Schwinn Sting-Ray (Enthusiast Color Series) (Paperback)

by Liz Fried (Author) "This photo was taken in 1971 and the rider dates this bike from somewhere between 1964-1/2 and 1967..." (more)
Key Phrases: Jeff Hackett, Bicycle Museum of America, Sky Blue (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This guide for collectors and enthusiasts looks at the Schwinn Sting-Ray bicycle. The high-rise handlebars, banana seat and wide rear tyre gave it an distinctive appearance, captured in this book in factory photographs, brochure and other promotional and archive shots.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Motorbooks International (August 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0933201885
• ISBN-13: 978-0933201880
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 8.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,388,210 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sting-Ray History 101, March 7, 1999

By A Customer

Liz Fried captures the look and feel of the musclebike era in her book. She details the inception and development of the Sting-Ray craze, but doesn't provide the necessary details for collectors to use this book as a reference. The book includes some very fine photos of Schwinn Sting-Rays and wets the reader's appetite for more.

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, But Not Great, February 18, 2009

By	Michael K. Shearn "Ventana" (Lynnville, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have no idea if the author, Liz, is male or female. The author's gender is not relevant. I call this book good but not great because it takes a fluff and fold approach to the topic and really never progresses beyond the level of casual when it comes to research. If you are interested in the subject of Schwinn Stingrays you will find this book informative but not all that well written. If you are a collector of Stingrays then you probably already know most of this book's content simply having spent time reading the different online forums that cover the topic of Schwinn bicycles in general. What would have moved this book beyond the casual level would have been, at the very least, a year by year break down of the different models with a comprehensive overview of the many production changes and differences that Schwinn chose to incorporate between 1963 and 1982. Unfortunately most of this information remains esoteric as it is enjoyed only by a small collection of very dedicated enthusiasts. For a comparison read a copy of "Original Porsche 911" by Peter Morgan and the difference between a serious reference work and Fried's book will become quite clear.
What Fried covers instead is the broader overview of Stingray production and interweaves some relevant information of the social climate in which the Stingray was conceived and produced. For those that grew up during the 60's and 70's it will be a pleasant walk down memory lane. For other readers those passages of the text will seem less than important unless they dream of living in the 60's. Overall Fried's approach and skill as a writer tends to wander. The content does repeat at times and the entire text shows the earmarks of being self-edited. Overall the book deserves a place on the shelf of anyone interested in the Stingray not only as a unique, trend-setting bicycle but as the social icon it has deservedly become. In the end Fried's book does provide the Schwinn Stingray with that. If for no other reason buy a copy now while they are still affordable. I doubt this book will ever be republished.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fierce, March 1, 2001

By A Customer

an amazing book about the best bike ever made. The author is very intelligent and has an excellent grasp of her subject. The only real bummer is the design. Perhaps the publisher could have had a best-seller if they had spent a nickel on the design. Otherwise a very resourseful and brilliant work.