# Opinions sought on Schwinn Stingray
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-sought-on-schwinn-stingray/313671
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [July 22, 2005, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-sought-on-schwinn-stingray/313671 "2005-07-22T16:36:20Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2005, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-sought-on-schwinn-stingray/313671/1 "2005-07-22T16:36:20Z")
Over in the any-topic-is-on-topic thread (otherwise known as Rue’s MMP thread), I was saying how my 8-year-old son is longing for a Schwinn Stringray. He has announced he’s saving up to buy one.
This is fine with me because I’m rather disinclined to get one for him. I don’t think he’d enjoy it, for one thing. They don’t appear to be designed for normal bike-riding (especially jumping or riding in the grass, which my son is likely to do), they’re heavy and designed for looks and (I said) are shoddily constructed. I base this opinion on adult reviews on amazon. This one is typical.
> [@](#):
>
> Our grandaughter got this bike, and loves it. However, I can see the lously craftmanship, that those who only see “COOL” ignore. For just slumming around carefully, you might look good, but forget anything other than paved roads, and sidewalks. And turning this thing is as awkward as turning a real chopper. Our grandaughter will probably take the extra care this bike needs. Our grandson would tear this thing to pieces in less than a month. No ditches, jumps, or tearing through the out back with this bomb. Its looks good and that’s about it. And Lord help your wallet, if your darlings screw up the back tire. It will cost about half the price of the original bike…Let the parent beware, I’ll bet you’ll be spending money on another bike before the year is done.
**Homebrew** ’s son has one, and he says that while the bike is “heavy and takes a bit of adjustment to ride. But shoddy doesn’t enter the equation.”
Anyone else own a child with a Stingray? What can you tell me about it?
---
### Author:  [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2005, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-sought-on-schwinn-stingray/313671/2 "2005-07-22T17:11:46Z")
“anything other than paved roads, and sidewalks”
“as awkward as turning a real chopper”
it’s modeled after a chopper, folks. that’s why it acts & feels the way it does. it’s not **meant** for anything but the road & sidewalks, cruising. it’s meant to **look cool**.
---
### Author:  [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2005, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-sought-on-schwinn-stingray/313671/3 "2005-07-22T17:22:24Z")
My Orange Krate was the coolest bike ever, but it was death in O’Hara Woods.
It’s a cruiser, meant to look cool and ride wheelies forever on.
---
### Author:  [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2005, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-sought-on-schwinn-stingray/313671/4 "2005-07-22T18:33:59Z")
I say let him buy it if he wants to save up for it. It’s an important lesson in consumerism and will help him become a better informed buyer in the long run. Particularly if he finds that it doesn’t live up to his expectations. In relative terms, it’s going to be a cheap but effective lesson to learn. On the other hand, he may really like it and have fond childhood memories of it for the rest of his life.
It’s just a bike not a leased car. Not much sense in making a federal issue of it.
---
### Author:  [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2005, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-sought-on-schwinn-stingray/313671/5 "2005-07-22T19:36:44Z")
Shoddy implies that it uses cheap materials, the welds are weak and it will fall apart. True, it’s not designed as a MX bike and will not perform as one. But as a cruiser, it is solid. If they built one big enough for me, I’d buy it.
---
### Author:  [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2005, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-sought-on-schwinn-stingray/313671/6 "2005-07-22T19:56:17Z")
So they’re a fine thing if your child wants to cruise and be smooth, not ride a bike as a normal kid. I personally don’t feel a child needs two bikes, even if the family can afford to provide them. It just seems wasteful. As for him saving up, I’m not telling him he can’t, and I do understand the possible lesson in consumerism. It just seems like an expensive thing to learn this lesson on.
(I learned it on a pair of froofy sandals when I was about 7. Mom told me the cute shells were cheapo and would fall off. The sandals were to last the whole summer. Did I still want them? Yes indeedy. The shells fell off and I was stuck with ugly sandals. Lesson learned.)
Here’s another report from amazon:
> [@](#):
>
> No sooner had my son gone down the stree that the front wheel was wobbling. The damn fork was coming unwelded. It has now escalated to a major safety issue. I boxed it up and took it back. The customer service ladies were all laughing because they see this bike being brought back constantly. NEVER-EVER again will I buy a Schwinn. As a matter of fact, stay away from chain department store bikes. Go to a bike dealer, you won’t regret the quality. My son’s new bike is as tough as nails and was only about $60 more than the Stinkray.
---
### Author:  [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2005, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-sought-on-schwinn-stingray/313671/7 "2005-07-22T20:18:54Z")
I had a Schwinn Stingray when I was a kid (60s). Is this a new model, or a 60s vintage? The one’s back then were durable, they’d have to be with me. We rode them all over the place. Mine was just a single speed, so it was better for cruising, but it was a beloved bike for several years.
---
### Author:  [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-sought-on-schwinn-stingray/313671/8 "2005-07-22T21:36:51Z")
> [@Homebrew](#):
>
> If they built one big enough for me, I’d buy it.
I think the [Spoiler](http://www.schwinnstingray.com/bike-spoiler.html) is an adult size. There’s also the [Giant Stiletto](http://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?year=2005&model=11106) which I’ve heard good things about. I own a [Rohorn F’lowroller](http://www.rohorn.com/pics/flowroller/08.html) but you can’t buy one anymore.
IMHO the basic Stingray seems like a reasonable quality for a $150 toy. The comments on Amazon could apply to any other $150 bike.