Submitted by
Don Duende
a Cross Country Rider
from Eastern Sierra
Date Reviewed: October 19, 2007
Strengths: Has been a fun ride for over 11 years. This is my first full susupension bike after a few years on a rigid aluminum fork bike. The difference was amazing and I would never go back to a hardtail. Only in the past few years has suspension design really improved. CroMoly frame makes for a sweet ride. Climbs well enough.
Weaknesses: CroMoly frame is heavy. New suspension designs are much better descenders, have more travel, propedal, etc. I choose my lines through rocky sections more carefully but that is partly due to the fork and shock.
Bottom Line:
This is my old MTB now replaced with a new Intense 5.5. The new bike is better, for sure but the Schwinn has taken me everywhere for a lot less money. I still ride the Schwinn as a beater bike that I keep for a quick ride before work and keep the new bike at my other place, near the MTB park. When I rode with friends on their $6000 Blur XC and similar bikes, I would still kick their asses on the Schwinn. If you can find one in good condition, used, the Schwinn s[9six]40 is a good full suspension bike to grow into. As your riding skills improve, you will want to trade up to a modern suspension design, albeit at a much higher price.
Strengths: Frame feels solid, Handles Firetrails very well and climbing out of the saddle results in the feel of a hard-tail bike.(if the Rear air shock is dialed in correctly(
Weaknesses: The Center-pull brakes that originally were installed were weak and should be upgraded. The Wheelset and front fork are adequate, but fairly heavy.
Bottom Line:
Schwinn has mad good bikes for quite a while. This bike is a great trail bike and is definately comfortable to ride. Its Suspension setup lengthens its wheelbase durring cornering allowing for more stable cornering. The rear suspension does not come with a lockout however it does feel like the suspension has locked out when climbing out of the saddle. The other nice thing about the suspension design is that none of your pedaling force is lost to rear suspension movement due to the fact that the whole rear triangle contains the is solid, and contains the whole drive terrian.
Weaknesses: Stock parts arent the best but are fine until you feel like upgrading, the only part that is complete junk is the Cane Creek AD-4 rear shock, get rid of it.
Bottom Line:
This bike is a great bike, It isn't the best bike you'll find but it has stood up to every challenge I've given it so far. I wouldn't trade for a brand new bike.
Submitted by
Joe
a Weekend Warrior
from Glenwood Springs, CO
Date Reviewed: April 20, 2000
Strengths: Great frame design, climbs in the saddle
Weaknesses: Poor stock components
Bottom Line:
Schwinn obviously spent more time on the frame design than deciding which components to use. But if you buy this bike you should be pleased with its performance. Also if you have the money, get new higher end components. If you think you ride often enough, you're committed enough, and you aren't cheap enough to buy a wal-mart bike this is the bike for you.
Bike Setup: lx cranks, avid brakes, sun rims, dt spokes, lx hubs, lx shifters, judy c, deluxe rear
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Rike Schuett-Berg
a Cross Country Rider
from Bonn, germany
Date Reviewed: February 9, 2000
Strengths: cheep, good geometrie for women like me, good traction, very nice looking for a fully
Weaknesses: equipement had to be changed
Bottom Line:
I bought my bike (s(9six).20, I don`t know the difference to .40) April 1999. It has its own story, because it came out of a fire at the dealers place without blessure. And the dealer let it for less money (1800 DM with the exchanged parts + shoes + clickies). For this money you couldn`t by here a GOOD Fullsuspension bike. I`m very content with my bike, only the rock shox quadra is not the best, but if you have ridden before (9 Years) a Hardtail its o.k. Till now i had no problems with the AD-4; but perhaps somebody can tell me an alternative (mail me)? The time of "bad neck" or any other hurting bodyparts are over! Downhill is great, no more fear, beause it absorbs all. Now I am sure there is no trail to hard! And fun is with me! I´m happy having found this homepage with reviews, because here in germany nobody knows this great bike. I love it very much! For womens its a very good beginners bike! Please, excuse my bad english, but its long ago that I used it.
Bike Setup: Tectro V-brakes, rapidfire XT, LX grank, kore porch(?), Downhill-handbars, , Ritchey click-pedals, z-maxx tires
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James Doanes
a Weekend Warrior
from Westy, CO USA
Date Reviewed: September 10, 1999
Strengths: Lightweight, strength
Weaknesses: Stock components
Bottom Line:
This is a good bike, but it will go through some changes to make is a great bike. So far, the Shimano XT V-brakes were a must, and the front shock will be next to go. I heard enough on the Cane Creek AD-6 shock to send mine in for a replace/rehaul. Things are getting better! Though not where I want it to be, I would not hesitate to race it. Already have and will again.
Submitted by
Brocko
a Weekend Warrior
from Cincinnati, Oh
Date Reviewed: July 5, 1999
Strengths: The best full suspension design
Weaknesses: stock components
Bottom Line:
I've ridden many full susp. bikes, and I always go back to my old Schwinn because it is the best f/s design out there. Let's face it, all f/s bikes are going to have some faults, but the Schwinn sweet spot bikes have the fewest!
Similar Products Used: Fisher Joshua GT I-drive bikes Pro-Flex
Bike Setup: Upgraded Stratos Helix Expert shock, Z2 Atom Bomb fork, Titec/Bontrager cockpit, and XT rear derail.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
adam
a Cross-Country Rider
from rochester NY
Date Reviewed: May 20, 1999
Strengths: XC performance handles big hits well relatively light for its price range and design good value good amount of travel fo r entry level full suspension nice bike to build up
Weaknesses: back end can feel quirky on rought terrain, especially with stock parts stock parts are really weak
Bottom Line:
I gradually upgraded the parts on this bike, and it gradually performed better. In stock form, the parts just don't last. With the current setup, it performs much better than my friend's cannondale and is light to boot. It is fast, especially on fire roads and decents, it can sometimes act quirky on technical terrain though because the rear end isn't as solid as the Homegrowns. Overall, it is a great bike to build up because it provides well designed full suspension at a low price ($800 at a store clearance). Don't be turned off by the schwinn name either, the performance of their bikes will suprise you. Any questions on schwinn full suspension, give me an email.
Similar Products Used: Cannondale Super V Carbon Trek 850 shx Trek 8000
Bike Setup: here goes, I replaced nearly everything: Marzocchi Adambomb Cane Creek AD-10 White industries Ti hub with 517 SUP UB rim, DT Hugi rear hub Continental Double Fighters Magura Hydraulics XT derrailuers XTR megarange cassette Sachs sedis chain Xray shifters Scott twin cam pedals
I love my 96. granted I replaced 70% of the parts before I ever left the store. XT rear derailer, XTR Front to support larger cranckset. LX V-Brakes, Ritchey Clippless pedals, Judy XC Front, AD-10 Rear Shocks, Ceramic Mavic 517's with LX Hubs. but I've got EXACTLY the bike I was looking for. The ride is great, the sweet spot works as advertised. This bike has taken A Lot of abuse from me, I'm 6'3, 250 lbs, and I think Finesse is a Shampoo. but my 96 hasn't let me down once. I think it's a great bike for someone who is planning to replace all the OEM stuff anyway. My only complaint is I broke the sealed bottem bracket, which was replaced under waranty. however in all fairness the mechanic said it was the first broken one he has ever seen on the 96. That's my 2 cents.
Submitted by
Philip
a cross-country rider
from Louisiana
Date Reviewed: June 10, 1998
Bottom Line:
I hate the S-96 all of the stock parts are cheap especially the fork this bike was not worth what I paid for it. The fork froze up after about six months and I broke the rear derrailleur at about the same time, I blew two of the cane creek AD-4 I blew one about 9 months ago and I blew the one they replaced it with about a week ago. I wouldn't upgrade any of the parts because the frame is too heavy in the first place
I have now done about 1,500 miles on my s[9six], and must say: the frame is fine, but most of the OEM stuff is crap (a positive surprise were the tires, though they were heavy, they worked great). So when people say that it is a great bike once one has replaced everything, they are probably right, but for the $600 bucks one has to spend for the bike, one is better off buying a frame (M2 for instance). I think that the bike is best for occasional weeken warriors, who do not want to spend much and won't do any rough riding.
Submitted by
David
a weekend warrior
from Los Angeles, CA
Date Reviewed: February 11, 1998
Bottom Line:
I agree absolutely!!! I have an aluminum HT, but never bother riding it because the S96.40 is really awesome. the chromoly/aluminium combo is terrific. I added a cane creek AD-10, Judy XC long travel fork, replaced ALL the stock parts with XT (except the deralliuers, which are XTR) , a Specialized seat and Ground Control/Master tires. I far prefer the performance to the comparably equipped Homegrown XT. This bike is tough and really good looking. The basic bike was only $587 from Supergo. Can't do any better than that!!!
Submitted by
Dustin Belack
a weekend warrior
from Pa, USA
Date Reviewed: January 10, 1998
Bottom Line:
Ilove my Schwinn FS, I just put a new Cane Creek AD-10 and the bike acts like a hard tail on the way up the hills and on the way down, well you have to ride it your shelf. This bike rocks and it was very good in the price range. It don't have the best parts but they do good until you can buy new ones.
Do you all think that a Schwinn s[9six]40 would be a good retro mtb build? It is an early 96 sweetspot schwinn w/ a cane creek rear shock. I was thinking about building up one wi Read More »
looking for photo of 1995 or 1996 schwinn s 9six.40 bike. or does anyone if the chianstay as normal bent in it on chain side bottom tube, thanks Read More »
