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Schwinn Southport Men's Cruiser Bike (26-Inch Wheels, Silver/Red)
Show more by Schwinn
Average Rating: 3 star rating (12 Reviews)
List Price: $199.99
Our Price: $192.21
You Save: $7.78 (4%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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3 New from $119.99
  • 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
Product Description:
Schwinn Southport Men's 7-Speed Cruiser
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

Customers' Reviews:  
Add Your Own Review
4 out of 5 stars.  Good design but poorly assembled, January 30, 2010
The bike needed some work right out of the box. The front wheel wobbled badly and made the brake pads rub. I spend a few minutes tuning up the spokes and got the wheel true. The seat that came with the bike seemed not to be the correct one. I had to mount the seat on the very rear of the seat bracket to get it somewhat level. The chain was not properly threaded through the rear derailer. It was rubbing across the metal bracket and not threaded through the gears. I bent the bracket back and threaded the chain through the gears. If I would have rode it with out threading the chain properly, the chain would have jammed and probably broken the derailer. This was an obvious error and makes me wonder who put the bike's rear chain assembly together and where was the quality control.

After spending a couple hours assembling and fixing everything the bike performed well. The seating position and swept-back handlebars made for a very comfortable ride. It is stylish and the price was very good. If you are handy or are willing to take the bike to a shop for the initial setup I would recommend this ride.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

 
2 out of 5 stars.  Very cheap bike - avoid if possible, September 19, 2009
I am not a biker at all. I was looking for a very simple, inexpensive bike that I could use for my new 2 mile commute to work.

I got the bike in a prompt fashion. The first problems occurred right out the box. First, like another reviewer, my seat was ripped. It looked like someone had taken a bite out seat cushion. Then I searched for the instructions, and it was this thick book with tons of instructions. I was totally lost. I had to call Schwinn for help. Now this my only positive part of the review, the customer service I received at Schwinn was pretty good. I think they have this cadre of elderly women who really know their bikes. Anyway, she explained to me that the bikes come mostly assembled and that I had to x,y and z. My issue is that Schwinn should have provided this information in the product. They need to revamp their instruction so dummies (i.e. me) can use it.

When I put the bike together, another issue arose. Basically the wheels need to be retreaded. I had to go to the bike store and pay $20 for them to tightened up the spokes. My bike still has some brake issues. The brakes don't work perfectly.

Too many headaches for the price. I should have just either not bought a bike online or bought another bike.

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

 
5 out of 5 stars.  Just as expected!, September 19, 2009
It was just what I expected of a US$160 bike with no aluminum frame. It took me less than 10 minutes to assemble. So many people admire my bike... inlcuding me of course! It's such a great looking bike for that money and with great geometry. I'm 6'1" and I feel pretty comfortable although I usually don't ride for more than one hour.
The breaks did require a bit further tweaking but still deserves 5 stars.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

 
4 out of 5 stars.  Cool Bike!, May 2, 2009
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.

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful

 
1 out of 5 stars.  What a cheaply designed bike!, January 25, 2009
I ordered this bike thinking it's a Schwinn, it's got to be a decent bike. When it arrived, I assembled what was not already done-not a big deal, but the brakes where impossible to adjust. I wanted to take it for a test drive to find myself come to a complete halt. Literally, the first 3 seconds of taking off, the whole gear shifter broke and went into the spokes in the tire and the chain was hanging there. If you want a cheap bike that's going to break literally before you get to ride, buy this one.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful

 
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