Remembering the Sting-Ray Bike (1963-1982)

The Sting-Ray bicycle was certainly the best bike model that Schwinn ever produced. This bike symbolizes the childhood of many people who grew up in the 1960s and 1970s. If you didn't have one then you wanted one.
Source on Huffy Penguin muscle bike from: bmxsociety.com...
This includes an interesting interview with Peter Mole by John Brain. The history of the Sting-Ray compiled from
bikehistory.or... and
www.schwinnbik...
Mail is always welcome at:
Rhetty for History
P.O. Box 850593
Yukon, OK 73085
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/ rhettyforhistory
#stingray #nostalgia #bike

[@KurtfromLaQuinta]

My parents got me one of the first Sting Rays for my birthday in '63. I was in the 4th grade. They told me to take care of it because it was the only bike they would buy me. I still have it and restored it a couple of years back for the second time. My granddaughter, who is now 13, rides it... and so do I!

[@alphasportstv]

Holy cow I was obsessed with this bike when I was a kid late 60's!!! Finally got one and to this day I don't think you could give me anything that I would love more, like a brand new Ferrari has NOTHING on this bike!!! Thanks for posting.

[@mr.mendez9378]

Oh man. Me too, I’m with you.

[@paulaneary7877]

Yeah, something about having your own bike was really memeorable and special. I truly loved my bike also. It was dark purple.

[@kingofkings69ner]

I bet it brings the kid back into you

[@bikersoncall]

I agree OP, there was nothing at the time I wanted more, it was an awesome bike.

[@bobwallace9814]

Kids today have no idea what they missed out on. We rode our Stingrays miles and miles from home for adventure. Transistor radios hanging from the handlebars.

[@alexshatner3907]

I felt rich with AM radio attached to the handle bars, listening to Kasy Kasem, seasons in the son, and I shot the sheriff, among others

[@mikentx57]

We went for miles too. We would be out all day on our Stingrays and our parents had no idea where we were till we got home in the evening. But that made us very independent later in life. Now if a kid is found two blocks from home the police want to arrest the parents for not making their kid a helpless drone.

[@tedlivingstonsr.1969]

That is what we did rode all over the place with no worries. We hardly locked our bikes at the store entrances. Plus, we always had two bucks in our socks. We could buy stuff all day on it.

[@alexshatner3907]

@@tedlivingstonsr.1969 Wow so true I use to constantly smell the rubber of my tires, and felt and pretended that in my bike I could travel to another state with no problem if I was aloud to.

[@edwardcox2840]

I had a red Panasonic am fm 8 track wired to the handle bars of mine in my neighborhood there was 7 or 8 of us that rode bikes all the times jamming ACDC Van Halen Aerosmith Led Zeppelin stuff like that fun times kids today just don't know

[@PoliticusRex632]

Hands down the coolest thing about growing up in the 70s. ✌

[@savage22bolt32]

60's for me!

[@Anth4044]

I wouldn't change me growing up in 70s for anything. Our bikes were everything to us from morning till night we'd have our bikes everywhere plus back then kids could go all over with out worrying about being hurt or taken. Once again best years ever🤗🤗👍👍💪💪💪☺️

[@okiepita50t-town28]

And 60’s.

[@AlmostReady504]

MANY cool things in the 60s and 70s

[@philsmgb4393]

And the ramps. Oh, the ramps.......

[@TheSourKraut]

OMG. The flashbacks of my bellbottoms getting caught in the chain... Looking back now, I'm amazed so many of us survived. But the jumps were totally worth the pain

[@Vod-Kaknockers]

Oh hell yeah! Turned a lot of jeans into shorts riding mine!

[@TheSourKraut]

@@Vod-Kaknockers😂😂😂 😅😅😅 I totally forgot about THAT. Thanks! Remember? The mom that freaked out over the cost of the pants - and bike repair - and what the neighbors will say? The grandma that "fixed" the jeans with other old, leftover jeans, apron cloth or scrap leather (for the knees), and then MADE me wear that hippie patchwork to school - after making me promise to use wooden clothes pins next time, AND, of course, the (one legged) WW2 combat vet grandpa who showed me how to properly clean a wound "in the field" - with gasoline, or anything else that burns like Hell ... (i now remember the "stop crying and hold still you wuss, the stinging means: it works. They gave me only a leather belt to bite down on when the cut off my leg". You don't even know pain ....) STILL: good times!

[@Vod-Kaknockers]

@@TheSourKraut...Lmfao! We would carry a roll of duct tape on the handle bars to tape our pants down if we weren't already wearing shorts. Of course back then you could wear jean cut offs without being labeled gay. Give me those days back man cause these days suck!

[@j.b.macadam6516]

I totally agree! My bellbottoms were frayed and grease stained as well! Damn, we had a lot of fun!

[@gm7304]

chain guards were for Sissy's we all had our pant leg rolled up all kool like

[@miket.220]

When I was a kid, my first bike was the Sears version of the Stingray, when I was 7 or 8. Don't remember if it was a Huffy or Murray, but it was the basic 20" one-speed muscle bike. Yellow, with a black banana seat with a yellow stripe down the center. I learned how to ride on that bike, then rode that bike to pieces, literally everywhere. If I hadn't outgrown it, I would have rode the bike forever. I love cycling to this day, but that Sears "stingray" is still my favorite bike that I ever owned.

[@jamesa.b.7194]

I had a 1976 Sears Spyder a knock off of the stingray. It had a rainbow paint job. In 1979 I spay painted it black and replaced the banana seat and ape-hanger handlebar to try to make it into a BMX. Saw a pick of the my creation a couple years ago, it was a real Frankenstein. Thought both versions were pretty cool at the time.

[@concernedcitizen9466]

I had that bike also. Good, fast bike.

[@kellybanning2013]

I had a grant's green dragon, that sounds similar to yours, but green and black.

[@danocatster]

Murray was Sears version my brother passed down to me. Best bike ever.

[@rubengariby6539]

This video left out the 5-speed Sting-ray Fastback. It had thinner tires than the regular Sting-ray and preceded the Krates. I guess it didn’t make as big an impact as the Krates. I thought it was cool though.

[@artmchugh5644]

I would ask my mom almost nightly if I could get a sting ray for my birthday. On the day my dad took me to Cummings Harley Davidson Schwinn shop in Flint Michigan and we walked in and he said " anything you want " !!! Got a flamboyant green bike with the slick rear tire and a generator light !! Got home and my mom about flipped out!!! This was in the 60s and the price was a big chunk of my dad's paycheck!! Never forget that!!! Thanks dad !!R.I.P. 😁😁😁🚲🚲🚲🍺🍺🍺

[@ronalddauro563]

Artmchugh Sacrifices create the best memories.

[@jerryjasinski8229]

I loved my two single speed Schwinn Sting Rays (in the 1970's), one of them I made into a chopper, the other I drove on the trails (before BMX bikes) . These bikes were one of the best parts of my childhood.

[@michaelszczys8316]

I lived by a river with lots of trails. We used to ride our sting Ray bikes with high sissy bars on the trails. Who needs BMX bike? Sting ray was the all- purpose bike.

[@kendallevans4079]

Like you, before you could just go a BMX ready to go, we did it ourselves. Put on some "Preston Petty" style plastic mud guards, low hand bars, a regular bike seat and you're good to go..Maybe a few "cool" stickers (Cycle News, STP,....)

[@philiphatfield5666]

To get the full effect, you had to have the model with the five speed stick!

[@KurtfromLaQuinta]

@@philiphatfield5666 Nope. I preferred the single speed no frills stripped down version of the original Sting Ray. The do- dads just got in the way.

[@Prancer0210]

My first bike was the Schwinn Stingray. I remember they came in a box and had to be assembled. My sweet Dad stayed up half the night putting them together for my twin sister and I for Christmas. Mine was green and hers was purple. Loved my bike so much. Great memories; thank you!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Sounds like you both had some nice bikes! I like the colors you both had too. Your dad was definitely busy putting two together! Thank you for watching and sharing your memories!

[@realSamAndrew]

I never knew Schwinn bikes to need assembly. In my city, Schwinn was sold thru authorized dealers only, and they had rows of bikes ready for immediate delivery in the showroom. If you had to special order one, it would be assembled before delivery. Murray and Huffy were sold in dept stores and big box stores and came in a box unless you paid extra for the store staff to assemble for you.

[@nomadbrad6391]

​@@realSamAndrew My dad bought me a 1970 blue schwinn stingray 5 speed at Sears. I remember it took him an entire Saturday assembling it. Got it for my 7th b-day.

[@realSamAndrew]

@@nomadbrad6391 that's interesting. In my area, and as early as 1975, you definitely could not buy a Schwinn at Sears. It may have been based on where they did and didn't have dedicated dealers.

[@nomadbrad6391]

@@realSamAndrew This was in Seattle, WA October 1970

[@69FOSTER]

In 1965, Santa Claus left me a Schwinn Sting-Ray. I woke up Christmas morning hoping for a Sting Ray, even a knock off would've satisfied me, but getting a Schwinn added to the euphoria! I can still see it shining under the Christmas tree lights. I rode it almost everyday for the next four years.

[@philiphatfield5666]

I know the feeling. I had the only one in the neighborhood and the boys I used to ride bikes with started shunning me! Their tiny egos just couldn't accept the fact that I was 'The Man'.

[@mfh6982]

My first bike was a Schwinn Stingray when I was 6 y/o in 1968. Loved that bike and lived on it. Rode it into the ground. Became a professional road racer in 1982 and raced all over the world. To this day I am obsessed with my bikes and ride every day.

[@autumn1231]

You had generous parents. That was big money in those days. Two kids in my neighborhood had the Schwinn sting ray. One was a "krate" model 5 speed Green and the other a single speed purple. They were the envy of the neighborhood in suburban Detroit.

[@MoparDan]

This video brings back memories for me. I remember seeing others with a five speed Sting-Ray bike, however I owned a Schwinn Speedster and later a Schwinn Varsity. Those bikes were fine for the times but what I have today is obviously better. I ride my '06 Trek Multitrack 7500 with the lightweight aluminum frame, suspension front fork and 27-speed drivetrain.

[@surfmarine3118]

First stingray for Christmas in 67 at 6 years old. Training wheels off before New year's so I could keep up with older brother and his buddy. Within a few years we had modified those bikes a couple of times ; single saddles and different handlebars for better jumps plus the short lived extended forks and "sissy "bar for the old banana seat. Could easily put in 50 miles of riding on any given summer day. Been a cyclist eve since.

[@danielbowden2401]

I got my Sting-Ray in 1966 and went everywhere on it. It was a very tough bike. I can't count how many tubes and tires I went through. My friends and I thought we were Steve McQueen and would get up speed, run down and up through the grass ditch and jump over the metal garbage cans like in the Great Escape.

[@philiphatfield5666]

The tires would seemingly go flat if you looked at them the wrong way; what's more, at the first drop if rain, I had to walk mine home. No brakes!

[@martincarson9610]

My favorite stingray had a two speed kickback gears on it. You pedaled backward sharply almost to the coaster brake to get it to shift.

[@timc7312]

I had the same exact bike ,I think it was called a Bendix 2-speed , I was born in 57 so probably had around 67 bike ,all my friends had similar bikes we used race around ,jump trash cans , now im riding high end mountain bikes can still ride a wheelie about a 1/2 mile

[@jimmyfleetwood1118]

@@timc7312 Still have one--and yes, it was the Bendix 2-sp. Great shared experiences. Cheers!

[@lightninganth]

I had one also..2 speed kickback was the hot setup!

[@mortonbeard2240]

@@timc7312 I still do wheel stands also. CANNONDALE now.

[@willhorting5317]

Had a used one of those bikes, in the early 1970s. Since we lived on a farm, and my grandparents lived in town, the bike always stayed at their house. So I only got to ride it whenever I visited my grandparents.

[@tomschlitter1594]

Hey Rhett, Great video! The first bike I remember that was all mine and brand new (previously I got hand-me-downs or used) was in 1972. It was a Schwinn Apple Crate. I was the coolest kid in the neighborhood! A few weeks later, it was stolen, never to be recovered. I was heartbroken. I never got a replacement. Thanks for the memories.

[@RhettyforHistory]

That would be heartbreaking to have your bike stolen. Bikes were everything to kids back then. Sounds like you had a nice one though. Thank you for watching and sharing your memories.

[@giffordely2289]

AAhhh yes , the stolen bike..... Bastards got mine ,too

[@SL-vi4tk]

I had my blue 5 speed fastback stolen in 1976 in Calumet City. Still thinking of the person who might have done it.

[@linjicakonikon7666]

In 63-64 when I was 10, I got a 20" bike from Sears for my birthday. I immediately got a paper route and with my earnings over the year converted that traditional bike into a Stingray bike. I trimmed the fenders to match the style, got the banana seat and high rise handle bars and soon began learning how to "pop wheelies" which, with that bike, was incredibly easy. I lusted after the Schwinn models but they were way out of our price range. Very good memories.

[@wmalden]

In 1969, my brother and I got Huffy “choppers.” Mine was light sparkling green with slick rear and grooved front tires of same diameter. His was orange sparkle with smaller front wheel and “sissy bar.” Both had the 5 speed “console” shifter and hand brakes front and rear. We lived in Minnesota at the time. I used to ride mine in the snow. Easy to spin the rear wheel!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Sounds like you both had some really nice bikes and I like the colors you both had too. Those bikes with the console shifters were really unique. Thank you for watching and sharing your memories.

[@wendycity99]

It was called a Huffy Slingshot

[@artmchugh5644]

Orange crate !!!!!😁😁😁😁😁 sweet!!

[@dehydratedwater9806]

My Slingshot was purple metal flake with a pearl seat.

[@jw2218]

You could buy bikes like that at Holiday gas stations in Michigan probably Minnesota also. Back in the 60s and 70s you could buy just about anything at the Holiday gas Station.

[@shaunroberts9361]

I had a red sting ray. 1973. Best bike ever. Now i have a 1985 Red phantom. Love it. Thank you. This brought back alot of memories. I could do a wheelie for blocks...

[@RavenStJohn]

Those bikes were life changers for my friends and I back in the late 60's...we would find fields with small hills and try to do jumps on our bikes......it was great when you made the jumps and usually pretty funny when you didn't.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Bikes were really hours and hours of fun for kids and now days I feel like most are missing out on that. Thank you for watching and sharing your memories!

[@RavenStJohn]

@@RhettyforHistory I agree......when you have a bunch of kids brought up with video games like GTA, they're not going to grow up playing outside and riding and having the fun we did back in the day.....the result I'm afraid is evident by what's on the news constantly.

[@guymorris6596]

My friends and I jumped each other and trash cans with our bicycles in the first part of the 1970s. I had a Schwinn Stingray and rode that bike everywhere. Then I upgraded to a ten speed road bike and followed the successes of my pro cycling hero Eddy Merckx.

[@doylegrizzle4906]

My nephew's from San Francisco had a lime green Sting-Ray with shifter, mini front tire, and Cheeta-Slick on back. It was rad!

[@jamesbarker4752]

The Stingray was an awesome bike!

[@steveskuras2515]

I got the 5 speed Sting Ray Fastback in blue with a white metalflake seat in 1966. Two years later I put ram's horn handlebars wrapped in blue grip tape...SO COOL. That bike was my prize possession and I took great care of it. Wish I had it today

[@macmccollum6064]

Yes, Christmas 1964. I got a lime green Sting Ray with fenders. I'd still have that today if mom hadn't stuck it in a garage sale when I wasn't looking.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Mom's sure are good about doing that! You're bike sure would be worth a good penny with that year. Thank you for watching and sharing your memories.

[@davidbarrera308]

My uncle bought me a green one in the 1980's. I can remember jumping ramps with that bike, falling down and getting back up. So much freedom and adventures back then.

[@billdozer3674]

I got a blue deluxe stingray with white wall tires and a slick on the back in 65 or 66 and could ride a wheelie from one end of the block to the other, man I loved that bike!!! Someone cut the lock off of it at the city pool and I was so bummed out to learn that there were bad people in the world 🌎

[@billdivine9501]

Yep, had 2 Stingrays, both got stolen. Then I got an AMF Evil Knievel looking bike. Nobody wanted to steal that thing! 🤣

[@georgekappland2935]

I still have my 75', Apple Crate red, Stingray Fastback. I got it new and it now hangs in a place of reverence in my garage. I love it just as much now as when I picked it out from the Schwinn shop in 75, when I was 6. Still one of the coolest things I own.

[@larrydaniels6532]

I'll never forget my first ride on a Sting-Ray, 1964 a neighbor rode up to where I had placed a ramp on the street in front of my house. I was 10, he may have been eight. His dad was a regional newspaper supervisor and had completed a bonus program for the delivery boys, a certain number of the top carriers were awarded Sting-Rays as prizes, his son wasn't a carrier, but there may have been an extra, so anyway, he had it that morning and he was more than generous to let me ride it. I had never ridden a bike of this design and really hadn't taken into account of how little the front wheel is weighted. I hit the ramp and saw the front wheel shoot straight up as I landed on my back (kinda wish I had worn a helmet back then) I was both hurt and ashamed for crashing someone else's bike. A year later I was a "paperboy" for this same newspaper and as I saved some of my earnings I was able to purchase my first bike with my money, hard , hard decision, every Saturday included a stop at the Schwinn shop and the other retailers selling bikes. I decided on a 'Purple Beetle" it was a 20" sting-ray clone, obviously purple, a Shimano 3.3.3.three-speed, two hand brakes. I wish I knew the manufacturer-- Murray, Huffy, I just don't know! If any one does know, please leave a comment. Should anyone have this bike in good condition, please leave info and I'll get in touch.

[@vicO1323]

I see Stingrays for sale as high as $1000. Gee willickers. $49 in 1964 is $468 today which is hard to believe. There was no way I would spend that much on a bike, even today.

[@pitman6992]

​@@vicO1323 Gee Willikers!!!🤣🤣🤣

[@ivorwm2291]

My first bike was from Western Flyer. I had several. They fell apart. I finally got a Schwin in 1969. I rode it everywhere in town

[@ericteneyck8691]

Great video! I had the 5 speed Fastback version. A friend of my dad owned a sporting good store and the bike was in the front window. Every time we went I drooled over that bike, Then one visit it was gone, I was bummed and jealous of the kid that got it. Turns out that kid was me, got it for my birthday!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Oh very nice! Sounds like you had one of the best ones! Thank you for watching and I enjoyed reading your story!

[@ivanrousseau5066]

Yep stingrays 5spd was the deal. I remember the front shocks and small tire. The shifter was a 5 spd mounted on the top rail .

[@keithpearson7059]

In 1966 when i was 6 my great uncle gave me my first bike , a 25 year old bike , a 1941 ( 100 % original ) Schwinn Spitfire ! Perriwinkle blue and white , when i was 8 , i took it apart , spraypaintered the frame and fork medium blue metalic , and my dad got me parts to make it into a Sting Ray , metal flake blue banana seat , narrow high riser handlebars with metal flake blue grips , chrome rear wheel with blackwall slick and a knobby front tire to go on the original Spitfire front wheel . That Sting Ray i could ride a wheelie any time FOR 2 CITY BLOCKS , any day , i had a white AM transistor radio with the strap on the handlebar for tunes , if i took jumps the back cover would pop open and the 9 volt battery would come off . In 1970 for my birthday my Dad bought me a new Pea Picker , i had the reciet until a few years ago , it cost ( including tax ) EXACTLY $100. NEW .

[@Gratefulman1965]

As a kid of the 70’s I worked at a bike shop when I was ten, the owner would pay me in parts and I would build my own bikes. My first and favorite bike I built was largely designed and resembled the Schwinn krate model. I loved that bike, I rode it everywhere and my friends liked it because it was the only one like it. Great video of better times thanks for this!

[@deniselawrie3570]

Wow! Blast from the past! Remember all of those! My most favourite was my Velvet doll, I still have her!

[@cashmoney7660]

This video brings back a lot of great memories! I always wanted a Schwinn apple krate stingray. But I believe they cost $89 in 1969 so for my 12th birthday I got a $59 Huffy Rail instead ,identical to the one at 4:54. I was so thrilled because I got to ride my brand new bike for the first time in the Memorial Day parade! It turned out to be perhaps even better for wheelies than the stingray because of the extended frame. Could do wheelies for blocks on that thing .With the five speed it was great for all around riding.My best buddy had a stingray style Huffy with an all chrome frame and rams shaped handlebars does anyone remember those?

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching and sharing your memories. I really loved riding my bike, doing wheelies snd jumping ramps and hills.

[@jwmustang1]

I had an Orange Crate. Great well built. I wish I kept it.

[@chopperenduro6590]

Those bars were called billy goat handlebars , l had a set at one time as a kid .

[@billconnelly4840]

As a gift in 1970 I had a 5 speed orange schwinn fast back for a 9 year old it was great. Good memories. 👍

[@bostonrailfan2427]

you really know how to trigged memories with these videos, first the station wagon now this! this was the first bike that i ever owned, and also involved the only car crash that i was involved in and closest i ever came to breaking a bone…had one for three days and crossed the street in front of a car, got clipped on the leg sending me flying. bike was totaled, but the driver ended up buying me a new Huffy bike and helmet(at the insistence of the police in lieu of prosecution for failing to yield to pedestrians).

[@RhettyforHistory]

Wow! That sounds scary and could have ended very badly. Did you get on that new bike much after the crash? Thank you for watching and sharing your memories.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

@@RhettyforHistory i got a cheap Huffy that got six hard years of use before it fell apart so it wasn’t too bad. plus the neighborhood got speed restrictions that were needed so kids benefited for years afterward

[@767driver4]

My Stingray was an extension of my anatomy for years. Delivered thousands of 🗞️ Newspapers with it as well! Loved that bike! 🚲

[@samuelschick8813]

Had both a Schwinn and Huffy at different times but never the shifter. Butterfly handle bars, banana seat and the standard sissy bar. One thing is for sure. Just like the Tonka trucks back in the day, Schwinn and Huffy bikes could take a beating and still work great. Only thing that slowed you down was a flat tire or a tank ran it over. LOL

[@RhettyforHistory]

Yeah I went thru a lot of tubes and tires as a kid. I really enjoyed my bike. At one time i had one of those spedometer/odometers on one bike. It would go all th3 way to 999 miles and then flip. I flipped it twice. Thank you for watching and sharing your memories!

[@robertnewton4610]

These bikes were a must have growing up in the 70's and early 80's. I had the huffy version. But as soon as the McCrum brothers came down the street in the Chrome-molly BMX bikes..... it was game over for the Stingrays!

[@douglasskaalrud6865]

Racing with a single-speed Sting-Ray really developed your leg muscles.They were geared so it took a LOT of effort to get the thing moving. Once you got going though it was unstoppable. Just when your opponent thought they’d beaten you and slacked off you’d blow right by ‘em.

[@mikeloeffler2801]

Wow love the channel I had a blue stingray when I was a kid and I turned it into a chopper I cut forks off another bike and painted it black with a orange seat brings back good memories

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching and sharing what you had. Sounds like you really had some fun with your bike!

[@jebsdaddy141]

The fat rear tire was called a "cheater slick" for some reason and some had a red line around the sidewall. Tire colors other than black were a thing too. I remember borrowing my grandmother's 3 in 1 oil to keep the chain nice and lubricated. Those were good times.

[@ronalddauro563]

Jebdaddy For those who are wondering grandmas three in one oil was for her sewing machine every grandma sewed our clothes back then. Thanks grandma

[@jebsdaddy141]

@@ronalddauro563 The smell of 3 in one oil makes me think of my early bicycle days and flipping the bike upside down and oiling the chain. Good ole days.

[@paulkeenan7936]

My first bike in the early 70s was a green Pea Picker. Still get a euphoric feeling whenever I see that glitter green. My Dad pushed me from behind and that was it I was hooked.

[@keithhunter3910]

My first good bike was a yellow, '72 Stingray. I couldn't believe my mom could afford a $60 bike. I was set to pick out something cheaper. In the last five decades, the only other material possession that made me happier was getting my Martin D18.

[@trevorlee7945]

two awesome choices :)

[@ts1ezrdr]

My first bike was a brand new green Sting-Ray. I think it was around 1973, so I was about 6 years old. I had an older sister and brother (8 and 6 years older respectively) and our parents took us to the local Schwinn dealer. We all got new bikes that day. I LOVED my Sting-Ray!

[@keithhampton9700]

My first bike was a Huffy Thunder Road. Replaced the parts with Schwinn parts.Lighter weight frame on the Huffy made it faster than stock Schwinn.Got my parts frome the back of a lawnmower repair shop. A car ran over a Schwinn Scrambler. Got all parts for Mowing their lot for for 3 weeks.

[@kurtwise7356]

I'm 64 and have great memories of those bikes!

[@1down4upworkshop61]

This brings back so many memories LOL ... Riding a bike barefoot through out the summer ... miss those days ...

[@ImTHATguy...]

I learned how to ride a bike on a 1980 StingRay when I was 3 years old and I've still got it! It's kind of a mix of a non-existent "Blueberry Krate" and a lowrider now with a 2 speed kick back and has won many trophies. I've also got a '70 Orange Krate (I take for a quick ride almost every day it's nice out), a '79 Spitfire 5, and a '53 Fleet. All 3 of those are 100% unrestored original and still ride better than any new bike I've been on. The 1982 and older Schwinns are pure quality for sure.

[@tyrssen1]

When I was a kid, I put the sting ray seat and high bars on my full-size 26" Huffy. The one with the fake side tanks that had a light in 'em. Cool stuff,. and frankly, I wish I still had it.

[@toddlentner1708]

That 5 speed bike was the king of cool, but also a nut buster. Great memories.

[@shuster1921]

My first bike was a Mattel V-Room Bicycle in 1964, it had a gas tank glove box, front suspension that was meant for a Buick, a steel seat and plastic motor with a key to turn it on. Surprised I don't have spinal problems from landing on that seat! The bike was my pride and joy, I lived on it and beat the snot out of it, and never died though I almost did several times, lol. It was stolen from my school and I was broken hearted.

[@DaveMack-iq9bk]

i had one to,,,red gastank,tail pipes,v-room,,,i was like 7years old,,,it was a blast,,,,memories

[@yuvgotubekidding]

Had a red one. Don’t remember what brand. I can still remember the sense of freedom it gave me . Ride it all day everyday. Got it at Christmas. Took it out in the freezing cold. Could not wait. Loved it.

[@JoeR203]

Something tells me the "Cotton picker" color wouldn't go over very well in today's market. Two bikes I remember having were, a chopper that had a purple frame, mirrors, a flame design on the seat and actual chopper fork extensions, putting the front wheel out farther than the "Choppers" in this video. The other bike I had, had a black frame, knobby tires, motorcycle type hand grips, thick dirt bike type seat and a yellow plastic faux gas tank. I remember my cousin rigged up a car headlight and a 6v battery that fit perfectly in the frame of the handlebars.

[@maxwedge5683]

We would hacksaw the forks off wrecked bikes and just slide them over the existing forks to rake our Stingrays. That and small front wheels gave it the true chopper look. I even bent the seatpost back too (I was getting bigger) but that put my weight so far back behind the rear wheel that I couldn't keep the front wheel on the ground. Eventually I graduated to the next logical step. The iconic "Ten Speed".

[@scottanthony3426]

Yeah, I thought I was pretty cool with those knobby tires. Back in that era you could get a lot of accessories. My family always went for the headlight/tail light combo that ran off a small generator. You mounted it so the tire would spin the generator. Wasn't much good when you stopped though. I also had a bolt on siren. It went on the front fork, and when you pulled up on a string, it engaged the end of the siren impeller with the tire, causing it to spin and make siren noises. Some of the kids thought it might be "illegal" to be possibly confusing someone with this fake siren. LOL

[@hifijohn]

I still have fond memories of my yellow Schwinn stingray.

[@jerricocke987]

I do remember the '70s and bikes I was dangerous to myself and others. Have a wonderful weekend and a very happy mother's Day to your wife.

[@RhettyforHistory]

I think all boys were daredevils on bikes. I haven't seen any boys build a ramp in forever. Thank you for watching and sharing your memories!

[@jerricocke987]

@@RhettyforHistory shock shock ready I'm actually a woman. And we had a ramp in our front yard for my brother and i.

[@hartfordsignpost589]

I had to make my 1st stingray out of my existing bike in 1966 or so. Added the handlebars and banana seat. My next bike was a Columbia 3 speed stingray style bike that they had on display at "Kings department store" in Plaistow NH. The Schwinn was too expensive. I remember a couple of friends of mine (2 brothers) both got the Schwinn Stingray 5 speed. They always got whatever they wanted, however their father used to beat the crap out of them too. I think their father would feel guilty and on occasions buy them expensive toys to make up for the beatings. I loved my Columbia 3 speed and at least my dad didn't beat me up. Me and my friends were always on our bikes, about 7 of us riding around all the time. Life was better back then.

[@donald2106]

My first bike was a Schwinn in 1958 or 59. Cannot remember what it was called, but it was a standard type of bike in the 1950s. I did Get a stingray knock off I think it was a Murray 1963 or 64 not sure. I literally wore those two bikes out, my dad said that I probably put 100,000 miles on them.

[@RhettyforHistory]

I bet you could have. Kids used to really ride bikes a lot. Now I don't see kids on a bike so much. I really went thru the tires with mine. Thank you for watching and sharing your memories!

[@sligacheese6470]

I was 6 in Nova Scotia on Christmas with a green stingray bike number 76 on it. White metallic bike seat. ❤and snow on the ground. Had to wait to drive it.

[@bettytordoff8920]

Oh yes, my brothers had the 'rays. My first was a hand me down Schwinn tricycle, "borrowing" my brothers bikes, until I got my first blue cruiser. I then was able to scavenge onto one of my brothers 10 speeds, when he left the house. I was in bike heaven. My Grandfather was a Schwinn salesman. Nothing but a true Schwinn family, we were.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Sounds like you all had some nice ones and those schwinn's were great to pass down. Thank you for watching and sharing your memories of what you had.

[@throwingsparks]

Oh Betty, I am green with envy! My folks would never pony up the $ for a Schwinn but then again I did seem to destroy every childhood bike I owned.......

[@whatsreal7506]

Delivered newspapers from a green stingray in the 70s. An awesome time to be kid!

[@lesliehackney7519]

I got my first bike in 1957, before the Stingray but it was a Schwinn. My older brother and middle brother both had Schwinn's too, but also before the Stingrays. My two youngest brothers both had the Stingrays. The Schwinn's were really good bikes and took a lot of abuse from the kids I knew.

[@RhettyforHistory]

They really were great bikes that could take a beating. I'm curious how tough the new schwinn bikes are but it would really be tough. Kids don't ride them anywhere near the same amount. Thank you for watching and sharing the memories of what you and your family had.

[@pattydavis8788]

My first bike was a Schwinn girls' bike, a flower banana seat, with flared handle bars, and a white flower basket with purple and pink handle bar tassels. We rode every where. Best bike ever. Then we would put cards on our spokes. Oh the good times we had back in the day. 60and 70's was great to grow up in.

[@pepejuan2924]

I remember I had a stingray in 81 when I was 13 , we set up a ramp on on a downhill street and I jump further than the other kids at 13 feet, it was also good for wheelies , great video thanks for posting 👍

[@narmen1984]

In the early 90's my mom got me a bike from Goodwill. The family that lived across the street from us, the dad spray painted the bike for me. I'm not sure if they were colors I asked for or what. I don't think it was a surprise present, but maybe it was. Hey didn't take anything apart of actually restore it, he just took off the crank arms and spray painted the frame black and the rest of the bike was spray-painted MAGENTA lmao. Wheels/hubs, spokes, everything was magenta. - I rode it for a few years, but then outgrew it or more likely, I didn't think it was cool anymore. Everyone had mountain bikes with shocks and cool graphics. - It sat in my mom's moldy basement for 22 years and when she moved, I took the bike to my house. - Looking up the serial number on the rear dropout it's a 1965 J38 Schwinn Sting-Ray coaster brake, stamped on June 18th. I'm taking the time to bring the bike back to its former glory. The frame is stripped and i'm going to paint it with radiant copper, then add a white banana seat, white rubber grips and chrome ape hangers. I was going to put plastic pedals on it, but I think i'll get reproduction vintage pedals to match the aesthetic. - It's the kind of bike you cherish forever and I'm going to give it the quality finish it deserves!

[@caeserromero3013]

We had something similar in the UK called the Raleigh 'Chopper'. This had a big back wheel and a smaller front wheel, with the same handlebars and seat as the Stingray, which made it look even more like a Harley. My older brother had one. I was born in '78 so I missed this craze but was just the right age for a BMX. I had a yellow BMX with yellow polymer wheels.

[@ronalddauro563]

Ceaserromero Sorry bro but plastic yellow wheels don’t compare to a chrome s-2 rim with a slick tire sprig fork and top tube shifter.

[@BearStar1]

I was 13 when the StingRay Bikes hit the market . I had learned how to ride a bike when I was 11. My late beloved Twin Brother and I never had a bike in our lifes ! Our cousins in Lompoc CA taught us how to ride . We wanted a bike so bad but our Dad said Ok, I'll sell your horses and buy you a bike. But we loved our horses and they loved us and as much as we loved the bikes, we realized that they couldn't love us back like our horses. But I did buy a me a 26 "' 10 spd Bike when I was stationed in Panama Canal Zone

[@that70sschwinn]

Nice! Thanks for using my video Thumbnail at 4:21 The Krate line up was certainly special from 1968 to 1973, Schwinn introduced 6 models and 7 colors, Kool Orange was offered on the 1968 Orange Krate and Sunset Orange was offered on the 1973 Orange Krate with rear Disc brake. The other models included, Apple Krate, Lemon Peeler Pea Picker, Cotton Picker and the 1971 Grey Ghost, 1971 was the only year all 6 colors were offered, in 1972 Schwinn went back to only 4 colors, including Apple Krate, Orange Krate, Pea Picker, and Lemon Peeler. 1973 was the last year and offered only the original 3 models offered in 1968, Apple Krate, Orange Krate and Lemon Peeler... An unforgettable line up of the coolest bikes of the 70's.👍

[@larrywakeman4371]

YES! FAB! I had a Huffy 'Cute Spook" ( the boy's was 'Cool Ghoul'!!) my mother let me kpick out in Sears in 1972!!! Purple with flower banana seat, high ape-grip handlebars~ I rode that bike for over two decades! WISH I still had it !LOVE IT! CLASSIC! Kimberly

[@lorenclarke7815]

I had a second Orange Krate in the early 80's. Was my all time favorite bike...until it was stolen.

[@armandchargois5733]

My Stingray that my mom bought for me in 1965 was much like the one pictured with the young boy and young girl sitting on it that is orange. Mine came with a three speed shift on the left handlebar, and a 3 inch slick for the rear tire… Man I thought I was the coolest dude! I drove the wheels off of it… These bikes were so easy to do wheelies on that with that 3 inch slick on the back you could ride down the block,And continue writing on the back wheel only once your balance got good… Oh, those were the days…now I am 72 and really like seeing these Commercials! If Schwinn ever made this bicycle again they wouldn’t be able to keep it in stores!

[@karlabramovic489]

My primary dream, as a lower middle class boy in the 1960s, was, first and foremost, to own an empowering blue Sting-Ray bike. Along with a pair of brown cowboy boots and black leather jacket. My dad, with his relentless philosophy of “Just as good as,” gifted me with an adult sized Huffy 3-speed on my seventh Christmas, gleefully explaining that it’s the only bike I’ll ever need and eventually grow into. Earlier that year he bought me brown Sears work boots and a jacket made of beige suede. My sense of self-worth is still in ruins from such a horrific childhood!

[@CLaFong]

I was a kid with a chopper version in O.C. CA in the 70's when everyone started to replacing the banana seats with a standard bike seats and put on knobby tires to be like the older kids with motorcross motorcycles. The birth of BMX.

[@SlowPCGaming1]

I loved my Huffy with the banana seat! I went everywhere on a Huffy right up til I was in my late teens. I never knew about that wheelie attachment. We did wheelies the old fashioned way by bouncing off curbs to pop 'em. Nowadays I think the closest you'd have to a wheelie wheel are the rear mount pushers for making e-bike conversions.

[@RhettyforHistory]

I never had a wheelie bar either. I never had a problem popping it up and riding it as long as I didn't have to turn. Thank you for watching and sharing your memories!

[@whatsit2ya247]

Brought back a lot of great memories! In the late '60s I couldn't stop gauking at those new stingray's and begged for one from my parents, we were dirt poor and I was #4 of 5 kids. To my surprise I got one for my eighth b day, a cheaper huffy that was purple like the one showed, I didn't care it was just as cool to me! My older brother borrowed it without permission and some kids jumped him (Milwaukee) and stole it just a couple weeks after new 😩 Somehow Dad scrapped up some more money and I got another one for Christmas just a few months later! Thanks Dad, I love you and I miss you!

[@harryfritter8266]

My dad went on a business trip over seas and brought back my first bicycle. It was called a libratoss, kinda like a modern gravel bike. That's what started my love for bikes and eventually a professional career racing mountain bikes. I had the libratoss all the way up to 2008 when a burglar stole all of my vintage bikes from my home, while I was on a trip to Alaska.

[@Rlaplante73]

I too lived on my bike as a kid. I still ride to this day, now on a Schwinn S-30 mountain bike :)

[@bushranger51]

They were made under licence in Australia by Malvern Star, and were called "Dragsters" if my memory serves me correct. A lot of kids in my home town had them, although my Dad wouldn't let me have one, my old 28" wheeler 3 speed, could out do them anyway. I did envy them though, as I thought those kids were cool.

[@RhettyforHistory]

That is interesting that they made their way to Australia. I figured there might have been a brand unique to Australia that made some sort of version of them. Thank you for watching and sharing your memories of what you had. I'm sure the other kids were mad when you smoked them in races!

[@wyatberp3611]

bushranger51... I think you and I had the same Dad

[@TheHsan22]

Drag Star…. I wanted one, but settled for a 27” semi racer hand-me-down from my brother, with 3 speed Sturmey Archer hub gears

[@markclark1654]

I was lucky enough to have two, a green standard Stingray and a white Cotton Picker. They were awesome bikes, and I went everywhere on them, great childhood memories from the 60s and 70s. Thanks for the memories!

[@dks13827]

You captured it, exactly !!! Great memories.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching!

[@4Gorgeman]

I got my Stingray 55 years ago. I still have it.

[@mutstumbo]

My first bike was the Orange String-Ray with silver metal flake banana seat and rear slick tire. I can remember running into the rose bushes next to the house many times when learning to ride it. Thanks for the memories.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching and sharing your memories. Thqt could be pretty painful running into rose bushes. As long as you don't put out an eye it's all good though.

[@hakukuze7947]

Brings back a lot of good memories. Sad you don’t see that many kids on bike in groups anymore, just grown ups who think they are in Tour DeFrance.

[@danpatch4751]

I think my first bike was one I modified to be like the ones on your video. I don't remember them being known as the stingrays. We called them banana bikes. I do remember one of my friends had one with the stick shifter. Interesting stuff.

[@RhettyforHistory]

We called them banana bikes as well. There were a lot of different brands that had them. Thank you for watching and sharing your memories!

[@SuperAndybk]

Banana seats

[@Alex_Plante]

We also called them banana bikes because of the long seat.

[@YUHJKT]

One of the first bikes I had was a used Schwinn Stingray, possibly from 1964. The straight base model with no gears, fenders, hand brake..... Just comfortable sturdy bike we beat the shit out of. I was born in 1955 and it seems that I acquired that bike in 1968. I have such fond memories of that bike. A couple of my friends had a Stingray also. We used to ride into the other neighborhood in Long Beach, CA. and kick trash cans over on trash day. I could ride the thing probably 20+ mph. Never got caught. Great bike.

[@thomasmoje5926]

Most of the Schwinn Sting Ray bikes back in the mid-1960's in my neighborhood were the base models: no fenders, single-speed. The really cool kids (or those whose parents had more money to spend on toys for their kids) had the 'deluxe' model with fenders and white-lettered tires and the 'Super Deluxe' with the springer front end. Kids would often upgrade their Sting Rays with aftermarket handlebars, color coordinated glitter seats, and tall sissybars. An iconic bicycle from the 1960's through 1970's to be sure.

[@michaelligue3842]

I got a huffy with the purple seat , 5 speed gear shift for Christmas 1969 and it was warm enough on Christmas morning to take it for a ride . In Chicago that is a rare Christmas morning .

[@717rocket]

In 1971, I got my first bike it was a Murray Wildcat. It was a Stingray knockoff, still I loved it. It was lime green I rode that everywhere for 4-5 years.

[@MrWildbill]

When I was a kid I nearly lived on my Schwinn 5-speed stingray bike, I had added a tall sissy bar on the back and a light to the front, but mounted on the steering post and not the handlebars so I could still give as friend as ride on the handle bars. Wheelies were a big thing, we could ride for blocks on one wheel. I was a paperboy and remember how cool it was when the local paper gave us new bags that fit the high handlebars. Lot of good times on that bike, we are talking serious bang for the buck.

[@novawagon1965]

My Mom and Dad had a green Sting Ray bike by the Christmas tree in 63 . It was the only gift for me but I was so happy that they found one because they were hard to get. Unfortunately when I out grew it I didn't keep it, didn't know that they would be a collectible some day. I traded it in at the Schwinn dealer for a 10 speed Varsity. I think he took $15 bucks off for the trade in.

[@sarasotasage6135]

My first bike was a J. C. Higgins. Red with balloon tires. My first Schwinn was a 10-speed gold Varsity.

[@John-jt4dj]

I bought my Stingray in 1965. It cost me $51.95 not including tax. It was the best bike I ever had. I practiced at doing wheelies and was one of the best in my town. I went through many back tires too. Changed seats a few times and had different size rollbars. I think back often to those years and those years were some of the best years of my life. I loved my Schwinn Stingray. It was an awesome bike.

[@Ken-wv2wg]

Greatest bicycle ever with great colors!! The Honda Trail 70s were also running around in the Orange groves and oil fields in suburban Orange County So Cal. Wonderful memories with my brothers and friends!! 60s-70s.

[@dwaynecope1914]

I got a Huffy in Garden Grove Ca . My Dad worked for Disney ,Grandfather was an Oil Man .I don`t know you but we grew up together it sound like.

[@mdrmrgrl9622]

I bought my own brand new violet Schwinn Stingray with the rear slick tire and the white tuck n roll bent banana seat and would do wheelies all the way down the block! My best friend had an identical sky blue one! We had a blast! 😃

[@skeeter197140]

When all my friends had Stingrays, I had a huge Schwinn touring bike.

[@louismcglasson7913]

Of course I remember the Schwinn Stingray bike. I owned one with its "banana" seat, and I have fond memories of those past times. God have times changed! Talk about nostalgia.

[@scottshawn70]

In 1978 when I was 8 my dad bought me a used 1968 Schwinn Lemon Pealer. It had the small front tire, chrome fenders, and the 5 speed shifter. I hated it because my friends on the block had gotten Mongoose BMX bikes that same year. That was the new thing that year. Looking back it was an amazingly cool bike. I could ride two passengers. Not only could I ride a passenger on the long banana seat but the tall ape-hanger handlebars made it easy for someone to balance between them as well.

[@vanessajazp6341]

I had one of these in 1971! It had a sparkle-purple seat and about a 3-inch rise on the "sissy bar", LOL. I was the envy of EVERY kid in my neighborhood!

[@hawaiianpunch6534]

My first bike was a Stingray. The next year the girl across the street started riding BMX. So I wanted one but I couldn’t get one because my mom said I already have a bike. Later my mom bought me a 10 speed, but I eventually got an SE Racing Quandangle. Not even a year later it got stolen from my front porch while I was eating dinner. When I went to UCLA I bought another Quad to get me around the campus. After I graduated I bought a 24in. Quad cruiser. After I got out of the Navy my cousin bought me a Monster Quad. Diehard BMXer til i die, but my first bike was that Stingray.

[@kennyo6582]

I got mine Christmas Day '72. One of the best day's of my life. The Home Grown mountain bikes of the mid 90's were just as cool.