Schwinn Stingray, muscle bike.

[60sStuff]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

I had the speedo on mine at one point, as well (although it doesn't show in the picture I posted).

A couple sincere questions:

a) On mine the shift knob had a 90 degree bend and the knob was horizontal. Is that a model year thing?

b) Also, mine had a striped slick (although I don't recall if it was a red stripe or, I assume, an orange stripe) rather than the white letter tires shown on yours. Is that a model year thing?

c) How come the collectors always park the bikes with the shifter all the way forward? That would be high gear, and the most difficult gear to take off in when riding.

K

Hi Keith,

a) 1969 model year thing.
Actually ‘69 Krates used three shifter handles. All three had the 90 degree bend before the knob.
1) A straight arm with horizontal round knob.
2) A two bend arm with horizontal round knob.
3) A two bend arm with a barrel knob.
That barrel knob is what they used from that point forward.

b) 1968 and ‘69 used a “colorline silk” on the back which matched the bike.
Yours would have been an Orange line slik. It shows in your highlighted photo.
The RWL Sliks came out in 1970.

BTW, the colorline Slik tires were the coolest.
You could go into your Schwinn dealer and purchase a colorline superior front tire to match the rear. That front tire was extremely rare tire back then and impossible to find today.

c) Collectors preference. Besides, how many of these people actually ride these Krates. I don’t, as they are show and tell only.

Thanks for sharing your Krate, Chris.