It Occurred To Me: July 2014

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Schwinn StingRay OC Choppers

The Rebirth Of Cool, Sold Out, Hard To Find...

20" Schwinn Orange County Choppers

Orange County Choppers and Schwinn have combined to produce one of the coolest bicycles ever brought to market. It has a wide, motorcycle-size rear tire and a riveted saddle seat. The custom-stretched chopper frame includes a wedge-shaped piece of metal where a motorcycle's gas tank would be. The bike even parks like a real motorcycle, thanks to a double-leg kickstand that raises the front wheel when locked down.

A closer look reveals amazing detail. The word "Sting-Ray" in white lettering on the tires. Black dice inner-tube caps. Clear-coated flame decals. The Sting-Ray weighs a healthy 45 pounds and feels like it would last forever. This chopper is a great cruiser. Schwinn is producing just 3,500 of these first-edition Sting-Rays. These are destined to be sought-after collectables like the old Schwinn Sting-Rays of the 1960s and '70s. Here's a chance to buy one for yourself as an investment while the price is still affordable. Or get one for your kid so he or she can have the coolest ride in the neighborhood.

Part chopper. Part cruiser. 100% muscle bike -- The new Schwinn Sting-Ray is an exciting, chopper-style ride. Built with customized parts -- like the Big Boa Rear Tire and signature V-back Handlebars -- it's no wonder Schwinn Sting-Rays are endorsed by Orange County Choppers. Straddle the saddle and hit the pavement... the rebirth of cool has arrived.

Features:

*Custom stretched chopper frame with gas tank and gusset.
* 20" x4" super wide V line rear slick tire.
* 24" x 2" narrow front tire mounted on extruded alloy rims.
* Adjustable cruising saddle with built in sissy bar, riveted upholstery and Schwinn embossed logo.
* Dual crown Sting-Ray twin barrel chrome forks with color matching paint.
* Chrome steel chain guard and heavy duty double leg kickstand.
* Clear coated Schwinn flame decals with machined aluminum head badge.
* Alloy linear pull brake with alloy lever.
* 3 piece custom Sting-Ray cranks with iron cross pedals.
* Sporty and stylish front fender.
* Highway front foot pegs.

History of the Bike:
It all started in a little chop shop near Madison, WI. A couple of Schwinn engineers had a vision for a revolutionary bike. One that would take its cues from the great American chopper. With a raked-out fork, knees-to-the-breeze seat position and enough bad-boy character to raise eyebrows, their creation was no ordinary bike. Like its namesake, Schwinn's newest creation was born from one desire: to create something totally different, something that only the newest generation would appreciate. And so, a new breed of Sting-Ray was built for a new breed of rider.

Discover the bike everyone is talking about. It's the Rebirth of Cool. Born from the classic Schwinn Sting-Ray of the 1960s and '70s, the new Schwinn Sting-Ray is an exciting, chopper-style ride. It features V-Back Drag Bars, a knees-to-the-breeze low-ride saddle, a unique wishbone kickstand and the signature Big Boa Tire -- just like a motorcycle!

SCHWINN AND ORANGE COUNTY CHOPPERS TEAM
TO BRING BACK THE STING-RAY

January 23, 2004 -- MADISON, WI - Schwinn bicycles, one of America's favorite and most recognized brands, has joined forces with Orange County Choppers, the company that has garnered worldwide recognition for building custom motorcycles and is featured on the popular Discovery Channel show "American Chopper," to create customized Schwinn Sting-Ray bicycles.

The Schwinn Sting-Ray, widely regarded as the most popular bicycle ever created, is returning to stores for the first time in more than 30 years. The new Sting-Ray sports a contemporary design that takes its cues from great American motorcycles. To commemorate the redesign of this classic, Schwinn has partnered with Orange County Choppers (OCC) to use the OCC logo on all editions of the new Sting-Ray for mass retail sales, as well as use of the OCC name for Sting-Ray parts and accessories.

"The original Sting-Rays of the 1960s and '70s were very cutting-edge and took their design cues from muscle cars," explained Byron Smith, Schwinn's Chief Operating Officer & President. "The new Sting-Ray takes its cues from customized motorcycles, and who knows custom motorcycles better than Orange County Choppers?”

The classic Schwinn Sting-Ray was introduced in 1963 and remained on the market until 1979. There were essentially four models: The basic Sting-Ray; the Sting-Ray Deluxe (that added chrome fenders and white wall tires); the Sting-Ray Super-Deluxe (that added a springer fork); and the Krate series (that added a five-speed "Stik Shift," shock struts on the rear seat and had a 16" front tire and a 20" rear tire).

How To Date Schwinn Bicycles

(You will need a magnifying glass, pen and paper, or a digital camera.)

(1) ~ Face front of the Schwinn Stingray you are trying to date. Look at the front tube of the

bicycle and locate the Schwinn name plate.

(2) ~ Look to the left-hand side of the Schwinn nameplate to find a 4-digit number. Write

this number down of photograph it with a digital camera.

(3) ~ Use this number to date the bicycle. Schwinn made the bicycles at their Chicago plant

in the 1970's and used a 4-digit code to give the date and the year of production.

(Example: 2453)

The first three numbers represent the day of the year the bicycle was made, so in the

example, it would have come off the production line on the 245th day (Sept. 2) of the

year.

The last number is the year of production. Knowing that the original Stingrays were

from the 1970's, you know to add 1970 to the number. In the example, the year would

be 1973.

Electric Version

24-volt, 250 watt motor powered by 2 sealed lead batteries in a case designed to resemble a V-twin engine and controlled by a motorcycle-style twist grip

Instructions

- 1
  
  Face the front of the Schwinn Stingray you are trying to date. Look at the front tube of the bicycle and locate the Schwinn name plate.
- 2
  
  Go to the left hand side of the Schwinn name plate and look for a four-digit number. Write this number down or photograph it with the camera.
- 3
  
  Use this number to date the bicycle. Schwinn made the bicycles at their Chicago plant in the 1970s and used the four-digit code to give date and year of production. Examples are 2453. The first three numbers represent the day of the year the bicycle was made, so in this example it would have come off the production line on the 245th day of the year. The last number is the year of production, and knowing the Stingrays were from the 1970s, you know to add 1970 to the number. This would be 1973.

No. 2153

Face the front of the Schwinn Stingray you are trying to date. Look at the front tube of the bicycle and locate the Schwinn name plate.

Go to the left hand side of the Schwinn name plate and look for a four-digit number. Write this number down or photograph it with the camera.

Use this number to date the bicycle. Schwinn made the bicycles at their Chicago plant in the 1970s and used the four-digit code to give date and year of production. Examples are 2453. The first three numbers represent the day of the year the bicycle was made, so in this example it would have come off the production line on the 245th day of the year. The last number is the year of production, and knowing the Stingrays were from the 1970s, you know to add 1970 to the number. This would be 1973.

the chrome bikes are the only mode