Can someone help identify this bicycle?

[jefff]

I cannot seem to find accurate info about my frame re: year manufactured, quality of frame, materials used, its value, etc. I have noticed that a very similar Schwinn Paramount from 1988 had lugged connections and no titanium. Anyway, I thank all of you in advance for any insights or information you can provide. The serial number is SW 56440. The decal on the seat tube says 60 years of Excellence.

Jeff

[FlashUNC]

Reminds me of those mid-90's Schwinn Paramounts, maybe Reynolds 853 and TIG welded, but I'll defer to the experts around these parts....

[bfd]

Your message is unclear as to the type of material of that frame. If it is steel, it looks like a match-built Paramount from the late 90s/early 2000s. Nice bike, I believe they were built with Reynolds 853 tubing. Some background, match was a frame building company out of Seattle (or at least the state of Washington) that produced some excellent builders, the most notable being Curt Goodrich, kirk pacenti (?) and a couple of other builders. Unfortunately, the company started when steel was on its way out and everyone wanted carbon and ti. Of course, we all know that steel is back in and some of those builders are doing well!

If it is titanium, then it could be a Serotta built Paramount from that same era. Those are rare and somewhat desirable. Definitely good stuff!

Good Luck!

[old_fat_and_slow]

....snippage....
If it is titanium, then it could be a Serotta built Paramount from that same era. Those are rare and somewhat desirable. Definitely good stuff!

Good Luck!

Those don't look like Ti welds in pic 4. That looks very much like fillet brazing, so I would guess it is steel. Check to see if a magnet will stick to it.

[spamjoshua]

Even one of the Serotta built paramounts. That looks like a masked/unpainted rear triangle, and while the paint makes the welds look smooth, the edges are not as smooth as I would expect fillets to be.

I am not sure that livery would be on a bike with fillets.

Cheers,
Joshua

[bicycletricycle]

that is a serotta built paramount

[goonster]

The match Paramounts were lugged.

That definitely doesn't look like filet-brazing to me. Looks like Ti TIG-ing.

[Keith A]

that is a serotta built paramountCorrect...a Serotta built Ti frame.

[Seramount]

I concur, 1999-ish Serotta-made Ti Paramount.

[CaptStash]

Weird bike. I should probably take it off your hands so your friends don't laugh at you. Heck, I'll be a pal and even pay for shipping! :beer:

[DRZRM]

Yeah, I remember when they were on sale from some place and there was some discussion around them. Straight gauge ti from Serotta, I think they are very similar to the ti Classic. Nice frames for sure.

[bobswire]

Well it's not a Match built or Serotta that I'm aware of since they were lugged.
Try getting a hold of Richard Schwinn at the Waterford forum.

Here's a Serotta > http://i52.tinypic.com/2a5iqzk.jpg

and a Match Built (mine) > http://i56.tinypic.com/8z4kyx.jpg

[bobswire]

I stand corrected.
Maybe it is a Serotta built year 2000
http://waterfordbikes.com/SchwinnCat/flschwinn_1991_2000/2000_45.html

or Tig Welded Reynolds 853 possibly made by Match
http://waterfordbikes.com/SchwinnCat/flschwinn_1991_2000/2000_47.html

Originally I thought it was a Peloton that someone put Paramount Decals on. I never knew Tig welded 60th anniversary Paramount were available and I've owned and researched a few. Goes to show ya.....

You may try and contact Richard Schwinn here > http://www.waterfordbikes.com/board/viewforum.php?f=1

[binxnyrwarrsoul]

Man, that red Schwinn is classy.
Well it's not a Match built or Serotta that I'm aware of since they were lugged.
Try getting a hold of Richard Schwinn at the Waterford forum.

Here's a Serotta Ti > http://i52.tinypic.com/2a5iqzk.jpg

and a Match Built (mine) > http://i56.tinypic.com/8z4kyx.jpg

[cmg]

will a magnet be attracted to the tubing? if yes, steel, if no, ti. more value if ti. does it have rust, same scenerio rust yes, steel, no rust, Ti it it is steel it's probably reynolds 853.

[old_fat_and_slow]

Even one of the Serotta built paramounts. That looks like a masked/unpainted rear triangle, and while the paint makes the welds look smooth, the edges are not as smooth as I would expect fillets to be.

I am not sure that livery would be on a bike with fillets.

Cheers,
Joshua

Gee, I didn't even notice the rear triangle. Yeah, can I change my vote to Ti please? :crap:

[oliver1850]

http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=62762&highlight=Paramount+serial

[bicycletricycle]

Nope

Gee, I didn't even notice the rear triangle. Yeah, can I change my vote to Ti please? :crap:

[Terry312]

Here's a Serotta Ti > http://i52.tinypic.com/2a5iqzk.jpg

I never knew there was a lugged Serotta Ti, what year is that?

In fact, I never have seen a lugged Ti frame period, I don't think it can be brazed, can it?

From what I remember the 60th Anniversary Paramounts were made by Match and Serotta. The Serotta being Ti and the Match being Reynolds.

[retrogrouchy]

60th Anniversary would have been 1998, since Paramounts began in 1938.

Ti "supposedly" can't be brazed, but Pino Morroni (sp?) and Cecil Behringer brazed up some 'pin-behr' framesets back in the 1970s. Campagnolo even made some forged 1010 dropouts out of titanium for them, so it is possible....

[Terry312]

But that Colorado, the red one with white lugs, never heard of it. If it's Ti.
Especially when it has what looks like a Serotta/Columbus label on the seat tube.

[bobswire]

I never knew there was a lugged Serotta Ti, what year is that?

In fact, I never have seen a lugged Ti frame period, I don't think it can be brazed, can it?

From what I remember the 60th Anniversary Paramounts were made by Match and Serotta. The Serotta being Ti and the Match being Reynolds.


You're right ,my mistake I got that photo of a friends bike thinking he said it was Ti, scroll down to see his post and his Serotta Paramount here > http://forums.competitor.com/topic/8806

[bobswire]

60th Anniversary would have been 1998, since Paramounts began in 1938.

Ti "supposedly" can't be brazed, but Pino Morroni (sp?) and Cecil Behringer brazed up some 'pin-behr' framesets back in the 1970s. Campagnolo even made some forged 1010 dropouts out of titanium for them, so it is possible....

Yes but they made the 60th Anniversary model from 1998 (mine that I posted a picture) up to and including the year 2000.

[michael white]

the bike in the OP is the Serotta-built ti, as some have tried to say.

They were great, as were the match-built 853 bikes (I have a blue one of the latter).

[Terry312]

You're right ,my mistake I got that photo of a friends bike thinking he said it was Ti, scroll down to see his post and his Serotta Paramount here > http://forums.competitor.com/topic/8806

OK, I thought I was losing it.

[jefff]

Thank you all for your input regarding identifying my Schwinn.
Magnets do not stick to it. I am almost positive it is TI.
I think Schwinn hired Serotta to assemble the frames per Schwinn's specs.
Very light and sturdy frame that I rode for a while. I am thinking of rebuilding it as a second bicycle-seems too nice to part with.
Jeff

[jefff]

By the way, BEAUTIFUL BICYCLE!!!!! Thanks for the picture.
Jeff


Well it's not a Match built or Serotta that I'm aware of since they were lugged.
Try getting a hold of Richard Schwinn at the Waterford forum.

Here's a Serotta > http://i52.tinypic.com/2a5iqzk.jpg

and a Match Built (mine) > http://i56.tinypic.com/8z4kyx.jpg

[jefff]

Change of vote accepted. Remove head banger now if so desired.

Nope