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[bridgecity]

Coasty mentioned that Stings weren't common in Australia so I thought I'd share this info.
The Sting was the high end bike no one but the "rich kids" or serious racers could afford.
They weren't just hype but extremely detailed engineering work which made them mouth watering even to an 11 yr old boy.
At the turn of the 80s weight was everything and there were unofficial reports of kids that had Stings down to the 19 pound range.

1979 Schwinn Sting weighing in at 21.5 pounds

[prolineII]

thanks for the info Bridge. i've been chasing a Sting (when i can find them) but it seems no-one from over your side will send them to Aus.
i found this to be handy  http://www.pacific-cycles.net/heritage/forumdisplay.php?f=7

nice bike you've got there, too. very nice.

[bridgecity]

for some reason the prices went stupid this winter on the survivors, but the refinished (powdered/stickered) stings didn't sell so well.
the finish work on the frame set is a work of art.  I don't ride this one very often but I like to stop and look at the brazing/super bright chrome about once a month.  It's the kind of frame where the closer you look the more impressive it becomes.

if you run across one to buy, let me know and I'll help you get it over there.  I'm in the midwest US, right in the center of the country so shipping is reasonable from each coast.

[Jarvi]

Never knew much about these either but that looks fine.  Definitely different to most around that time.

Now, calling Bob Haro a gay caballero, is that a compliement or an insult?

[prolineII]

i'm looking at a ovalised butted frame at the moment but i don't believe it's a sting. i think it is the sx-2000 from 1980. did they heliarc these sx frames to look like they were brazed or were they genuinely brazed the same as the sting?
it's also got the red oval head tube badge thats riveted on and the id number there under the badge. i know the sting's had a round head badge and id number on the non-drive rear dropout.


Jarvi, i don't think Bob would be gay as in you know what....but gay as in tra-la-la-la happy. i have no idea what a caballero is, but i'm guessing it must be tra-la-la-la happy LOL

[Jarvi]

A caballero is a horseman.

[bridgecity]

the sx-2000 is a watered down version of a Sting.  Most kids simply couldn't afford the high end Sting so they got the milktoast version, and felt very lucky to not be stuck with the entry level Schwinn Scrambler/Ashtabula fork model. 
I don't remember if they are welded or brazed, but they look the same except for having a straight seat post tube.  The Sting was made in Schwinn's exclusive road bike shop in Chicago, which was later brought to the forefront of BMX building by Standard Byke/Rick Moliterno having them do fabrication.  The badge switches to the oval stingray style instead of the round road bike badge on the Sting.

And mid-80s you have a Predator variation with Sting styling.  It has the flared tubing up by the head tube, predator style dropouts.  Not a memorable or desirable frameset.  (I just gave one to a friend for a beater build)

an SX-2000/Sting Comp from the web:


a late 80s sting from ebay, it's been for sale quite some time:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Schwinn-Sting-Frame-Fork-Headset-Old-School-BMX_W0QQitemZ230230395783QQihZ013QQcategoryZ42310QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[prolineII]

was the sx-2000 second on the schwinn food chain behind the sting in 1980? as i understand it after 1981 they started calling the sx, a sting competition, same frame but with heavier dropouts on the fork.
the pic you've posted looks like the one i'm interested in but with red components. the bars are the droopy crossbar type.

[bridgecity]

the droopy crossbar handlebars are big money. anywhere around $200 US depending on condition if you can find em for sale.  On ebay about twice a year.  Have to be careful not to get conned with Rampar or Thruster bars which are very similar.
Funny thing is that NO ONE ran those bars back then, they got pulled off the bikes as soon as kids got their bike.

Correct SX-2000 was second in command. then it got renamed to Sting Comp, 81 sounds like a good guesstimate but I don't recall exactly.  There was a kid in our neighborhood that had one and he still has it.  I saw it this winter, up close the quality is nice.

[prolineII]

thanks for the info bridge. i've made an offer on the sx-2000 as the vendor does post to Aus.
the sting will still be a desirable frame and well worth finding one. thankyou for your kind offer and i'll keep you in mind if i find a US only auction.