Product Description

Schwinn Southport Men's 7-Speed Cruiser

Product Details

• Size: One Size
• Color: Silver/Red
• Brand: Schwinn
• Model: S2818
• Released on: 2007-01-01

Features

• 26-inch cruiser bike for men with curvy design and multiple speeds for hills
• 7-speed Shimano derailleur with SRAM grip shift
• Alloy linear pull brakes; 36-spoke alloy rims with stainless steel spokes
• Easy-reach cruiser handlebar and stem
• Recommended for riders 12 years and older

Amazon.com Product Description
Cool and curvy in design for a retro feel, the Schwinn Southport men's bike combines the easy-going ethos of a cruiser bike with a 7-speed derailleur for improved riding on hills and inclines. With the SRAM grip shifter, you'll be able to easily change gears by twisting the shifter portion of the handlebar. The cruiser-style handlebar can be raised or lowered for an optimal fit. This bike also offers a steel frame, strong-yet-light aluminum alloy rims, and sturdy front and rear linear-pull brakes.

Assembly of the Bike:
This bike comes mostly assembled. Minor assembly is required before the bike can be used.

About Schwinn
Founded in 1895, Schwinn is an American icon that has been synonymous with quality and innovation. They have built some of the best-known and best loved bikes of numerous generations--Aerocycle, Paramount, Phantom, Varsity, Sting-Ray, Krate and Homegrown. Today, Schwinn continues to be a leader in the industry with innovative bikes such as the new Sting-Ray, Rocket mountain bikes, and Fastback road bikes. With a continued dedication to quality, forever synonymous with the Schwinn name, America's most famous bicycle brand looks forward to providing another century of innovation, freedom and performance to people of all ages.

Amazon.com Bicycle Buying Guide
Finding the Right Bike
To really enjoy cycling, it's important to find a bicycle that works for you. Here are some things to keep in mind when you're in the market for a new bike:

The Right Ride
In general, bikes are broken down into three major categories:

• Road and Racing Bikes--As a general rule, road and racing are built for speed and longer distances on paved surfaces. Thinner tires, lightweight 29-inch (700c) wheels and drop bars that allow for a more aerodynamic position are the norm. Most road bikes, regardless of price, offer many gears for tackling both hilly and flat terrain.
• Mountain Bikes--With their larger tires, hill-friendly gearing and upright position, mountain bikes are very popular for all types of riding, both on pavement and off. Mountain bikes that are designed specifically for rugged trail use typically feature a suspension fork. Some may have rear suspension, as well. A quick change of the tires on any mountain bike--even one that you use regularly on trails--adds to its versatility and makes it a worthy street machine.
• Comfort/Cruiser Bikes--For tooling around on bike paths, light trails, or for cruising a quiet beach-side lane, comfort/cruiser bikes are the ticket. With a super-relaxed riding position, padded seats, and limited or no gearing, these bikes are made for enjoying the scenery and having fun with the family.

The Right Price
A bike's price boils down to three essentials: frame materials, bike weight, and component quality and durability.

• Entry-level--You'll find a wide range of comfort and cruiser bikes in this category, as well as some lower-end mountain bikes and road bikes. Most will have steel frames and components that are designed to last for several years with frequent use.
• Mid-range--Bikes in this range may feature a lighter aluminum frame with mid-range components that keep performing after miles of use. If you're looking for a quality bike that is relatively lightweight and will stand up to abuse, this is the "sweet spot." Most serious commuter and touring bikes fall into this category, as do mid-range mountain bikes with a decent front suspension.
• High-end--Racers and serious enthusiasts who expect lightweight, high-performance components will want to stick to this category. For road bikes, exotic frame materials (carbon fiber, titanium) and ultra-lightweight components can add thousands to the price tag. Mountain bikes in this class often feature advanced front and rear suspension technology, as well as components designed to handle lots of rugged trail action.

The Right Size
Fit is crucial for comfort, control, and proper power and endurance on a bike. Here are some basic bike fit tips:

• Stand-over Height--To find out if a bike's overall height fits your body, measure your inseam. Next, determine how much clearance you'll need between your crotch and the top tube of the bike. For a mountain bike, you'll want three to five inches of clearance. A road bike should offer between one and two inches of clearance, while a commuter bike should have two to four inches. Compare the stand-over height for a given bike to your measurements (inseam + clearance) to determine the right bike height.
• Top Tube Length--You can measure your torso to get a good estimate of proper top tube length. First, make a fist and extend your arm. Measure from the center of your fist to the end of your collarbone (the part that intersects your shoulder). Next, measure your torso by placing a book against your crotch with the spine facing up. Measure from the spine to the bottom of your throat (the spot between your collarbones). Finally, add the two measurements (arm length + torso length), divide the number in half and subtract six inches. This is your approximate top tube length. Compare this number to a bike's posted top tube length. You can allow for about two inches longer or shorter, as most bikes can be adjusted via stem length/height and saddle fore/aft position to make fine adjustments to the fit.
• Bikes for Women--Proportionally, women tend to have a shorter torso and longer legs than men. Bike makers design women's bikes that offer a shorter top tube and many comfort/cruiser bikes built for women may also provide more stand-over clearance.

The Right Accessories
When you make a bike purchase, don't forget these crucial add-ons:

• Helmet (this is a must!)
• Seat pack
• Lock
• Hydration pack, or water bottles and bottle cages
• Spare tubes
• Portable bike pump
• Gloves

Customer Reviews

Good Bike
Bike was easy to assemble and in perfect condiction when it arived. My husband uses it to ride to work everyday. Only a couple of miles but 7 gears is more than enough. Can't beat the price.

Schwinn Southport Bike
Bought this bike for my son for his birthday, and he loved it. It is a very good looking bicycle, and seems to be built well. Had a little problem putting the front wheel on, (Forks where too close and very hard to seperate) but overall a very nice bike.

Cool Bike!
This model is a cool vintage styled bike. At around fifty lbs. this thing is no lightweight by any means. I've seen aluminum framed variants but they're pricey. Being somewhat mechanically inclined will be a plus in assembling, setting up and adjustments. Proper fitment for the individual rider goes without saying. You'll most likely have to adjust the derailer for proper operation. Same goes for the brakes. I had the thing apart and back together twice just to lay hands on it and make sure everything was to my liking. I splurged and added a Brooks B67 seat, new old stock Torrington signal pedals and rocket shaped grips to compliment the old school style of the bike. I also picked up a pair of reproduction fenders to later chop, paint and install. Good winter project. A NOS aluminum 'rat trap' rack should make fetching the mail more fun than walking. That'll be on as soon as I install the threaded studs in the frame dropouts so I can quickly install and detatch the rack with stainless wing-nuts. The wheels run pretty true but I plan to pick up a spoke wrench to pull them dead center. The chain guard is on the flimsy side and needed alignment to keep the crank from hitting it but I plan to remove it and give it along with the fenders I'd gotten elsewhere, a coat of rattle can spray-on truck bed liner to protect the back sides and reinforce them. I'd picked up a repro chrome springer front end and head set for it but don't plan to run it until I can source a proper front brake since it has no provisions for anything but maybe a 'found' caliper or expensive drum or disc brake set up. They were otherwise originally found on coaster brake bikes and the later 'Crate' models. All in all, this is a nice bike. Just don't think that you're going to be pleased with it unless you properly set it up. Mine sits behind me, in the next room. Fun just to look at really. Most people that see it think it's too cool foor school.