- Schwinn mountain frame with Schwinn suspension fork for controlled riding on tough trails
- Shimano twist shifters with 21-speed rear derailleur for quick gear changes on the trail
- Front and rear alloy linear pull brakes provide secure stopping power
- All-terrain, wide knobby mountain tires sit on light and durable alloy wheels for added stability
- Schwinn alloy crank offers optimal gearing and less maintenance on your end
The Story behind Schwinn
Schwinn is one of the oldest bicycle companies in the world, with a history that traces as far back as 1895. It so happened the Washington-based company was founded just as the bicycle craze was starting to grip America. It grew once, and then twice, churning out thousands of bicycles a day from its 30 factories, a figure that grew to over a million a year at the turn of the 20th century. At the height of its success, the German-family-owned company controlled a whopping 25% market share in America.
But all good things come to an end, and the glory days would not last forever. The tectonic plates were shifting right under its saddle, but Schwinn failed to read the changing times. People started ignoring the company’s heavy bicycles in favour of European and Japanese manufacturers who were producing lighter bikes that were fashionable at the same time, something that was aided by the latter pair’s participation in professional bicycle racing.
Schwinn also failed to seize on the growing fascination with mountain bikes in the 1980s, and the irony of it was that part of the euphoria was born out of modifying the Schwinn Excelsior, a balloon-tyred model that was quite the hit in the mid-20th century. This was only going to go one way: south. Schwinn found itself tumbling from dominance to bankruptcy where it would wallow for a while, before rebounding in the ‘90s.
But it never did recover its head honcho status.
Still Relevant
While this might sound like a historical review of the bicycle company, it is anything but. The story of Schwinn is as long as its deep history, but back to the main matter at hand. Schwinn as a maker of mountain bikes.
To tie this together, we would say Schwinn was determined not to fade into oblivion, and the American company would later bounce back in an effort to regain a piece of its once large market pie. As with many other companies that find themselves in such a back-to-the-ropes, Schwinn has tried to pull out all the stops to ensure it delivers competitive products, in every sense of the word. They do design great mountain bikes, and when they get it right, it’s often a box office hit. One thing you will also notice about this brand is that their bikes are priced fairly cheap.
The Schwinn Men’s High Timber 27.5″ Wheel Mountain Bicycle is the quintessential Schwinn offering – a wonderfully designed bike that just about trounces all in its price category. There is a lot to love about this bike. Let’s walk you through some of the main highlights you may be interested to know, and that will be for you to decide.
Design
One feature that many people will find most ideal about the Schwinn High Timber Mountain Bike is the alloy frame that is some 18 inches above the ground. That is a medium size that is neither low nor high, making it a great fit for differently sized bikers. Many first time bikers will also appreciate the convenience of this size.
More than that, the steel construction of the frame means the structure of the bike is very sturdy. While there is always the question of having a bicycle that is a tad heavier, the glass-half-full view of the steel construction is that it results in an extremely strong and durable bike.
The black finish and yellow branding also give it a really cool and trendy look.
Suspension Fork
One of the subtleties that distinguish a great mountain bike from a run-of-the-mine offering is the suspension fork. For a bike to warrant a mention at a bikers’ dinner table, it has to have a quality suspension fork, and that is exactly what you get with the Schwinn Men’s High Timber Mountain Bicycle.
It’s top-notch suspension fork courtesy of SunTour (a long time Japanese maker of bicycle parts) ensures the bike can withstand bumpy rides, absorbing most of the shock. The fact that this Schwinn model is a hardtail makes it a pure mountain machine, connecting you to the trail fast and efficiently.
Wheel Size
There really is no point in stating the obvious which is the 27.5-inch size of the wheels on this bike. Perhaps what is worth adding here is that this traditional wheel size makes the bike lighter and easier to accelerate, while also fitting in with the idea Schwinn had for this bike: a multi-purpose bicycle suited for all casual purposes. The downside associated with this wheel is that its smaller size makes it a bit challenging to overcome big obstacles.
- Schwinn mountain frame with Schwinn suspension fork for controlled riding on tough trails
- Shimano twist shifters with 21-speed rear derailleur for quick gear changes on the trail
- Front and rear alloy linear pull brakes provide secure stopping power
- All-terrain, wide knobby mountain tires sit on light and durable alloy wheels for added stability
- Schwinn alloy crank offers optimal gearing and less maintenance on your end
Gear System
The Schwinn Men’s High Timber Mountain Bike comes equipped with SRAM gripped gears, offering 21 gears which is just about enough to do casual rounds in the neighborhood. However, some advanced riders will bemoan the deficiency of more gears, deeming the 21 a little too limiting in their quest to unlock the bike’s full power. Considering this is a bike designed for casual use, though, this is forgivable, more so when you consider its price point.
Pay a little more and get the Diamondback Sorrento – check out our review
Padded Saddle
It would be remiss to talk about the features of the Schwinn 27.5” Timber Bike and fail to mention its seat, a padded saddle enhanced with quality cushioning for more comfort. In fact, this aspect of this bike is one even many more expensive models cannot match.
And you know what that means, right?
No longer do you need to hit the rough terrains without stopping every now and then due to fatigue or saddle soreness. This seat can absorb all the bumps and shocks along your way, leaving you to squeeze even more thrill out of your ride.
Reliable Brakes
Brakes are one of the most important components of a bicycle. And in no way should you sacrifice your safety by going for a good bike that falls short on the braking aspect.
It may be low-priced, but the Schwinn 27.5” Timber Bike has a set of pretty reliable brakes. The only downside here is that these are not the more ideal disc brakes suited for all weather. But the Alloy V type of brakes can still be relied upon to bring your bike to a stop just when you need to, irrespective of the terrain’s slope. And you can rely on them 100% when the weather is dry.
What we Love
High-quality, sturdy construction
Elegant design
Wheel size for easier acceleration
Cosy saddle
Price
What We Don’t
Solid steel build results in a slightly heavier mass
Handlebars might be a bit low for some people
Lack of water bottle holder
Other people also considered these:
Schwinn Women’s High Timber Mountain Bicycle, 26″ Wheel 16″/Small Frame Size
- Steel mountain frame maximizes comfort & performance
- Suspension fork smoothens the bumps and increases control
- 21 speed Shimano rear derailleur with SRAM twist shifters changes gears easily
- Alloy wheels
- Alloy linear pull brakes for quick stopping
Schwinn S29 Men’s 29″ Wheel Full Suspension Mountain Bike
- Schwinn aluminum 29r full suspension frame with SR Suntour suspension fork
- The SRAM 3.0 rear derailleur and SRAM 3.0 21 speed trigger shifting will provide ultimate shifting for quick gear changes
- Front & rear disc brakes
- SR Suntour 3 piece alloy cranks
- Alloy 29r wheels
Schwinn Protocol 1.0 Men’s Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike (26-Inch Wheels, Red)
- Schwinn aluminum full suspension frame with front suspension fork for reliable, responsive riding
- 24-speed Shimano EZ-Fire trigger shifters and the Shimano rear derailleur provide a wide gear range and smooth shifting out on the trail
- Front disc brake and rear alloy V-brake combine for crisp all-condition stopping
- Light and strong alloy rims support knobby mountain tires for durable everyday riding
- Schwinn alloy crank offers optimal gearing and less pesky maintenance on your end
Schwinn Solution GSD Men’s Mountain Bike (26-Inch Wheels)
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Final Thoughts
If you are ever in need of a high quality mountain bike for casual commuting or riding short distances that does not cause a big dent on your pocket, the Schwinn Men’s High Timber 27.5″ Wheel Mountain Bicycle fits that bill perfectly.
It is hard to think of a better bike in this price segment that has managed to strike the elusive balance of quality and price as the Schwinn Men’s High Timber Mountain Bike has.