Schwinn Varsity Road Bike – Worth Buying or Not?

We've spent the last month with the new Schwinn Varsity, read all the reviews on older varsity bikes, and finally put together our own expert review and summary. If you want to know whether this bike is worth buying and the pros and cons, then by the end, you will have your answer.

Reviews Summary

Here's what we found after reading and listening to what other experts and riders of the Schwinn varsity had to say about this bike.

Reasons to Buy

  • Riders loved the Schwinn Varsity lineup of bikes.
  • The Varsity is backed by Schwinn's lifetime warranty.
  • They have since upgraded the models and have new versions in the form of the Schwinn Men's Varsity 1500.
  • It is one of the oldest lineups of Schwinn bicycle models and has improved year after year.
  • You can get a new Schwinn Varsity Road bike for a really low price on Amazon.
  • It isn't just a basic 700c Men's Schwinn Varsity anymore as it features parts from Shimano.

Schwinn Fastback AL Claris Adult Performance Road Bike, Beginner to Intermediate Bicycle Riders, 700c Wheels, 16-Speed Drivetrain, Large Aluminum Frame, Blue

Click Image to See More Reviews and Price on Amazon

Reasons NOT to Buy

  • Riders loved the Schwinn Varsity lineup of bikes.
  • The Varsity is backed by Schwinn's lifetime warranty.
  • They have since upgraded the models and have new versions in the form of the Schwinn Men's Varsity 1500.
  • It is one of the oldest lineups of Schwinn bicycle models and has improved year after year.
  • You can get a new Schwinn Varsity Road bike for a really low price on Amazon.
  • It isn't just a basic 700c Men's Schwinn Varsity anymore as it features parts from Shimano.

Schwinn Varsity Road Bike Review

Schwinn Fastback AL Claris Adult Performance Road Bike, Beginner to Intermediate Bicycle Riders, 700c Wheels, 16-Speed Drivetrain, Large Aluminum Frame, Blue

Click Image to See More Reviews and Price on Amazon

For those of you that aren't aware, these bikes are coming from the days of your great, great, great grandparents. The Schwinn varsity has been in production since 1951 but has surprisingly survived until today. As it stands right now, you can still find the Varsity 700C, 1200, 1300 online if you dig deep.

However, the older versions are just not worth getting any more after Schwinn introduced the new Varsity 1500. This new varsity road bike features an aluminum road frame and a rigid carbon fork that makes this bike very agile while riding.

Moreover, it features the Shimano RD2300 16 speed derailleurs and shifter.

The new version is very stylish with a black/orange finish with red drop handlebars. And it even includes toe clips and strap pedals for your convenience. With the new Varsity 1500, you also get height-adjustable seats and the Pro max alloy calipers that will provide superior brake stopping power.

We also found that assembling the bike was also very easy and should be easy for even beginners to do achieve.

Pros

  • The Schwinn Varsity 1500 is a very affordable road bike.
  • It includes premium grade components from Shimano and Pro Max.
  • Assembling the bike is easy.
  • The new look and finish of the bike is very stylish and makes it seem very premium.

Cons

The Bottom Line

If you want a good bike that has stood the test of time, then the Schwinn varsity is a good option. This bike has been around for years and has always been highly rated and widely loved by riders. The new Men's Varsity 1500 is a good bike to buy. And if you are on a budget, you definitely will find that this bike is well worth getting.

We wouldn't advise getting any of the older models since they aren't being sold officially anymore. So if you can afford it, try to go for the new model.

Last Updated on October 14, 2023 by Daniel White