine.

Anorion wrote:Most local bike shops charge $15-20 for this level of assembly.

At bike shops I have worked in, it's $50-75. I wouldn't slap on the front wheel and tighten the handlebars and seat like they do at Walmart or Toys R Us, but completely adjust and lubricate bearing surfaces and cables, stress relieve spokes and true the rims, torque all nuts and bolts to spec, etc. No one can do that for $10-15.

To anyone interested in this bike, be aware that is the junkiest bike I have seen in a long time.

I am not kidding.

I work in a bike shop, and these walmart schwinns come in ALL the time- the worst part on them is usually the wheels. The hubs are a 3 piece assembly that is pressed together. They fail and the flanges slide into the center of the hub shell. If the hub doesn't fail, the spokes do. We don't even bother fixing the spokes anymore because as soon as the customer leaves, another spoke breaks.

BUT- this bike has something REALLY special about it that makes it king of junk.

The shift levers.

They are children's shift levers.

I am not joking.

The shift levers on this bike are the same shift levers that are on the Fuji kids bikes in our shop.

Dorel (the company that owns the rights to the schwinn sticker) has really outdone themselves on this one.

Children's shift levers on an adult road bike. Classy and quality!

jyg wrote:HOLY HIPSTER, BATMAN! Fixies = Darwinism at work before your very eyes.

Hah Hah, not quite. I've got a steel crown jewel with campy centaur that a buddy needed to offload. life is too short to ride boring bikes (big G, T, C, S.... you know who you are)

and i agree that you can get a much better bike on craigslist for the same money.

Thanks, just the perspective I needed.

elektrobot wrote:To anyone interested in this bike, be aware that is the junkiest bike I have seen in a long time.

I am not kidding.

I work in a bike shop, and these walmart schwinns come in ALL the time- the worst part on them is usually the wheels. The hubs are a 3 piece assembly that is pressed together. They fail and the flanges slide into the center of the hub shell. If the hub doesn't fail, the spokes do. We don't even bother fixing the spokes anymore because as soon as the customer leaves, another spoke breaks.

BUT- this bike has something REALLY special about it that makes it king of junk.

The shift levers.

They are children's shift levers.

I am not joking.

The shift levers on this bike are the same shift levers that are on the Fuji kids bikes in our shop.

Dorel (the company that owns the rights to the schwinn sticker) has really outdone themselves on this one.

Children's shift levers on an adult road bike. Classy and quality!

As much as I want a road bike, I will never buy a Schwinn again. When you buy a bike as cheap as this, you will end up spending hundreds on replacement parts when something breaks, and things WILL break. On my Schwinn hybrid, which I bought two years ago when I couldn't afford a good bike, I've had to replace multiple spokes and then both wheels (24-spoke wheels are incredibly weak), the stem, the pedals and the handlebar grips, easily adding another couple hundred bucks to my initial cost. I see almost the exact same components on this road bike, so I can tell you that this bike is not worth $200. More like $2.

Save up and get something better from a real bike shop that carries decent brands. The higher cost is worth it.

So worth it.

By the way, Woot, if you want to sell some bikes, get a good brand and a few sizes (this one is too short for me!) and I'll seriously consider it. I really want to get rid of my Schwinn!

You sir, have obviously never sat on my couch.

you get what you pay for...

I am 6' 2" but even if this was the right size for me, I would pass. It has terrible components. Like others have said, Craigslist is your friend, more so than woot these days. You can do much better for the money. I like trek and GT for inexpensive bikes with decent quality.

Schwinn USED to be quality until they sold their name to Chinese made garbage. This bike isn't worth buying.

lichme wrote:Schwinn is quality. They are built to last.

It's going to weigh about 30-35 pounds. Give or take a couple of pounds. This isn't a high end carbon fiber bike.

cakeface wrote:Does anyone know how this weighs? Will I fit on it if I'm only 5'3"?

Since someone mentioned the comparison between Schwinn and Trek above here is my experience with both. Got my first Schwinn in 1976 and wore it out by 1980 (frame cracked at crank bearing mount) with a couple of wheels and handle bar needing replacement during this period. Second Schwinn purchased in '81 didn't even last that long, trashed it in' 83 or '84 went through cheapies and used ones every year or two until was blessed with enough money to drop 450$ on a Trek on/off road model in 92, which I am riding to this day. It has needed rubber replaced occasionally (tires, grips, brake pads, and seat cushion) and one shift cable but otherwise it is as solid as the day I bought it even though when commuting in South Orlando we got run over one time (it was just a little over a year old at the time and that fossil pissed me off so bad I kicked dents in all four doors of her Caddy). So while it may take some time to save it up and you will end up dropping two or three times what this bike costs if you want a bike for a lifetime go with a Trek.

wootmeharder wrote: I like trek and GT for inexpensive bikes with decent quality.

GT is made by the same company that makes these junk schwinns-

Cannondale (Bankrupt in 2008), GT (Bankrupt in 2001) and Schwinn (Bankrupt in 2001) are all made by Dorel, which is the armpit of the bike industry.

Dorel products are the worst bikes on the market.

Stay away from all three of these labels (I call them labels because the sticker is all that's left of these previously great brands)

If you want a good quality bike at a good price, buy a Fuji from an independent bike shop, or buy a good used bike from craigslist.

elektrobot wrote:

BUT- this bike has something REALLY special about it that makes it king of junk.

The shift levers.

They are children's shift levers.

I am not joking.

The shift levers on this bike are the same shift levers that are on the Fuji kids bikes in our shop.

So all of the children's bikes your shop sells are junk as well? Are these levers on the kid's bikes snapping off left and right? I'm sure nuts, bolts, bearings, chains, derailleurs, cables etc used in kid's bikes are also used in adult bikes, tons of the parts are universal. If a company made every single part over and over for adult vs children size bikes they could never make money. What about one part for every different frame size? I've never even heard of "children's levers", how do you know that bike isn't using "adult" levers from this "junky bike".

redtokyoboxers wrote:I've been looking for a cheap road bike. Alas, I am six feet tall. Next time, sport.woot!

Alas, one of the few remaining products that increase cost with additional materials. Height discrimination. For all the six-foot plus Wooters out there, this deal is painful to pass up.

cakeface wrote:Does anyone know how this weighs? Will I fit on it if I'm only 5'3"?

It's a 54cm frame, that means it's best used by people with an inseam of 32 to 34 inches.

I love my old homegrown but this is definitely the mass market Schwinn and not the "real" bike shop version and I'm not sure I'd even buy the bike shop version these days. As long as you know what you're getting and you're okay with it then that's fine and it's not a bad price