Few bike brands in the United States are as recognizable as Schwinn. For generations, Schwinn was the household name in bicycles. From the 1950s through the 1980s, kids rode Schwinn Sting-Rays, adults cruised on Schwinn Varsitys, and the brand was synonymous with American cycling culture.
- Founded: 1895 in Chicago by Ignaz Schwinn, a German-born mechanical engineer.
- Golden Era: From the 1950s to 1970s, Schwinn held up to 25% of the U.S. bike market.
- Icons: The Sting-Ray (1963) invented the wheelie bike craze. The Varsity road bike introduced millions of Americans to geared cycling. The Krate series became collectibles.
By the 1980s, however, the rise of Japanese and Taiwanese imports, coupled with Schwinn’s reliance on outdated U.S. factories, eroded its competitive edge. In 1992, Schwinn filed for bankruptcy. Since then, the brand has gone through multiple ownership changes and now sits under Pacific Cycle (which is owned by Dorel Industries).
