Banana seat + ape hanger = Stingray. (1966)
The model was introduced in '63. Ad from '66, and here is a '68 model in the flesh. $70 then is about $725 today.
The shifter is pretty boss, if I may say so.
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I had a Raleigh Chopper.
Seven year old girls flocked to me, but they all had cooties.
Check out the rear springs that did nothing.
lol love the springs that do nothing. Sorry about the cooties.
Why did banana seats go away?
Big roadie money.
We moved on to banana boards.
Liability, they were getting sued from passenger accidents.
I miss my vintage schwinn, they were great builds. Ultimately had to sell it for space.
Banana seats and ape hangers. Nice.
I'd rather have the Varsity for the same price.
My commuter is built on an old Varsity frame that is still super solid.
Those stupid high bars idiots use to cool their arm pits.
Thanks! Chopper bars.
(Somehow deleted above comment.)
Schwinn was tapping the chopper aesthetic.
A few people take it to extremes.
Very deep riser handlebars, as shown in OP's pic.
I guess named so because they're so high you kinda hang down from them.
It's not monkey bars but apes hang from 'em
Totally shitty to ride. There's a reason it didn't stick.
I had the metallic purple Stngray in the 70s..
Banana seat, stick shift, those handle bars - totally fucking cool!!
I had one in þe early 70's, but I don't remember it having a shifter. I remember it having þe ape hangers and banana seat; I don't recall it having any gears at all, much less a shifter like þat.
Mine had the seat and handle bars but was a fixed gear so no need for shifter or hand brake
Did you have a blue sparkle seat, or an American flag seat? I had þe latter, but wanted þe former so badly.
White sparkle seat on a yellow bike