1977 SCHWINN SCRAMBLER WITH NEW SKYWAY TUFF MAGS

VIDEO FILMED SATURDAY APRIL 17, 2010. SCHWINN INTRODUCED THE SCRAMBLER IN 1975 AND ITS CONSIDERED THE FIRST MASS PRODUCED BMX BIKE. BASED ON THE POPULAR STINGRAY FRAME WITH REINFORCED WELDS, 36/36 SPOKES AND RETAINING THE BANANA SEAT. THIS SOLD WELL BUT WAS MOSTLY DISREGARDED BY THE SERIOUS BMX RIDERS AS TOO HEAVY . AROUND 1977 SCHWINN INTRODUCED THE COMPETITION SCRAMBER, 36/36 AND THE MAG SCRAMBLER WITH SMALLER LIGHTER EARLY DIAMOND FRAMES AND THE SMALLER SEATS AS BMX WAS RAPIDLY TAKING OFF. JUDGING BY SCHWINN BROCHURES THE SCRAMBER WAS MADE FROM 1975 TO 78. IT DISAPPEARS FROM THE 79 BROCHURE ALTHOUGH THE STINGRAY IS STILL HANGING ON AS LATE AS 1980. THIS PARTICULAR MODEL IS A 1977 IN SILVER MIST. IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN MAY OF 1977 IN CHICAGO ILLINOIS. MY DAD BOUGHT ME THIS BIKE OCT 8,1977. AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS THE REAR REFLECTOR BRACKET BECAME LOOSE AND WAS RATTLING ON THE BACK FENDER. ALSO A KID IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD DRAGED THE BIKE UNDER A BARB WIRE FENCE PRODUCING SOME SMALL TEARS IN THE BANANA SEAT. KIDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WERE PUTTING SMALLER SEATS ON THE OLD STINGRAY BIKES AND ADDING MAG WHEELS. I TOLD MY DAD I WANTED TO GET A SMALLER SEAT AND REMOVE THE BACK FENDER. HE GAVE ME HELL FOR SWITCHING OUT THE SEAT BUT IM GLAD I DID. TODAY I HAVE BOTH SEATS AND THE SMALLER MESINGER SEAT IS NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION. I RECENTLY TAPED UP THE BANANA SEAT WITH BLACK ELECTRICAL TAPE. IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY YOU CAN SEE IT. SO BY 1979 I HAD A SCRAMBLER WITH A SMALL MESINGER SEAT AND NO REAR FENDER. IT WOULD BE A MUCH LONGER WAIT FOR THE MAG WHEELS. THE BIKE SAT IN THE GARAGE AS I GOT MY LICENSE AND MOVED ON WITH LIFE AND THEN A DAMP SHED FOR 25 PLUS YEARS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A BRIEF RIDE IN 1986 AT WHICH POINT THE TIRES WERE ALREADY DRY ROTTED. I PULLED THE BIKE OUT OF MY MOMS SHED IN NOV 2009 AND HAD SOME NEW TIRES AND TUBES PUT ON THE ORIGINAL SPOKES AT WHICH TIME I FOUND THE MAGS FOR COASTER BRAKE BIKES WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. I FOUND A WEBSITE THAT REPRODUCED THE ORIGINAL SKYWAY TUFF MAGS AND ORDERED A PAIR AND HAD THEM INSTALLED. A FULL 32 YEARS LATER IM FINALLY RIDING ON SKYWAY TUFF MAGS. IM PLEASED TO STILL HAVE MY CHILDHOOD BIKE.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• SCHWINN
• SCRAMBLER
• 36/36
• COMPETITION
• MAG
• SKYWAY
• TUFF
• MAGS
• OLD
• SCHOOL
• BMX
• MONGOOSE
• REDLINE
• STINGRAY
• STING
• RAY
• RACE
• RACING
• MESINGER
• BANANA
• SEAT
• BIKE
• BICYCLE
• COOL
• KIDS
• BLACK
• SPEED
• RACER

[Knightmixer]

That is cool that you still have your childhood bike after all these years. I was fortunate to own a Mag Scrambler way back when. Wish I still had it. Thanks for the video.

[vistacruiser67]

@Knightmixer I managed to buy a Dec 78 Red Mag Scrambler off ebay a few months ago to compliment my old Scrambler. Had to have the rear coaster brake assembly and front axle rebuilt once it arrived. Rides smooth as glass now though.

[LuckyGuu]

Also, I want to do wheelies again! At your local library, check out and read the book: Miles from Nowhere, by Barbara Savage...........she and her husband Larry rode their bikes around the world in 1979.

[LuckyGuu]

Your write up is interesting, wspecially the ending about 32 yrs later you put on some skyway mags and are enjoying your childhood bike. I"ve been planning to buy/put together such a bike, however I will select different handle bars, square. I prefer a B M X style bike over a mountain bike for the comfort of the riding position = less strain on the lower back and I perfer the smaller wheels. At age 48, this seems like the best choice to know off a fer pounds & maybe ride across the US?

[bluntedjester1]

mags with a coaster are rare.

[ALLERTORLOVER69]

my dads i used to jump is shot to hell. its a shame cause it was a nice bike too

[SlowChromeHand]

sick bike!

[bcampbelltsc]

I remember my buddy and his brother both got these for Christmas around 78 or 79. COOL AS SHIT BIKES BACK THEN

[198OYJ]

Great bike, great song!!

[broyyduzzit360]

straight old school i got a mag scrambler sx100 from the 80s

[vistacruiser67]

@Tracti0nAction 2000 Olds Intrigue

[coffeefish]

Good day for a ride.