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.

This includes an interesting interview with Peter Mole by John Brain. The history of the Sting-Ray compiled from

#stingray #nostalgia #bike

[linjicakonikon]

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.

[artmchugh]

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. 😁😁😁🚲🚲🚲🍺🍺🍺

[bobwallace]

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.

[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!

[PoliticusRex]

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

[downupworkshop]

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

[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.

[davehogye]

I bought a blue '67 Stingray at a flee market a number of years ago. It is in excellent condition and completely original, including the tires and tubes, hand grips, seat and still has pipe cleaners on the hubs. I was told it was found in a basement of a grandmother's home and for her grandkids to use during their visits. I took it apart for cleaning and re-greasing of all the bearings. I occasionally use it as a paddock bike during race weekends. It always draws a group of admirers. Thanks for sharing the video.

[mfh]

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.

[jlovebirch]

I still have my 1968 Sting-Ray Fastback with 5-speed shift. it's in great shape with 90% original parts.

[jerryjasinski]

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.

[sligacheese]

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.

[prmayner]

Scwhinn Stingray 1964 Long Beach, Calif. purple. My older brother bought me that bike when he got out of the navy, it was probably a months salary for him back then, I practically slept with that bike. Thanks Bro for making my childhood.

[willg]

Got my blue stingray in 1966, when I was 11 years old, for 54 dollars. I still own it, it's sitting in my garage. I even took it out for a ride a couple of years ago. Had more fun on that thing than you can ever imagine. Pulling wheelies and taking jumps. What a great life it was back then! 😊

[antonioblanco]

I only saw my grandpa about 5 or 6 times in his life. But one of those times he gave me a brand new yellow stingray, white sparkling banana seat, slick drag tire. One of the greatest gifts I ever received in my life. I rode that bike everywhere, jumped, striped it and painted red, bmxd it, it was pure freedom like nothing else a kid could have. From 6 to 14 I rode that bike in three different states! One object I've owned that gave me good feelings always.

[joeblow]

First Sting Ray I owned was 1963 in lime green with a white Solo Polo AKA "Banana" seat based on my Schwinn Varsity being stolen. I moved up to a 1967 Fastback 5 speed in blue which I still own today in the rafters In which I am looking at admiring this very moment! It still rides, and is complete.I'm going on 72 years young as well. My very first bike was a Schwinn Spitfire 20 inch in red. I still have the frame as well. Thanks for the memories. China can't hold a candle to my Sting Ray....EVER!

[cletiskroeker]

My older Brother bought a bike for us younger boys for Christmas one year. It was a beautiful piece of art. Midnight blue...cheater slick...banana seat..sissy bar.. monkey bars...and the shifter. We were so proud of this bike. We had other bikes that we created into something similar. But, ...we always traded ofon who could ride the BLUE RACER. Wonderful memories....Thank you my precious Brother. He just passed away last January. He was a wonderful person. ❤🙏🏻

[marcogonzalez-hlsg]

I came across this video by accident. Glad I did. My mom got me one for my thirteen birthday. Stingray mettle flake green with all the bells and whistles. She’s 92 now. I will never forget this birthday. Love you Mom.

[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.

[dancook]

my old Stingray! It grew with me. At 10 I started delivering the newspaper in my small town. I had a Western Auto bike that looked like a ten speed but only had one gear. I convinced my parents that it wasn't good for delivering the paper....I needed a Stingray! Dad protested($ 50 was a lot of money then). But mom grew up with brothers that souped up cars so she "got it". They bought me a standard model in red. Threw the paper for 2 years on that bike. Quit the newspaper business at 12- the BMX thing was getting popular so i ditched the banana seat for a solo seat. Changed the handle bars to a black moto cross style with big soft rubber grips. Swapped the chrome fenders for the short plastic ones. Off came the chain guard and put on the big knobby tires. The bike was a beast! The handlebars allowed me to ride "Stand Up" wheelies down the whole length of our main Street.I was a legend! After that I traded 2 boxes of .22 shells for a Tall chrome sissybar with a hangmans noose in it. Put the banana seat, chrome fenders, chain guard, handlebars, and stock tires back on. I thought I was cool again! One day the local deputy sheriff stopped me and said my sissybar was illegal because it had the noose in it. I was scared and he had a big laugh...By my freshman year in high school I had outgrown my Stingray. It gathered dust in the garage untill a kid down the road bought it for 10 bucks. The old Stingray even got handed down to his little brother. The old Stingray had a full life and was a big part of me. Those were the days. I'm 60 now and really miss that bike...