1973 Schwinn Orange Krate Disc Brake

Get That 70's Schwinn stuff here www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from...
The 1973 Schwinn Orange Krate with rear Disc brake is a very collectible model, although the Orange Krate was manufactured from 1968 to 1973, this was the only year that it was offered in the Sunset Orange, slightly darker than the Kool Orange offered from 1968 to 1972. The Disc brake was offered in 1972 and 1973.
I will clean, polish and make the bike mechanically sound while keeping it all original, hope you like it and stay tuned for part two...

[@brianchisnell1548]

My orange crate story. They brought a first year '68 or '69 out to the first day of little league. We had never seen one before. Hundreds of 4th and 5th graders. We were told, whoever sold the most raffle tickets, gets this. It was unreal!! I never had one or have ever ridden one. Like many of us in our '60s

[@that70sschwinn]

Grea and 't story Brian! thanks for sharing 👦⚾ The '68 and '69 were the hottest kids bikes, Schwinn kept introducing a new version every year to keep the kids wanting the latest one. My first experience was in 1972, my neighbor buddy got the Lemon Peeler for X-Mas and rode it over to my driveway on a sunny cold December afternoon. I was blown away by the bells and whistles and very jealous too 😒 knowing I would never get one like many other kids on my block👨‍👨‍👦‍👦🏡

[@brianchisnell1548]

What was 1st year O.? That was the event! Haha

[@that70sschwinn]

@@brianchisnell1548 The first years was 1968, and yes, it was the event as marketed by Schwinn Check out this cool article with the link below The Krates took over the bike world in 1968. They were without question the coolest bike on the block. Schwinn Krates were made between 1968 and 1973. The first year they came out with just three: The Orange Krate, Apple Krate and the Lemon Peeler. Due to their enormous success, more models were introduced and some amazing accessories were added every year. bikehistory.org/bikes/krates/

[@brianchisnell1548]

@@that70sschwinn 68. That' it! 4th grade. Orange was released 1st I think. A link to our past for sure!!

[@that70sschwinn]

@@brianchisnell1548 Yes, the Orange Krate was the one they featured in the advertising campaign and catalog, they offered the Apple Krate, Lemon Peeler and Orange Krate, first year they did not have a front fender and had the Q-Ball stick shift . Definitely a link to our past👦🚗🏡

[@lugoj7181]

Can you tell me the size of the eyelets we use for the banana seat? Am doing a apholstery on a banana seat and am having problem finding them.....beautiful bike by the way you always do good on them

[@that70sschwinn]

I did a quick search on eBay and found some pars that may help determine the size. You can also try to contact Gary from Koolest stuff www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_nkw=schwinn+banana+seat+cover+gromets&_sacat=0&_odkw=schwinn+banana+seat+cover&_osacat=0 Here is his eBay store he recovers these saddles he will defintally know or have what you need www.ebay.com/str/koolestuff Thanks for watching! 👍👍🔧🔧

[@lugoj7181]

@that70sschwinn you are awesome thank you for always helping

[@that70sschwinn]

@@lugoj7181 Glad to help!👍👍

[@marxer19]

Beautiful inventory of memories! I hope to come across a 1977 silver Varsity. First day of ninth-grade it was stolen, like losing your best friend.

[@that70sschwinn]

Yep...these are definitely memory lane for many that owned a Schwinn at some point of their lives. Maybe I will run into a bike like yours someday...

[@marxer19]

That 70's Schwinn Vintage Bike Channel Yes! That would be great. I still have my ‘81 LeTour I need to make time to detail it and touch up the paint, thank you for the info on getting the decals and paint I needed.

[@brianchisnell1548]

My used late 60's sierra brown varsity was stolen first couple of weeks of 9th grade also. I was shoe horned into a Styre Clubman. Used. I was bummed because it wasn't a Schwinn

[@encoencomen8361]

My mom bought me brand new Schwinn Orange Krate with the rear disc break back in 1973. $125.00. Unfortunately six months later it was stolen out of my back yard. Beautiful bike, I still have a color picture of it.

[@that70sschwinn]

That was unfortunate...I know the feeling of getting your bike stolen... my brother and I, got ours taken right form our front yard, these were inexpensive department store brand but it still sucked... Who ever grabbed your Krate probably sold it to make a quick buck not realizing these would be valuable collector classics a few years later.

[@encoencomen8361]

@@that70sschwinn Thanks for your reply. It brings so many fun memories. Mine had a gripper slik tire. I'm to big to ride one today, but I do have a 1973 Schwinn Continental that I ride.

[@that70sschwinn]

Nice! I started my collection with Schwinn road bikes, including 3 continentals, a 1974 Kool Lemon, 1973 Sunset Orange and a 72 Opaque Blue... they ride like a Cadillac and weight just enough to not get pushed off the road by passing cars. I posted a video a while back featuring 6 models offered by Schwinn in the early 70's kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4a2kHqHmrufjJo

[@TheRobbs]

@@encoencomen8361 I’m sorry about your bike. There were and are some real assholes out there.

[@Sir_Arlin]

Man ive gotta come check out your collection in person sometime.

[@that70sschwinn]

It all started with a 1970 Varsity, several road bikes later I'm now focusing on the Krates... stay tuned for all the colors...

[@markkite745]

Very nice Orange Krate! looks to be in great shape, this will certainly be a nice addition to the fleet. I look forward to the reveal Thanks for sharing

[@that70sschwinn]

Yes she will clean up well, thanks for stopping by Mark and stay tuned for the reveal...

[@estrader6214]

Have some of these too. I believe the disc brake was available separately on the shelf to purchase, so could be found on any of the years.

[@that70sschwinn]

I suppose someone could add the disc in the same way some added the front fender to their 1968 Krate... The disc brakes are date coded starting with the December 1971 through 1973, the disc brakes were officially introduced in the 1972 catalog, they don't appear to feature the disc as a standalone item, but could have been available from the dealers as a replacement part. bikehistory.org/catalogs/1972.html

[@edwinthompson159]

Nice Orange! Nice set of bikes.

[@that70sschwinn]

Glad you liked the bikes and thanks for watching 😏👍🚲

[@ocelot2234]

When you take apart bicycle wheels that are old put the old spokes in evapo rust they clean up to brand new and also you can re use them 😀👍🏻

[@that70sschwinn]

Yep... Evaporust works great on spokes, I also use a fine steel-wool chrome and polish to make them gleam before truing the rim. Thanks for watching!

[@datnotme9921]

Im in serious Aww struck, jealous too 😁. My favorite of all krates, Orange flavor, why? Cause they're Orange. Apple is Red, Cotton Picker is White, Pea Picker is Green & Lemon Peeler is well.. yellow. But Orange krate is Orange. Can't go wrong with that, lol. Not only but, the year i was born too, 1973. I collect & ride daily in all seasons, vintage Schwinn bicycles and Chicago made bicycles mostly 26" cruisers & speedsters. I was hit by a Ford escape from behind riding my bicycle 02oct16 at 50mph hit n run, two cameras caught it all from a business. 16 staples in my head, & bppv. So, i ride against traffic. Growing up i was always told by many to ride with traffic. Thats trusting ppl in their driving abilities and unaware if they would be drunk or whatever. Slower traffic sees faster traffic better than vise-versa. I'd be a buyer if ya ever wanted to rid her! She's beautiful & Thanks for sharing!

[@that70sschwinn]

Glad to hear you survived and recovered from that unfortunate hit and run... yep I always ride facing traffic too to see what coming, The Orange Krate is one of my faves as well, I'm in the middle of collecting all the colors and looking for the Apple Krate and Lemon Peeler to complete the 6 color line up. Sounds like you have a nice collection of made in Chicago beauties...I started collecting the road bikes first and was able to get at least one of every lightweight model and now decided to get the Krates..Thanks for watching and enjoy your Schwinn Bikes!

[@lisaherrera3288]

Can I buy an apple crate in the year 73

[@that70sschwinn]

Yes, they're out there, the Apple Krate was produced from 1968 through 1973, the rear disk brake was offered in '72 and '73 and there are some very rare 1971 December serial number Krates as well. These are selling for quite a bit now days, Disk Krate is getting $3000 and up. The rear wheel can sell for $1500 alone 🙄💰 Good luck with your Schwinn Krate search and thanks for watching👍👍🔧🔧

[@daveyant3812]

Awesome new projects, cant wait!

[@that70sschwinn]

Thanks Dave... I'm also looking forward to showing them once completed...

[@billwelch9431]

Love it.

[@mviking39]

I have one if you are interested

[@that70sschwinn]

Thanks for the offer, I was able to find all the colors offered from 1968-1973 including a 1969 Kool Orange Krate and the 1973 Sunset Orange Krate. Thanks for watching👍👍🔧🔧

[@bradjohnson8100]

Hi, what do you have, how much and where are you? Thanks!