“Together we can further cater to the ever growing demand for quality and electric bikes, whether it’s for urban use, leisure or sports,” CEO Janus Smalbraak said in a statement. The company and law firm names shown above are generated automatically based on the text of the article. We are improving this feature as we continue to test and develop in beta.
Excelsior quickly gained renown after the Excelsior model X clocked in with a record 100 mph speed, in 1912. In 1914 he built what was then the largest motorcycle factory in the world and also bought a then popular, but unprofitable Henderson Brothers Motorcycle Company. This new combined motorcycle brand soon became known for its excellent engineering as well as its luxury looks that helped launch Excelsior-Henderson to a poll position as one of the top 3 motorcycle companies behind Harley-Davidson and Indian. While huffy mountain bike had made moves into the adult bike market in the 1970s, due to an aging factory and management that was reluctant to embrace both the BMX and mountain biking trends, the brand fell behind and never regained its footing. In 1993 the Schwinn company was sold off and has since largely continued as a mass-market retailer offering. By the mid-1970s, competition from lightweight and feature-rich imported bikes was making strong inroads in the budget-priced and beginners’ market.
During the 80’s, bicycle dealers say, Schwinn was often reasonably quick to recognize market trends like mountain bikes but not as deft as smaller competitors at exploiting them. The commitment to a higher quality bike also shaped the type of manufacturing equipment Schwinn could use. The firm could not become a mass producer of cheaper bikes even if it wanted to because it would require a completely different plant machinery and setup, says Burch.
A growing number of teens and young adults were purchasing imported European sport racing or sport touring bicycles, many fitted with multiple derailleur-shifted gears. Schwinn decided to meet the challenge by developing two lines of sport or road ‘racer’ bicycles. One was already in the catalog — the limited production Paramount series.
Imports of foreign-made “English racers”, sports roadsters, and recreational bicycles steadily increased through the early 1950s. Schwinn first responded to the new challenge by producing its own middleweight version of the “English racer”. The middleweight incorporated most of the features of the English racer, but had wider tires and wheels. Schwinn thrived through this hard time building a modern factory and buying other smaller bike firms; this allowed the company to engage in mass production of bikes that could be sold at lower prices.
The company said it needs to restructure its heavy debt and might need to seek a merger. I’ll echo Gerow and say the biggest advantages are fewer punctures plus improved ride feel and handling. On a heavy bike like this, the weight reduction from going tubeless isn’t going to make a big difference, but it’s a step in the right direction. Drivetrains on bikes at this price point tend to be a disappointment, requiring constant tweaking to keep them running smoothly. I tested an earlier version of the Axum last year and was never able to get the bike to shift correctly due to a maxed-out B-screw caused by a weak derailleur part. This bike uses the same AXS drivetrain, though fortunately this time I haven’t had any problems.
Incorporating much that is fine and adaptable in modern design, its sales-attractiveness is obvious. This was the Chicago of the Gilded Age, after all—the phoenix that had risen from the Great Fire’s ashes; the fastest growing epicenter of mongoose bmx bike trade, industry, and technology in the U.S.; and a town with a World’s Fair in the works. On a more practical level, Chicago also had a strong community of German immigrants, and a huge share in the budding bicycle craze of the 1890s.
This is an entry-level Schwinn mountain bike that costs $450 and features an aluminum frame, front suspension, and 26″ or 27.5″ wheels. The Zoom fork has 100mm of travel, which is great for XC rides and light trails. You mentioned scientific testing in your reply, and for this sort of thinking, I look directly at the World Cup XC/DH and EWS race tracks.
developed strong trading relationships with two Japanese bicycle manufacturers in particular, Bridgestone and National/Panasonic. Schwinn soon had a range of low, mid- and upper-level bicycles all imported from Japan. Schwinn’s standard road bike model from Panasonic was the World Traveler, which had a high-quality lugged steel frame and Shimano components.
Schwinn thus avoided department stores and discount chains in favor of independent bicycle dealers to sell its medium- to high-priced ($200 to more than $2,000) bicycles. Under Ignaz and his descendants, the company weathered the advent of the automobile, economic depression and wars. It revitalized its industry with the balloon tire bike in the 1930s; the Stingray, with its banana seat and high handlebars, in the 1950s; and the Varsity 10-speed touring bike in the late 1960s. The company claims dozens of bicycle firsts over the decades, including the coaster brake, balloon tires, shoe-braking units, handlebar-mounted gear changer and knee-action spring fork.